Beyond the usual Hong Kong summer
It’s not uncommon to see Filipino tourists fly to Hong Kong once, tick off the signature sights to see, then rarely ever return. Perhaps we find little reason to, after we finish the parks, shops, and Macau day trips.
Ocean Park Hong Kong and the nearby Water World would like to prove otherwise, and safe to say it won our tour group over. It may not seem like it, with these parks’ sprawling hectares and world-class attractions, but I’d argue they are hidden gems, at least for us. Our tour group rarely spotted Filipinos, which was unusual for the end of summer, in a country so nearby and familiar, with activities perfect for Filipino families and friend groups.
These two resorts are giving every Filipino family a reason to return to Hong Kong.
So, in service of the great Gen Z tradition of ungatekeeping, here’s everything that made us fall in love with Ocean Park Hong Kong and Water World.
Ocean Park Hong Kong
What if your typical Pinoy school field trip itinerary—zoo, giant aquarium, then a theme park to end the night—merged into one giant park spanning almost 100 hectares?
You get Ocean Park Hong Kong, though they would like to make clear that it’s less of a theme park and more about conservation. As a non-profit statutory body and registered charitable organization in Hong Kong, the park is home to some of the rarest animals in Asia, most notably a family of giant pandas. Their twin cubs Jia Jia and De De celebrated their second birthday this August with a park-wide, month-long celebration.
The park is intentional in recreating the animals’ natural habitat, and visitor interaction is designed to be as least disruptive as possible. Throughout the attractions are information cards about the animals—in the case of the pandas, including how they were born and raised—and staff are prepared to answer questions not just about the animals themselves but how the park cares for them.
Not being a theme park doesn’t mean it’s any less fun, of course, but that they take fun more seriously. It has two main attraction areas: The Waterfront, which visitors see immediately upon entrance and where most animals are, and The Summit, accessible via a five-minute Ocean Express train ride or a 20-minute cable car. The latter’s Thrill Mountain resembles the carnivals we’re more familiar with—be warned, though, since the rides are adrenaline-pumpers even for the more adventurous like myself—and Polar Adventure lets you take a closer look at different penguin species.
The park has over 80 attractions across these two main areas, and throughout the year, it hosts seasonal festivals and special events for conservation and education. During our visit, interactive activities themed around beloved Sanrio characters were dotted around the park.
Despite being there for an entire day, we still left some areas unexplored. With the size of the park and its range of activities, visitors can curate an itinerary best fit for their interests and energy levels, or just go with the flow and see what they’re drawn to. Ocean Park has a dedicated MTR station on the South Island line, so you can easily stay from opening to closing just as we did.
Where to eat
The dining options inside Ocean Park are attractions in themselves. For lunch, head to Tuxedos Restaurant at The Summit, the only restaurant in Hong Kong where you can dine beside penguins. Neptune’s Restaurant gives a different meaning to dinner with a view: you are served contemporary Chinese cuisine while facing The Grand Aquarium, one of the largest in Asia with over 200 marine species.
Where to stay
Just a few steps away is Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, the only resort hotel under Marriott in the country. Sticking to the ocean theme, it has a lobby aquarium nearly 50 feet tall and Ocean Park-inspired family rooms. It has 471 rooms and business facilities across its three towers, though of course an easy highlight is its lagoon pool bordered by lush greenery.
The hotel also features four restaurants, a luxurious Thai spa, a 24-hour fitness center, and different kids’ activities, including a mini pickleball park.
Tickets to Hong Kong Ocean Park cost HKD 538 for adults (ages 12 and above) and HKD 269 for kids (ages 3-11). Visit oceanpark.com.hk for more information.
Water World Ocean Park
A shuttle away from Ocean Park is Water World Ocean Park, a 700,000-square-foot water park with 27 indoor and outdoor attractions. It’s almost labyrinthine, with slides and activities of different intensity levels: among them a 740-meter-long lazy river, the enormous Vortex!, and the ever-Instagrammable Rainbow Rush, a set of rainbow-colored slides that are definitely bigger and higher than the photos make them appear.
Visitors wanting a more relaxed vibe can choose between the indoor and outdoor wave pools. Since some attractions are indoors, the park can remain open even with rain. DJ nights also keep the park open until 11 p.m. on weekends (it closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays).
From afar, the park blends into the hillside with its green roofs, and inside the park, you’re treated to a delightful view of the ocean.
Where to eat
Casual dining options are scattered in the park, all with ample indoor and outdoor seating. All food and beverage outlets have both international and local favorites.
Where to stay
Easily one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve had the fortune of staying at is the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel, just a short walk from Water World. All 425 rooms are oceanfront, spectacularly showcased in floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s the first Fullerton resort in the world, and the one Lionel Messi famously stayed at during his 2024 visit to Hong Kong with the rest of the Inter Miami football club.
Guests can also enjoy an infinity pool, a kids’ lagoon, an indoor kids’ zone, a gym, a luxury spa, and three sun-filled dining spots.
The Fullerton also has a strategic collaboration with Ocean Park, sharing its commitment to sustainability and education. The hotel has eliminated single-use plastic, sources sustainable seafood, and has an in-situ hotel farm.
Post-Summer Splash Admission Tickets to Water World cost HKD 196 for adults on Monday-Friday (except park rest days and public holidays) and HKD 288 for weekends and holidays. These prices apply from Sept. 1 to Oct. 14. Cabanas are also available for groups at ticketing.oceanpark.com.hk.
