Overlooked by 465-metre Tiger’s Head, and surrounded by scenic trails and glorious beaches, Discovery Bay is regarded as one of the best hiking destinations in Hong Kong. This weekend, why not enjoy a leisurely stroll from plaza to plaza through Central Park, or make your way to Mui Wo via the Trappist Monastery? Both routes are family-friendly and definitely worth revisiting.

From plaza to plaza

Easy stroll. 2.3 kilometres

It seems a waste to hop on a bus when you can take a short, scenic walk from DB Plaza to DB North Plaza. From the DB ferry pier, keep right and make your way through D’Deck and around Tai Pak Beach. The promenade ends at the far side of the beach, and here you turn left at the playground and follow Seahorse Lane until it joins Discovery Bay Road.

Turning right onto Discovery Bay Road, walk up the hill past SKH Wei Lun Primary School and Discovery Bay International School. As often as not, you can enjoy a welcome breeze at the top of the hill near Parkridge Village before you continue down to make a right onto Siena Avenue. About halfway down Siena Avenue, a pedestrian path on your right leads to Central Park. Here you can stop to watch the koi swimming in the lake, give the kids a break at the playground, or enjoy a picnic under the trees.

Turning right onto Discovery Bay Road, walk up the hill past SKH Wei Lun Primary School and Discovery Bay International School. As often as not, you can enjoy a welcome breeze at the top of the hill near Parkridge Village before you continue down to make a right onto Siena Avenue. About halfway down Siena Avenue, a pedestrian path on your right leads to Central Park. Here you can stop to watch the koi swimming in the lake, give the kids a break at the playground, or enjoy a picnic under the trees.

From the park’s main lawn near Club Siena, keep right and pass the entrance to Discovery College, before turning left at the school’s football pitch. The Hong Kong skyline views are stunning as you walk along the bay. Turn right once you’ve passed Club Siena and follow the promenade, which wraps around the water’s edge before culminating at the White Chapel and Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong. Cross the road and you’re in DB North Plaza – you’ve earned a cool drink and a bite to eat.

To Silvermine Bay

Decent challenge. 7.5 kilometres

To make your way to Silvermine Bay, start at Nim Shue Wan; you follow the path that hugs the coast for the whole of the first section of this hike. As you walk through the village up a steep hill, you’re immediately surrounded by banana trees and garden plots – it’s funny how quickly you ‘leave’ DB and get out into the countryside. Dogs hang around the village but keep walking and they won’t harm you; they’re used to hikers passing through.

After a sharp descent, you enter a clearing and see a wide road leading up to the Roman Catholic Our Lady of Joy Abbey, better known as the Trappist Monastery. This section of the hike is steep so take your time.

At the monastery, there’s a beautiful Shrine to Mary, a well-kept garden and a pretty stream that runs beneath a humpback bridge, all of which justify the monastery’s original name – Trappist Haven. Cross the bridge, climb some stairs and you reach the medieval-style stone chapel. It’s a plain place of worship nestled in the hills, quiet and remote. If you’re lucky enough to arrive during a Divine Office, you can listen to the handful of monks in residence chanting.

Back on the trail, you’re looking at a fairly long climb up to a pagoda at around 300 metres above sea level. It’s all uphill for a while, so mind your pace. While there is a trail that skirts the pagoda, it’s worth taking the stairs up to it (on your left) for the great views.

On your way down, you see Discovery Bay Golf Club on your left, Peng Chau ahead, and Hong Kong Island and a sliver of Hei Ling Chau to your right. You’re now on the homestretch – a casual 1,000-stair descent to Mui Wo. It’s best to take the steps sideways-on at the end because they’re pretty narrow. Here you look down on Mui Wo in the shadow of 869-metre Sunset Peak.

At the bottom of the stairs, follow the path to the right until you wind down to Silvermine Bay. Treat yourself to a swim and a long lunch before ferry-, bus- or taxi-ing it back to DB.

Before you go on a hike, grab a copy of the DB Hiking Guide at DB Plaza ferry pier, or by the escalator near Cali-Mex in DB North Plaza. You can also download the map at www.visitdiscoverybay.com.