Cycling and Walking from Quarry Bay to Central inc North Point Waterfront Promenade

When collecting a new bicycle from Decathlon in Tai Koo Shing, I figured it might be interesting and some fun to try cycling along the waterfront to the Central Ferry Piers [then, ferry to Cheung Chau]. Well, it turned out to be a curate’s egg – good in places.

Escape from Tai Koo Shing: Quarry Bay waterfront tough to reach

*Tai Koo Shing: ultra urban, waterfront close but out of sight*

Part of the issue, I’ll admit, was not really knowing the way, and not referring too closely to Google Maps – in part as the latter is a tad confusing as there’s an expressway considerably overlapping the waterfront promenade; also as I rather too optimistically anticipated good signage, as I’ve become used to in parts of Hong Kong.

Simply escaping the very urban Tai Koo Shing proved a bit maafan, initially lacking obvious routes to the waterfront.

Eventually I reached Quarry Bay Park Phase II, which is only tantalisingly close to the waterfront.

*Along the harbourside at Quarry Bay – where work is still underway on the promenade route*

Then, I found there is still work underway on the promenade route at Quarry Bay, and only part of the promenade is accessible. Had to return somewhat “inland” soon after this narrow path.

North Point Waterfront Promenade

*Promenade at North Point, a little west of Quarry Bay*

Eventually – after a promenade by a sort of park behind high-rise apartment blocks, I arrived at the newly made waterfront promenade along the shore of North Point. MUCH easier going here: pleasant cycling, expansive views over the harbour. Expressway above, with traffic rumbling, so a somewhat dystopian nature to this route.

*Below the Expressway, with views towards Tsim Sha Tsui*

*Central–Wan Chai Bypass East Vent Shaft, on a short pier that’s a nice place to visit, with expansive harbour views*

Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter

The promenade ended, and the way west continued along a street, before soon arriving by Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter. Here, there were motor yachts, yachts and sampans and small boats, rather as there had been for years; with the Expressway above making for urban/dystopian scenes.

*Noonday Gun area; actual gun under tarpaulin*

Onwards and westwards, I soon passed the Noonday Gun.

*Footbridge west of Causeway Bay, over one of the roads associated with the Cross Harbour Tunnel*

Then, whoops!, my route went very very wrong. I missed a right turn to Kellet Island – not knowing that now, this is linked to the promenade that continues west towards Wanchai. Instead I went up and over two or three footbridges, and arrived at a highway in Wanchai.

Cycling west, and taking care regarding traffic, I kept looking for ways to turn north towards the waterfront, but saw nothing obvious.

Central Waterfront [Admiralty too]

After passing the Convention and Exhibition Centre, I did make a right turn, to the waterfront on the edge of Central – from where it was an easy, familiar trip to Central Ferry Piers.