With Hong Kong’s most spectacular views, cooler
climes and quiet wooded walks, it’s no wonder Victoria Peak is so
popular with tourists and the super rich who occupy the exclusive
properties clinging to its high slopes. The Peak Tram takes under 10
minutes to reach Victoria Gap, pinning you to your seat as it’s hauled
up the sheer slope at the end of a single cable (don’t worry, its safety
record is spotless).
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Despite the fact that a
single steel cable hauls the tram up a long and incredibly steep track,
the Peak Tram has a faultless safety record since the service opened in
1888. The most severe disruption to services came in the 1960s when
torrents of water from an especially violent typhoon washed part of the
track away.
The Peak Tram
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If the weather is misty or
there’s low cloud, put off a visit to the Peak until a clearer day as
the chances are you’ll be able to see very little.
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In the Peak Tower, Café
Deco’s smart interior, wide food choices and good service make it an
excellent drinking and dining stop. For fantastic sea views over to
Lamma Island dine or drink in the Peak Lookout’s lovely garden terrace.
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Top 10 Sights
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Peak Tower
The
Peak Tram empties into this ugly anvil-shaped mall containing shops,
cafés, restaurants and viewing gallery. The refreshment and tourist
trinkets inside may not inspire, but children will enjoy the latest
computer games on offer at the EA Experience and Madame Tussaud’s famous
waxworks.
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Galleria
Although
the imposing Peak Tower mall is hardly sensitive to its grand setting
there is a good range of places to eat and drink inside its Galleria,
with great views down onto city and harbour, and across to Lamma Island.
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The Peak Lookout
This
much-loved, up-market drinking and dining favourite boasts a lovely
garden terrace, great food, an excellent wine list and a friendly
ambience.
Terrace dining
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Barker and Plantation Roads
These
usually quiet (although pavement-free) roads are worth wandering for a
peep at some of the Peak’s pricier properties, including
23 Severn Road
(see World’s Most Expensive House). Most have amazing harbour views. But dream on. You would have to be a millionaire just to afford a two-bedroom flat here.
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Pok Fu Lam Country Park
For a gentle half-hour ramble, head down Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road, then catch a bus back into town.
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World’s Most Expensive House
In 1997 an offer of HK$900m for the newly built property at
23 Severn Road
was incredibly refused. Weeks later, prices crashed, and by 2001 the house was valued at a “mere” third of the price.
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Victoria Peak Garden
The
steep struggle up Mount Austin Road or the longer route along the
Governor’s Walk to these well-tended gardens is worth the effort. The
viewing platform faces Lamma Island.
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Old Peak Rd
The
old footpath up to the Peak before the Peak Tram arrived is pleasant
and shaded. But the traffic can be busy at the bottom of Peak Road so
it’s best to detour onto Tregunter Path near the bottom.
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View near Summit
The
summit itself is fenced off and covered by telecom masts, but the views
from the edges of Victoria Peak Garden are excellent.
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Lugard and Harlech Roads
The
effortless way to see most of the best views on offer from the Peak is
on the shaded, well-paved, 2-mile (3-km) circular walk along Lugard Road
and Harlech Road. It also makes a terrific jogging track with a view.