Eight Hours in HK
 

I have been to HK many times but have never had the "opportunity" to utilize 8 hours on a layover. Does the general community believe that it is insane to dump or check the luggage, as I am arriving on CX but departing on QF, and take the airport express into Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. Can I get a ferry or launch from Kowloon to Lantau and the Tain Tan Buddha. My primary concern is time and getting "stranded" as I am on my way to Perth.

Oh yes, take the time away from CLK. It's a nice airport, but 8 hours there would drive me mad.

Your bags should be checked through. (Even if you have separate tix, CX can interline the bags through all the way if you show them both tix). This will save you a few minutes.

Caveat: The ferries b/w Central and Mui Wo take about an hour (there are higher speed hovercraft, but they are not pleasant IMO). You will rapidly run out of time if you only have 8 hours. (An hour to land, clear customs, get to Central. Another hour and a half to get a ferry and get to Mui Wo, a couple of hours to get to the Buddha and back, etc.)

It is possible for Lantau licensed vehicles to take you from the airport onto Lantau (after all, it's right beside CLK!). So instead, get a Lantau taxi (light blue) to take you into Tung Chung. You can get a minibus/bus from their to the Buddha without worrying about going into Central, spending the extra time. Alternatively, since you are saving the Airport Express fare, get the taxi to take you all the way.

There is also the A35 bus which runs from the Airport to Mui Wo, where you can change to another bus "up the hill"

transborder,

I think that 8 hours is a little tight to visit the Buddha. If everything runs smoothly you could do it, but the buses aren't always reliable once you get to Lantau. I think it is around an hour ride from the pier to the Buddha. However, I have had to wait for a long time once for the bus to come back down.

Good point, bagold, but I still think 8 hours is OK. I used to live in Repulse Bay, and have done weekend days on Lantau in about as much time (exclusive of dinner). Given that ferries won't be involved, it is a little easier.

Still, this is where taxis come in handy. They are cheap, relatively plentiful, even on Lantau, and reliable.

Do leave yourself plenty of time to get back to CLK, though.

If you do the Big Buddha trip, definitely use taxis once you are on Lantau (and ideally from the airport as well). I still remember the 90-plus minute wait for the bus BACK DOWN the hilltop to the ferry terminal. I ended up walking halfway down before flagging a bus, but it was definitely hit or miss.

Another option is to take the airport bus or train to Central and then spend the afternoon in Hong Kong Park. There is a really nice aviary (by any standard, and especially for an urban zoo like HKG) and tea ware museum and there is always interesting people watching. If it's a weekend, you will see a lot of newlyweds having their pictures taken. The train is very reliable and you will have no worries about your connection to Perth.

This is what is great about this web-site, the exchange of information. Thanks for the input AC*SE! I will be back in HK for a couple of days on my return to the states so I think that I will venture to Lantau then. Of course I still think that I will need to utilize the eight hours for something other than sitting in the airport. Maybe the Peak and so air wandering around the trails.

I had a 14 hour layover in HKG recently. I slept in the Kowloon Hyatt for about 6-7 hours, then took the star ferry over to Central and went up the Peak tram. A hour or so tramping about the Peak will make you feel much better.

IMO, skip the tram unless you've never done it before. If you've done it once, that's enough.

Take the bus from the terminal under Exchange Square, instead. It is closer to the Airport Express, cheaper. The view from the tram only gets good after Bowen Road, and the 15 bus gives you the ride up Stubbs Road.

I realize that we have another forum for these types of message, but just a short trip report. I decided that since I will be back in HK a week from know I would skip Lantau until then. I had actually thought about going to the Peak just to be out of doors. I have been to the Peak several times previously but enjoy the view. I ended just wandering around HK Island instead. I always forget how frenetic the place is even early in the morning. I am not certain if it due to the constant traffic and construction, but HK is certainly a place that makes you wonder what you are breathing. Having lived in LA (smog) and now NYC (people complain how dirty it is) I can understand why YVR and YYZ is such a popular place to move. I am sitting in the QF/BA lounge, which is really nice here in HK, waiting for my flight to Perth. Thanks again to all for there suggestions on how I should utilize part of a day here in HK.

You'll probably save more time going to the Budda from the airport given that HKG is on Lantau.

I look forward to your trip report especially the QF part. I'm heading over to SYD from HKG two months from now. I've picked the carrier yet. Any suggestions?

Both CX and QF are pretty good on that route. It's a tossup for me.

I believe that QF F is a clear winner over CX. This comparison may not be fair as the QF flight was on a 747-400 (AKL-LAX)whereas the CX flight was on a A340 (YYZ-HKG). The QF flight just seemed as though there was substantially more room. Food and service on both flights is on par with SQ. I have had the opportunity to fly J class many times an believe that it is on par with either SQ or QF. The QF flight I took from HKG-PER via SIN was on a 767-300 with two class configuartion, Business/Economy. Plenty of room, but the seat pitch is incredibly bad. I would think that this should be a consideration if anyone is on a red-eye.