Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark How to Go From Sai Kung

The geopark comprises four distinct regions: the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region, the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region, and two smaller zones on Kat O and Lai Chi Wo. Only the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region—home to the park's most dramatic formations—sits within practical reach of Sai Kung town. The other three lie hours away by road and require separate planning. From Sai Kung Waterfront Park on Wai Man Road, walk 400 meters northeast along the promenade to Sai Kung Public Pier. Kaito operators cluster at the pier's eastern end, displaying laminated route cards in Cantonese and English. Boats serve Sharp Island (also called Kiu Tsui Chau), Kau Sai Chau Golf Course, and the Ninepin Group (Po Pin Chau and surrounding islets); fares range from 30 to 80 HKD depending on distance, and most captains require a minimum group of four to six passengers before departing. No advance booking exists for kaito services—arrival order determines boarding sequence. Scheduled ferries to Sharp Island and Kau Sai Chau operate on weekends and public holidays, departing at fixed intervals listed on signboards near the pier ticket kiosk. These vessels accommodate larger groups and accept payment via Octopus card. The crossing to Sharp Island takes twelve minutes; Kau Sai Chau requires eighteen. The Ninepin Group lies farther offshore—forty minutes by kaito—and sees far fewer daily sailings, making morning departure essential to secure return capacity before mid-afternoon. Two geopark highlights require no watercraft. The High Island Reservoir East Dam, crowned with hexagonal andesite columns that rival Fingal's Cave in geometric precision, sits at the terminus of MacLehose Trail Section 1. Reach the trailhead by taking green minibus 1A from Sai Kung town center to Pak Tam Au; the 5.6-kilometer trail descends through coastal scrub to the dam's western anchor. Long Ke Wan, a crescent bay flanked by tilted sedimentary strata, lies two kilometers beyond the East Dam along the same trail. Both sites remain open year-round at no charge, though the trail crosses exposed ridgelines with no shade or water sources—carry two liters per person and start before 09:00 to avoid midday heat. The geopark visitor center at Sai Kung Waterfront Park stocks bilingual trail maps and displays 3D models of the volcanic caldera that collapsed 140 million years ago, leaving the columnar joints visible today. Staff confirm current kaito schedules and weather advisories; the center opens daily and charges no admission.