First-timer's guide on what to see and do in Hong Kong

It’s the city on the top of every globetrotter’s travel wishlist in 2019 and after checking it out recently for myself, it’s obvious why everyone’s talking about Hong Kong.

Just over nine hours on a plane from Sydney, the city – which is known for its enchanting skyline of towering skyscrapers – may be seen as a 12-hour layover destination by some, but in reality, it’s so much more than that.

Hong Kong is a foodie’s paradise, a trendy bar-hopper’s idea of heaven, a shopaholic’s dream location and above all, an epic city to be a tourist in.

Mix that with the rich Hong Kong culture, the seamless blend of tradition with modernity and the friendly Hongkongers eager for you to explore their beloved city, and it’s easy to see what’s luring people from all over the world to town.

Where to stay:

I was lucky enough to be invited to stay at The Murray, in Central Hong Kong, for my four-night trip to Hong Kong. And to say it was opulence at its finest would be an understatement.

The Murray is everything you think of when you envisage a luxury hotel – gleaming marble floors, gold taps on the bath, a pool that looks straight from the set of a movie and unrivalled views of the city.

If The Murray is too much on the pricey side for you (and coming in at about $600 per-night for the cheapest room, it ain’t for the budget traveller), there are hundreds of Airbnbs, chic hostels and budget hotels on offer around the city and surrounding suburbs.

I recommend checking out the suburbs of Wan Chai, Soho and Tsim Sha Tsui for tourist accommodation.

What to see:

The question isn’t what is there to see in Hong Kong but how do I fit it all in?

I started off my trip with a visit to Sham Shui Po in Kowloon, to see how Hongkongers really live.

Sham Shui Po, which is just a short trip away from Central on the MTR with your Octopus card, is full of electronic shops, which will fulfil any technology needs you have, streams of stalls, reasonably-priced restaurants selling authentic Hong Kong cuisine, vintage stores and chic coffee shops.

It’s also home to Mei Ho House, which is the only remaining post-World War II public housing block in Hong Kong and doubles up as a youth hostel and a museum. The museum chronicles the devastating aftermath of a huge fire that broke out in 1953, leaving over 50,000 people homeless.

The block gives an insight into the struggles of poverty-stricken Hongkongers from the 1950s’- 1970s’, with some of the tiny apartments being occupied by up to eight people. This is a must for tourists who want to really get a grasp on the history of Hong Kong.

Old Town Central was a highlight of my trip. A pretty and chic district, I recommend not leaving it off your itinerary. This is where you’ll see the trendiest restaurants, hipster bars and find yourself immersed in Hong Kong’s huge arts scene.

If you’re looking to experience Hong Kong’s great outdoors, take the MTR to Tung Chung where you’ll be able to experience the (slightly terrifying for those afraid of heights) Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car.

The cable car, which can have a glass-bottom if you like, brings you all the way to Ngong Ping Village. From there you can stroll to the the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Buses from Ngong Ping will also take you to the picturesque Tai O fishing village, where houses are still built on stilts on the water and street markets sell everything from bubble tea to squid jerky.

After a day exploring, the best way to take in Hong Kong’s iconic skyline is by boat on the “A Symphony of Lights” show on Aqua Luna. Every night at 8pm the skyline lights up in an array of dazzling lasers and lights, which are best enjoyed from the 45-minute trip on the Chinese junk boat.

Where to eat:

Everyone who goes to Hong Kong wants to know where the best place to eat dumplings is, and I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say, I think I’ve found it.

I’m still dreaming of the BBQ pork buns from the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Tom Ho Wan, on Fuk Wing St. in Sham Shui Po. Their shrimp dumplings steamed are also a winner and you’ll leave there wishing you could go back everyday for more.

For a brunch you’ll be drooling over for weeks to come, Japanese restaurant Tokyolima in Central is a must. The $70 brunch menu lets you taste a whole range of dishes, but make sure one of those is the Picanha (grilled rump steak), which is just as drool-worthy as it sounds.

For the best egg tarts (pastry crust filled with egg custard and then baked) in Hong Kong, head over to Tai Cheong Bakery, where you’ll probably see the queue snaking around the corner and for authentic sugar cane juice, dart across the road to Kung Lee, which has been selling the beverage for decades.

And for the ultimate modern British meal in Hong Kong, there’s the unforgettable Gough’s on Gough in Central.

This dining experience is like no other, with chef Cary Docherty at the helm serving up some of the most impressive food we tasted on our whole trip.

Mix that with the stunning decor, which includes a gold winding staircase leading up to a contemporary restaurant, decorated with dazzling chandeliers and a feather wall, and I was in culinary (and interiors) heaven.

Standouts for me from the menu were the crab mayonnaise & dill on beef dripping toast topped with caviar, the Vol-au-vent of braised beef and foie gras and the sticky toffee pudding topped with clotted cream and ice cream.

I think it’s fair to say I’ll be back very soon.

This journalist was invited to Hong Kong as a visitor of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

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