Hong Kong Wetland Park

Hong Kong Wetland Park is the side of Hong Kong most visitors never imagine: a large reserve of ponds, reedbeds, mangroves and mudflats in the north-west New Territories, created as a conservation and education park on the edge of Deep Bay and the internationally important Mai Po wetlands. It lies at the northern end of Tin Shui Wai, a new town of high-rise estates, and the contrast between the towers on one side and the wetland on the other is part of its appeal. Boardwalks and trails lead through freshwater marshes, a stream walk, a mangrove boardwalk and a butterfly garden, and three bird hides look out over the ponds and the mudflats beyond. In the cooler months, roughly from autumn to spring, tens of thousands of migratory waterbirds pass through or winter in Deep Bay, and the hides are the easiest place in Hong Kong to see herons, egrets, cormorants, ducks and waders, with Shenzhen's skyline across the water. In warmer months the stars are smaller: fiddler crabs waving their claws, mudskippers skipping across the mud, dragonflies and butterflies. The park's best-known resident is Pui Pui, a saltwater crocodile found in a nearby river in the early 2000s and given a home here, who can usually be seen basking in the crocodile enclosure. Admission is inexpensive, with concessions for children and seniors. The indoor exhibition galleries and some visitor centre facilities are currently closed for upgrading, and online ticketing is suspended, so tickets are sold at the entrance and the visit focuses on the outdoor reserve, which is the main attraction in any case. The park closes on one weekday each week. It is a long trip from the city centre, but for families, birdwatchers and anyone who wants open space and wildlife, it is well worth the journey.

Getting there: take the MTR Tuen Ma Line to Tin Shui Wai, then the Light Rail to Wetland Park station, a short walk from the entrance. From Tsim Sha Tsui allow about an hour each way. The Light Rail network can be confusing, so check the route number before boarding. Taxis from Tin Shui Wai MTR station are an easier alternative for families.

When to go: for birds, the cooler months are the best time, and mornings are better than afternoons. For crabs and mudskippers, check the tide times: they are most active on exposed mud. Summer is hot and humid, with little shade on some trails, so bring water, sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent, and plan an early start. Weekends and school holidays can be busy around the crocodile enclosure, but the trails and hides absorb the crowds. Binoculars make a big difference in the hides; bring your own if you have them.

Practical notes: because the exhibition galleries are being upgraded, check the official site for which indoor facilities are open before you go, and expect to pay at the gate. Allow two to three hours to walk the main trails and visit the hides. There is a cafe and a shop. The trails are flat and accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs. If you are a serious birdwatcher, the neighbouring Mai Po Nature Reserve requires a permit or a guided tour booked in advance; Wetland Park is the easy, no-permit alternative.