BEACHES – HONG KONG ISLAND
(SEE ALSO BEACHES - NEW TERRITORIES AND BEACHES - OUTLYING ISLANDS)
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SHEK O
Shek O Beach
Shek O located on the D’Aguilar Peninsula on the south-east corner of Hong Kong Island is regarded as having the best beach on the island. With clean fine golden sands in a scenic location sheltered by a rocky headland the beach is popular with surfers and the tip of the headland is a popular venue for rock climbing. The beach overlooks a small island Ng Fan Chau in Island Bay and there are beachside café’s, changing rooms, showers, toilets, raft playground, BBQ area and crazy golf course. A lifeguard service operates from April to October and there are shark prevention nets. Shek O also has a smaller beach Rocky Bay (no facilities and swimming not allowed) on the other side of the headland and is also a short distance from neighbouring Big Wave Bay, Hong Kong’s only officially designated surfing beach (see below).
Shek O Beach and Headland
GETTING THERE – MTR Island Line to Shau Kei Wan Station exit A3 then from nearby Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus take number 9 bus (approx every 15/20 mins) to Shek O (journey time about 30 mins).
BIG WAVE BAY
Big Wave Bay Beach
Rarely living up to its name Big Wave Bay has a good beach with clean sands and is a popular surfing beach. Separated from its neighbouring Shek O beach (see above) by the exclusive Shek O Golf and Country Club the beach is in a scenic location overlooked by the hills of Shek O Country Park and the Dragon’s Back hiking trail. The beach has a café, showers, toilets, changing rooms and BBQ area. Lifeguard service operates from March to November and the beach has shark prevention nets.
Surfing at Big Wave Bay
GETTING THERE – MTR Island Line to Shau Kei Wan Station exit A3 then from nearby Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus take number 9 bus* (approx every 15/20 mins) for Shek O. Get off at the junction of Shek O Road with Big Wave Bay Road (at a sharp U-turn) from where it is about 10 minutes walk to Big Wave Bay Village and beach.
* a small number of services are however diverted via Big Wave Bay (refer to timetable notes)
https://www.nwstbus.com.hk/routes/routeinfo.aspx?intLangID=1&searchtype=1&routenumber=9&route=9&routetype=D&company=7&exactMatch=yes
To walk between Shek O and Big Wave Bay takes about 30/40 minutes. As an alternative visitors can take number 9 bus either to the junction of Shek O Road and Big Wave Bay Road or to Big Wave Bay Village (if bus is diverted via Big Wave Bay Village – see above). To benefit from the sectional fare for this journey Octopus Card users need to “swipe” the card on the card reader when leaving the bus as well as when boarding.
REPULSE BAY 
Repulse Bay Beach
Hong Kong’s most popular beach is one of Hong Kong’s top ten tourist destinations. Repulse Bay can become very busy during the summer months and on winter weekends is located on the south side of Hong Kong Island and easily accessible by bus. This is a long beach with areas of both fine soft sand and more coarse sand nearer the shore. The beach is overlooked by high-class residential apartments and the hills of Tai Tam Country Park and has excellent facilities including changing rooms, showers, toilets, raft, playground, beach volleyball court and cafés, restaurants and gardens. At the eastern end of the beach is a pier and the Kwun Yam Shrine with several colourful statues including those representing Kwun Yam and Tin Hau. Here visitors toss coins into the mouth of a fish statue in the hope it will lead to good fortune. A newly completed shopping mall stands next to the shrine almost on the beach but as at January 2009 it remained closed with none of the shops having been let. Across the main road The Repulse Bay is built on the site of the former colonial Repulse Bay Hotel and is renowned for being the “building with the hole in the middle” designed by a feng shui expert. It houses luxury apartments and a shopping arcade. The shopping arcade is being renovated during 2009 and when completed will include an exhibition of artefacts, rare photographs, postcards and menus from the 1920's providing an illustration of the lives of the priveleged in old Hong Kong. The renovation will also include addition of a spa and an English-style marquee in the garden which is also being refurbished. The landmark Seaview Building at 16 Beach Road is also to be renovated and refurbished and the government has invited ideas for the design and future use and proposals include plans for a classic car museum. A beautification programme is also being undertaken by the government during 2009 to enhance the appearance of the area for visitors. Lifeguard service operates from March to November and there are shark prevention nets.
