Tag: junkboat

Adventure Weekend: A guide to exciting staycations for the family

Most people in Hong Kong have been hunkering down and staying home since January this year —for obvious reasons. With overseas travelling out of the picture, staycations have been trending.  Although, relishing in the comforts of a five-star hotel is often enticing, it may not appeal to families with active lifestyles and adventurous spirits. But worry not —Hong Kong has plenty of green lands and open seas to revel in that could equate to a holiday in Thailand or the Philippines. Here are some ideas for planning an exciting staycation for the adventurous family:

exciting family staycation in hong kong sai yuen monkey climbing abseiling teepee tent geodesic domes camping day and oivernight gafencu
Image from saiyuen.com

Saiyuen Camping & Adventure Park
With four different camping grounds that offer the accommodations in the form of safari tents and teepees. The children will have their fun in the outdoors tree-climbing and abseiling provided with the campsite facilities. You can also take up the chance to star-gaze within their geodesic domes. 

exciting family staycation in hong kong jkclub caravan camping day and overnight gafencu
Image from jkclub.com.hk

JK Club
Parked in its own private drive, this campsite offers a well-equipped caravan experience for the family that misses bunking in a mobile home on long roads. Although you won’t be able to drive in these caravans, you will however have plenty of hiking trails and waterfalls to visit around Lantau Island and a BBQ feast to enjoy afterwards. 

exciting family staycation in hong kong Asiamarine yacht day and overnight gafencu
Image from asiamarine.com/hkg 

Asiamarine
If you prefer a more luxurious stay but still want to breathe in the open air, enjoy the sun on deck, wakeboard against the waves, and spend the night at sea on a yacht. Asiamarine provides an array of sails of different sizes for both half-day charters or overnight trips. Equipped with Bose sound systems, a BBQ grill, and accommodations that vary between two to four cabins, you can enjoy the luxury of quality and space away from the city.

exciting family staycation in hong kong hellohongkong yacht day and overnight gafencu

2-Day Eco Adventure Sail
Another option for taking the kids out to sea is through hellohongkong.com, where they offer a two-day Eco Adventure trip around Hong Kong’s protected Geoparks and a visit to the pristine sandy white beaches of Tai Long Wan. Inclusive with an overnight accommodation in their 56-feet fully-equipped cruising sloop with two double cabins that can sleep four to six people comfortably.

Whether under a tent or out at sea, these staycations will be an experience for the family to remember and an exciting story for the kids to tell. However, in these challenging times, although we try to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, we do advice our readers to enquire with the above establishments directly for updated news. 

 

 

Bon voyage: Sail in style on refurbished vintage junks Wayfoong and Wing Sing

 

Now that the mercury is dipping and there’s a certain chill in the air, it does seem to be a good time to soak in the sun while chilling on a private charter. And how much better would it be if the charter in question is a refurbished vintage junk boat from the 1930s?

Northrop & Johnson, world leader in the yacht charter industry, has recently launched two classic Hong Kong boats – Wayfoong, a 1930 steam launch and Wing Sing, one of the last fully functional Chinese sailing junks from the 1970s.

Wayfoong and Wing Sing are not just quaint beauties; they are an intrinsic part of Hong Kong’s heritage.

A common feature in Hong Kong’s seascape, Wayfoong was originally commissioned by HSBC to carry gold bullion to and from the ships anchored in Victoria Harbour. Later, the junk came to be used for ‘burning picnics’, to burn discarded bank notes, and to entertain the bank’s clients and top management. Now, the refurbished Wayfoong evokes all the charm of its checkered heritage, while providing all modern comforts to modern wayfarers. 

 

Wing Sing, on the other hand, was commissioned in 1974 to be a traditional fishing junk, and was completely revamped in 2012 after being bought by Hellmann Brothers in 2007. The 53-footer junk boat can now accommodate around 20 guests and is available for overnight charter as well. Needless to say, the sophisticated furnishings and fixtures on Wing Sing are quite unique for a Chinese lug-sail junk.

To enhance the yachting experience, both boats offer onboard gourmet catering, in partnership with private kitchen owner and caterer, Le Bon Goût, who specialises in French Riviera-style buffets and imported wines. As a throwback back to Wayfoong’s colonial past during HSBC’s heyday, Le Bon Goût also serves Indian buffet on the boat. Guests can also choose from Chinese and Thai menus.