As night falls, the mist clears and skyscrapers’ neon lights shine brightly, Hong Kong’s pace and energy is tangible. Its vibrancy is palpable and a head-spinning line-up of food, entertainment and shopping beckons.

1  A family favourite
Hong Kong Disneyland on the island of Lantau features all of your favourite characters as well as Fantasyland, Main Street, Tomorrowland and Adventureland. Even better, the theme park is set to expand. Soon there will be three new themed areas, Grizzly Trail, Mystic Point and Toy Story Land. Older thrill-seekers may love Space Mountain, but it’s the little ones who’ll enjoy Disneyland most. The shows, especially High School Musical and Lion King, and rides such as Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters will make it a day to remember. Don’t miss the 8pm fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle. Visit home.disney.go.com/parks.

2  Tall stories
Take the Star Ferry to the Kowloon side and watch the light show that is the Hong Kong skyline by night. Another great way to view the magnificent nightly laser show at 8pm is atop Victoria Peak. Board the Peak Tram in the late afternoon and stroll along the footpath to take in the view before settling down for a drink and dinner. The ‘symphony of lights’ is best seen from Cafe Deco, the largest restaurant atop The Peak. You can reserve your table at www.cafedecogroup.com.

3  High tea
Afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hong Kong is an institution for locals and tourists alike. Step into the gilded lobby, hear the string quartet and swoon at the sheer magnificence of this colonial era hotel. Tea’s served from 2pm to 7pm. You don’t need to book, but if you want to guarantee a table, be there by about 5.30pm. The feast of finger sandwiches, pastries, decadent chocolates and some requisite scones – with jam and cream – might mean there’s no need for dinner!

For extra indulgence, book yourself in for a stress-busting massage at the Peninsula Spa by ESPA. Try the Simply Peninsula Foot Treatment, which fuses European concepts with Asian philosophies. The combination of contemporary therapies delivers a blissful treatment experience. For details on high tea, spa treatments or the hotel itself, visit www.peninsula.com.

4  Day trip
Be sure to take a one-hour jetfoil ride to the former Portuguese colony of Macau. The first thing you’ll see is the theme park known as Fisherman’s Wharf, complete with a fake volcano, imitation Italian colosseum and Portuguese plaza. A little further inland you’ll see the remains of authentic Portuguese architecture juxtaposed with ultra-modern casinos. Macau is Asia’s answer to Las Vegas with luxurious casinos such as the Sands, Venetian and Wynn. But the east-meets-west cuisine makes this day trip a highlight. Where else can you sit at a cobblestoned plaza near a 16th-century church built by Italian Jesuits, sip Portuguese wine and eat soft-shell crab? Visit www.macautourism.gov.mo.

5  Fantastic food
You may think your neighbourhood Chinese restaurant has the best sweet-and-sour pork you’ve ever tasted, but when you’ve sampled Hong Kong yum cha and the astonishing range of regional Chinese cuisine, you’ll know you’ve arrived in foodie heaven. Hong Kong offers a staggering 12,000 restaurants to choose from, and best of all, you don’t have to fork out big dollars. Head to the Temple Street night markets in Kowloon, grab a table outside and dine to your heart’s content. Further up the road in Mong Kok, push through the crowds at the street stalls and sample some tasty crispy calamari and grilled octopus for next to nothing. This is the perfect time to sample the city’s culinary delicacies as it’s Hong Kong Food And Wine Year, and the Wine And Dine Festival is staged on the weekend of October 30 to November 1 at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade. For details, visit www.discoverhongkong.com.

6  Bag a bargain
To get a glimpse of some fascinating art and antiques, take a stroll along Hollywood Road in Hong Kong Island’s Soho area. Nearby Wellington Street has a number of great designer boutiques worth visiting for one-off pieces. If you prefer malls, head to Citygate Outlets to take advantage of bargains such as Armani handbags at 70 per cent off and Burberry coats for a fraction of the retail price. If you don’t feel like lugging your shopping around, you can check in and stay above the outlet mall at the Novotel Citygate. You can also enjoy this mall if you’re just on a stopover as it’s five minutes from the airport. To inquire, visit www.novotel.com.    

7  Luxury stay
The new and thoroughly modern Novotel Nathan Road is centrally located on the main thoroughfare of Kowloon, known as the Golden Mile. Bustling Nathan Road is lined with restaurants, shopping and entertainment. For bargain-hunters, Temple Street Market is just a short stroll away and the Jade Market and the Ladies Market are also within walking distance. Be sure to check out the exclusive premier floor (15 storeys up) where you can enjoy an afternoon drink, breakfast and free internet access. Room rates start from $150 a night. Visit www.novotel.com.

TO GO:
Virgin Atlantic offers daily flights from Sydney to Hong Kong. Fares start at $1000, with premium economy from $1800 and upper class from $4000, including tax. Call 1300 727 340 or visit www.virginatlantic.com.au.