Kwun Yan Shrine and Statue, Repulse Bay Beach
GETTING THERE – Bus 6,6A,6X or 260 from Central Exchange Square (about 30 mins journey). Bus 973 from Tsim Sha Tsui East Bus Station (Science Museum Road inside Concordia Plaza – about 70 mins journey). Bus 63 (Mon-Sat) or Bus 65 (Sundays and public holidays) from North Point Ferry Piers and Causeway Bay (about 35 mins journey).
DEEP WATER BAY
Deep Water Bay Beach
This is a very popular beach close to Repulse Bay with good sands overlooked by trees and just over the road from Hong Kong Golf Club. The main road running alongside means this is by no means a quiet but it is quite scenic and sheltered. The beach is a popular venue for wakeboarding and facilities include changing rooms, showers, toilets, raft, BBQ area, refreshment kiosk and nearby café’s and restaurants. Lifeguard service operates all year round and the beach has shark prevention nets.
GETTING THERE – Bus 6X or 260 from Central Exchange Square (about 30 mins journey). Bus 973 from Tsim Sha Tsui East Bus Station (Science Museum Road inside Concordia Plaza – about 70 mins journey). Bus 65 (Sundays and public holidays) from North Point Ferry Piers and Causeway Bay (about 35 mins journey).
STANLEY – STANLEY MAIN BEACH
Stanley Main Beach northern end
Stanley Main Beach is situated about five minutes walk from Stanley Market on the opposite (eastern) side of the narrow head of the Stanley Peninsula. This is fairly narrow beach with reasonable quality sand and popular for water sports with a water sports centre and Hong Kong Sea School being situated at the southern end of the beach. The beach has good facilities with showers, changing rooms, toilets, food kiosk, toilets, raft, and is separated from the small neighbouring Hairpin Beach (showers and toilets but swimming not allowed) by a large BBQ area on a rocky headland. Lifeguard service operates from March to November and there are shark prevention nets.
Stanley Main Beach looking south (Hong Kong Sea School at the far end)
GETTING THERE - Bus 6,6A,6X or 260 from Central Exchange Square (about 50 mins journey). Bus 973 from Tsim Sha Tsui East Bus Station (Science Museum Road inside Concordia Plaza – about 90 mins journey). Bus 63 (Mon-Sat) or Bus 65 (Sundays and public holidays) from North Point Ferry Piers and Causeway Bay (about 55 mins journey). For more detailed information see “STANLEY”.
STANLEY – ST STEPHENS BEACH 
St Stephens Beach, Stanley
Stanley’s “other beach” St Stephens Beach is about 15 minutes walk away from the central district on the western side of the peninsula on Wong Ma Kok Road near Stanley Military Cemetery. This is another popular beach with good clean sands shaded by trees and a little quieter, more secluded, picturesque and sheltered than Stanley Main Beach. This beach also has a water sports centre and pier and facilities include changing rooms, showers, toilets, raft, snack kiosk and BBQ area. Lifeguard service operates from April to October and there are shark prevention nets.
Barbecue area, St Stephens Beach, Stanley
GETTING THERE – See information above for getting to Stanley Main Beach. Stanley St Stephens Beach walk is about 15 minutes walk along Wong Ma Kok Road past St Stephens College. As an alternative to walking visitors can take number 14 bus (every 15/20 mins) from Stanley Village (about 3 minutes journey). Get off at Stanley Military Cemetery, cross the road and walk in either direction for steps or road down to beach.