Ocean Park, Hong Kong
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Ocean Park is ranked 7th among the top ten most popular amusement parks in the world, according to forbes.com’s announcement on June 1, 2006.
The Park recorded just over four millions of visitors in 2005. It is one of the world’s biggest marine and educational themed parks.
It is an ideal place for you take your kids for a day of outing. Children can make fun in Hong Kong while learning at the Park.
Overview
Located at the southern part of Hong Kong Island, visitors usually arrive at its main entrance at Wong Chuk Hang via bus 629 from Admiralty MTR.Ocean Park consists of six main areas: Lowland Gardens, Kids' World, Marine Land, Headland Rides, Adventure Land and Bird Paradise.
A highlight is the cable car ride, which provides access from the lowland to the headland and offers stunning views over the surrounding city and the South China Sea. However if you come on a windy day or if typhoon signal is up, you might need to go on an escalator ride instead.
The Park has three theatres conducting daily shows. They are namely Ocean Theatre, Whiskers Theatre and the Birds Theatre. All these shows are full of audiences. It is best to pick up a leaflet at the entrance and check the show times. As it is free sitting, please go early to look for a favourite seat.
Major Attractions
Lowland Gardens
Goldfish Pagoda has over 100 varieties of Chinese and Japanese goldfish. Rare breeds such as White Bubble Eye could be found.
Here is also home of two giant pandas given to the HKSAR by Central Government.
Dinosaurs Now and Then gives you an exciting journey of discovery to find out how dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago.
In a giant glass cocoon where the Butterfly House is, your kids can learn how Ocean Park helps save endangered butterfly species.
Carverns of Darkness 3D offers an Amazon rainforest experience.
Make sure you don’t miss the Cable Car experience.
The super speedy go-karts, Ocean Park Grand Prix, is a pay attraction. HK$40 for a single seater, HK$50 for a twin seater.
Note: As of May 2009, rennovation work at areas of Lowland Gardens are done. Giant Pandas have new home. There are four new residents moving into the Ocean Park - Red Pandas.
Kids’ World
Dolphine University lets your kids know about the intelligent marine mammals. Kids also learn about the importance of caring for marine animals.
Whiskers Theatres tells you how sea lions prepare for their shows. It is a wonderful show to all children. Play games with whiskers and their friends.
Rides for kids allow them hopping into the balloons and have a thrill ride.
Tiny Town Games have all the classic arcade games. Your kids will have chances to win prizes.
Marine Land
View more sea jelly photos and videos.
At the Sea Jelly Spectacular, 1,000 sea jellies of all sizes, shapes and colours from all over the world have found a new home in this all-new jellyfish exhibit at Ocean Park!
Designed with the latest technology in lighting, music and multimedia special effects to enhance your experience, Sea Jelly Spectacular offers a sensational ‘undersea’ voyage for you to discover this most amazing and beautiful undersea creature.
Get ready for a journey of exploration, fun and thrill! As sea jellies keep moving, you will have more fun taking videos rather than photos.
At the Pacific Pier, you’ll see the lovely seals and sea lions from the coast of California.
Atoll Reef is a four-level aquarium with big and beautiful fishes you had never seen. There are more than 4,000 fishes of 400 species. There is an 80-year-old and 6 foot long giant grouper. It also has the largest number of Napoleon fish to be found in any aquarium in the world.
Shark Aquarium is Asia’s first underwater tunnel where you can see 70 sharks of 35 species.
Ocean Theatre offers daily shows by dolphins and sea lions teaming up with their trainers. You’ll find this show extremely amazing and totally impressed by the talent of these marine animals. It is one of the most popular activities in the Ocean Park of Hong Kong.
Headland Rides & Adventure Land
There are thrills galore at the Park's Headland Rides & Adventure Land. You’ll hear Ocean Park’s biggest scream here. Actually you are licensed to yell and scream here without receiving any complaints.
All the games here are extremely exciting. Don’t go on to any of them if you have heart attack. Even if you are fit enough, I would suggest limiting your rides to two, and no more than three. Otherwise you might have to go home with a spinning head and dizzy.
I remember I kept crying for help when I saw clouds underneath my feet on the Mine Train. I wanted to get off the boat once The Flying Swing started. Of course, I was not able to and ended up in desperate screaming.
Ferris Wheel however is more relaxing and with stunning views of the South China Sea. Great Fun!
The Ocean Park Escalator runs down from Pacific Pier to Mine Train to Raging River to Middle Kingdom with final destination at the Bird Paradize. It is one of the longest escalators in the world. There are 150 species and 1,200 birds together with a Flemingo Pond.
Best-of-the-Best of the Ocean Park, Hong Kong
Please make sure you don’t miss any of the following:
- Cable Car – be patient, there might be long lines on Sunday and holidays
- Ocean Theatre – it’s always full, go early and look for your favourite seat
- Sea Jelly Spectacular – latest state-of-the-art attraction of the Ocean Park
- Giant Panda – no need to go to Sichuan, kids would love to see them
- Atoll Reef – biggest aquarium in Asia with rare breeds, huge and beautiful fishes
- Shark Aquarium – Asia’s first underwater tunnel gives you an undersea feeling
Getting There
From Star Ferry or Admiralty MTR Exit B2, take special Citybus 629.
Adult: HK$10.6
Children: HK$5.3
Admission
Adult: HK$208
Children (3-11): HK$103
Under 3: Free
Some resellers might be able to get you better rates.
Open daily 10:00 – 18:00
Sunday & public holiday 9:30 - 19:00
Tickets are available at:
• Ocean Park main entrance and Tai Shui Wan entrance
• MTR Admiralty Exit B nearby Citybus route 629 terminal
• MTR Customer Services Centre at Admiralty station
The 629 double-decker bus ride is a fun experience. Take your children to the front of the upper deck to catch all the excitement and feel the pulse of the city of Hong Kong.
China travel tip: Ocean Park, Hong Kong
Bring lots of water. There are lots of food stalls and restaurants inside the Park, though expensive. Please expect to sweat a lot in the summer heat. Hong Kong can go up to 33 degrees Celsius in June, July and August. Bring a small towel, it would work better than a handkerchief. Of course don’t forget your hat, sun glasses and comfortable walking shoes.
Please spend at least one whole day at the Ocean Park. Otherwise you won’t have enough time to visit all the interesting spots.
For additional Hong Kong travel information, check Lonely Planet's Hong Kong & Macau City Guide
Ocean Park Pandas Blog
The Ocean Park pandas have their own blog.
They are here to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - July 1, 2007.
Panda Blog has some very amusing videos about Pandas' daily life. Please enjoy.
