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Are you a hiking fanatic who has already done most of Hong Kong’s major outlying islands, and are now looking to explore some of the more obscure islets dotted around? Hit up Green Egg Island! This islet gets its adorable, Dr Seuss-like name from its uncanny resemblance to a sunny-side-up egg with a green yolk when viewed from above. If you’ve got a drone, you’ll have to bring it so you can snap this unique sight. Here is your ultimate guide to Green Egg Island.
Sitting just off the coast of Clear Water Bay, Green Egg Island (綠蛋島; Luk6 Daan2 Dou2) used to be known as Lan Pai and is surrounded by clear azure waters with a pebbly beach. The green “egg yolk” is actually a small grassy hill in the middle of the islet. You may actually have spotted this island before while hiking the Lung Ha Wan Country Trail.
The whole islet itself is pretty small at 15 kilometres in length with nothing much to explore, if we’re being honest, but the waters around it are lovely and clear. This is the perfect place to snorkel or scuba dive, as there is a range of local sea life to look out for. Lazing around on the rocks or its pebbly beach to work on the tail-end of our summer tan sounds like a great way to spend a weekend day as well.
Distance: 15 kilometres approx.
Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
Total ascent: 291 metres approx.
Total time: 2 hours approx.
The best way to get to Green Egg Island is by hiking in, so you get the best of both land and sea in one beautiful outing. Much of this journey is actually the same as hiking to Tai Leng Tung via the Lung Ha Wan Country Trail.
Starting at Tai Au Mun, head up Clear Water Bay Road into the Clear Water Bay Country Park. Halfway along the trail on the slopes along the coast, you’ll find an offshoot that takes you down to the water, spitting you out near the Lung Ha Wan rock carving. This off-trail branch might not be the easiest to find, but it’s roughly located before you have to climb to the highest peak. You should also be able to see Green Egg Island in the distance.
You could also go the opposite direction of the Tai Au Mun loop, and follow Lung Ha Wan Road past the Lobster Bay rock carving and the Clearwater Bay Equestrian Centre, before arriving at the little stretch of beach near the Lung Ha Wan rock carving. Here’s a detailed guide to the Tai Leng Tung hike so you know how to get started.
From this pebbly coast, you can simply wade across the approximately chest-deep water or swim over to Green Egg Island’s little beach! The ground underwater is also pebbly and could be uneven, so wet shoes would be a good idea. Whichever route you decide to take, the hike should take roughly an hour and a half.
It’s not too strenuous a journey, though there’s little shade on the paths leading up to and down from the peak. The offshoot trail you’ll need to take to get down to the water is also fairly narrow and steep in places, so do proceed with caution. Leaving would be a matter of retracing your steps, so allot roughly three hours for hiking in total.
An alternative would be to kayak to Green Egg Island instead; there is one kayak rental shop in the nearby Sheung Sze Wan Beach. It’s a simple matter of sailing eastward and hugging the coastline until you reach the island. Otherwise, Blue Sky Sports Club in Sai Kung offers half-day tours to and from the island, which even includes a meal, gear for rental, and a tour guide to make sure you don’t get lost.
Once you do get to Green Egg Island, you’ll feel like you’re vacationing somewhere else, as it’s so far removed from major roads with not a building in sight. There’s nothing left to do but to kick back with a book and work on that tan, or to go snorkelling and swimming around the islet. There are also some rock pools dotted around to explore.
With the distinct lack of pollution in these waters, some have even compared the general environment to the Maldives. A slice of the tropics right here in Hong Kong? We’re lacing up our comfy shoes right now!
Catharina has recently returned to her hometown of Hong Kong after spending her formative years in Singapore and the UK. She enjoys scouring the city for under-the-radar things to do, see, and eat, and is committed to finding the perfect foundation that will withstand Hong Kong’s heat. She is also an aspiring polyglot, a firm advocate for feminist and LGBTQIA+ issues, and a huge lover of animals. You can find her belting out show-tunes in karaoke, or in bookstores adding new tomes to her ever-growing collection.
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