On the southern peninsula of the Sai Kung district, Clearwater Bay Country Park offers a gentler, more accessible day out than the wild surf beaches further north — patrolled swimming beaches, breezy clifftop paths and a classic ridge hike, all within an hour of the city. It is the green heart of the Clear Water Bay area, where Kowloon’s eastern suburbs give way to grassy headlands, hidden coves and one of Hong Kong’s most photographed stretches of coastline.
A peninsula of two halves
Gazetted in 1979, Clearwater Bay Country Park covers the rugged tip of the Clear Water Bay peninsula, a finger of land pointing south into the open sea between Junk Bay and Port Shelter. The park is small by Sai Kung standards — far more compact than the vast Sai Kung East Country Park — but it punches above its weight. Within a few square kilometres you get two of Hong Kong’s best-equipped swimming beaches, a famous ridge of jagged peaks, sweeping sea panoramas and a couple of cultural landmarks, all knitted together by an easy road and a network of paths.
The terrain divides naturally into two halves. To the west and south sit the beaches and the gentle coastal walks around Tai Au Mun and Tai Hang Tun, suitable for families and casual visitors. To the north and east rises the dramatic spine of High Junk Peak, a route for those who want to earn their views. This combination — relaxed sand in the morning, a serious climb in the afternoon, or simply a picnic with a sea breeze — is exactly what makes the park such a flexible day trip.
The gazetted swimming beaches
The two beaches at the southwestern edge of the park are the area’s headline attraction and the reason many Hong Kong families know Clear Water Bay at all.
Clearwater Bay Second Beach
The larger and more popular of the pair, Second Beach (清水灣第二灣) is a broad curve of clean, pale sand backed by a grassy slope and a car park. It is a gazetted, LCSD-managed swimming beach with seasonal lifeguards, a flagged swimming zone protected by a shark-prevention net, changing rooms, showers, toilets and a refreshment kiosk. The water is sheltered and the gradient gentle, which makes it a reassuring choice for children. On hot summer weekends it fills quickly, so arrive early to claim a patch of sand and a spot in the shade.
Clearwater Bay First Beach
A short distance away, First Beach (清水灣第一灣) is smaller and quieter, often favoured by those who find Second Beach too crowded. It shares the same gazetted status and lifeguard cover in season. Both beaches sit beneath the clubhouse and fairways of the nearby golf club, and the contrast between manicured greens above and golden sand below gives the bay its distinctive, slightly upmarket character.
If you prefer a beach you can reach without any walk at all, the roadside Silverstrand Beach further up Clear Water Bay Road is another easy-access option on the same corridor.
Easy coastal walking
You do not need to be a hiker to enjoy the park’s scenery. The area around Tai Au Mun (大坳門), where the bus terminates, is the gateway to a network of gentle paths and family trails.
- The Tai Hang Tun viewing point and the open grassland nearby offer one of the most accessible big-sea panoramas in Hong Kong, taking in the Ninepin Islands on a clear day. It is a favourite spot for kite-flying, picnics and watching paragliders launch off the slopes.
- The Lung Ha Wan Country Trail is a longer, well-graded loop that drops toward the quiet coves on the eastern side of the peninsula — a good half-day walk with sea views throughout and far fewer crowds than the beaches.
- Short, signposted family walks link the car parks, viewpoints and the Tai Au Mun barbecue and picnic sites, so you can tailor the distance to your group.
Information boards along the way explain the area’s geology and birdlife, and there are sheltered pavilions for a rest. For a more demanding clifftop route on the same peninsula, see our guide to High Junk Peak.
High Junk Peak — the ridge walk
For experienced walkers, the High Junk Peak (Tiu Yue Yung, 釣魚翁) ridge is the park’s defining hike and one of Hong Kong’s celebrated “Three Sharp Peaks.” The classic line follows the High Junk Peak Country Trail from Tai Au Mun over a series of pointed summits, with the main peak rising to 344 metres. It is a moderately strenuous route with steep, eroded and exposed sections — there is little shade — but the reward is a near-360° panorama over the South China Sea, the offshore islands and the Clear Water Bay coastline.
Allow two to three hours, carry plenty of water, wear proper footwear and avoid the hottest part of the day. The conical summits are steep enough that you will want both hands free in places. Full route detail, escape options and safety notes are in our dedicated High Junk Peak hiking guide.
Picnics, barbecues and the golf club
Clear Water Bay is one of the most popular barbecue and picnic destinations in eastern Kowloon. The Tai Au Mun barbecue sites and the grassy areas near the beaches come with pits, tables and rubbish facilities, and they are busy with weekend gatherings through the cooler months. Bring your own charcoal and food, and take all litter home.
Overlooking the bay, the private Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club occupies the headland with one of the most scenic courses in the territory. It is members-only, but its presence shapes the polished feel of the area, and its clubhouse road is a landmark you will pass on the way in.
Getting there
There is no MTR station in Sai Kung or Clear Water Bay, but the peninsula is well served by road from Kowloon along Clear Water Bay Road.
| From | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond Hill MTR (Exit C2) | KMB bus 91 | To Tai Au Mun / Clear Water Bay; the main approach |
| Choi Hung MTR | Green minibus along Clear Water Bay Road | Connects the city to the peninsula |
| Hang Hau MTR | Minibus / taxi | Quick hop on the Tseung Kwan O side |
| Sai Kung Town | Taxi | Easy if you are already in Sai Kung |
From the Tai Au Mun terminus it is a short walk down to the beaches or up onto the ridge. Octopus card is accepted on buses and minibuses. For the full breakdown of routes from the city, see our getting to Sai Kung guide.
Best time to visit
The beaches are at their best from late spring to early autumn, when the water is warm and lifeguards are on duty; weekday mornings are calmest. The hiking and picnic season is the opposite — October to March, when cool, dry, clear days make the ridge walk safe and the long-range views their sharpest. Avoid High Junk Peak in the haze and humidity of midsummer.
Practical tips and safety
- Carry water and sun protection — both the ridge and the open headlands offer little shade.
- Swim only within the netted, flagged zone at the gazetted beaches and heed lifeguard signals; seasonal jellyfish can appear in warmer months.
- Wear grippy footwear for High Junk Peak; the summits are steep and the rock can be slick.
- Take all litter home from barbecue and picnic sites.
- Start early in summer to beat both the heat and the beach crowds.
Nearby and itinerary ideas
Clear Water Bay rewards an unhurried day. A classic combination is a morning swim at Second Beach, a picnic at Tai Au Mun and an afternoon stroll to the Tai Hang Tun viewpoint. Energetic visitors can swap the beach for the High Junk Peak ridge, finishing with a cold drink by the sand. Pair the park with the easy-access Silverstrand Beach up the road, or detour to the tiny fishing village of Po Toi O for an old-school seafood lunch among the fish rafts and stilt houses. Either way, Clear Water Bay is the gentle, scenic side of Sai Kung — sand, sea and big skies without the long expedition.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Clearwater Bay beaches good for swimming?
Yes. Clearwater Bay First and Second Beaches are gazetted swimming beaches with seasonal lifeguards, shark-prevention nets, changing rooms and showers, which makes them popular and well-equipped family spots. Second Beach is the larger and busier of the two.
How hard is the High Junk Peak trail?
High Junk Peak (Tiu Yue Yung) is a moderately strenuous ridge walk with steep, exposed sections and superb sea views. It is shorter than the Tai Long Wan hikes but should not be underestimated in hot weather — carry plenty of water.
How do I get to Clearwater Bay Country Park?
Take KMB bus 91 or a green minibus from Diamond Hill MTR along Clear Water Bay Road to the Tai Au Mun terminus, then walk into the park. See our getting to Sai Kung guide for the full picture.
