Sunday, October 2, 2011

Tai Tam Resevoir & Waterfall, via Tsz Lo Lan Shan Trail (紫羅蘭山徑)

(Updated 2019-APR-16)
Duration: 
3 hours

Difficulty: 
3/10. 

Cel phone coverage: ?.

Water needs: 1.5 liter.

Appreciation: 8/10 is you love waterfalls.Some nice views

Map & Details: n/a

Exercise Area: No

Transportation: Take Bus #6 at Exchange Square (Central). Get down at Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park (don't forget to swipe you Octopus again to get a discount). Return  at via NWFB route 14 on Tai Tam road, to Sai Wan Ho MTR station.

Why it's worth it: 

















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This is the Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park bus #6 stop. The gas station will be on your left. The stop will be indicated in advance on the bus' prompter. From Exchange Square in Central, it's about a 20 minutes bus ride. Once you're out, stock up on water at the gas station's store if you forgot to do so beforehand. Once ready, take the stairs on your left before the overpass.

At the top of the stairs, head left. You will see part of the reservoir's structure in the distance.

Cross the street and walk behind the sign announcing the entrance to the private estate.

Don't walk on the private road, walk along the path right next to the reservoir. It's not very wide. You can see a set of stairs in the distance. Don't take the stairs, keep going straight.

Remember, don't take the stairs, keep going straight.

You will follow the rainwater drain for a big portion of the first 1/6 of the way. Some vista but nothing much.

Maybe 45 minutes to an hour in, you'll have a point with a nice view of Repulse Bay with its pristine yellow beach.

Keep following the path until you reach an intersection. Go right and down 
(Follow "Tai Tam Tuk via Tze Kong Bridge").


Keep going on the same path. You'll have some nice vistas and you will reach another intersection. Turn left to follow Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. You will follow the Intermediate Tai Tam reservoir for a while until you get to the dam.

At the dam, you get take a breather and go snap a few pictures on the dam. But the path itself if past the dam and then to you left.

A few minutes later, there's a patch to the left and going down. Don't take it. Just keep going straight.

You'll get to the second dam. There are picnic tables and BBQ pit which are nice to stop at and enjoy a short break for lunch. There's a gazebo as well, in case its raining. When you are done, go over the dam's bridge.

You are now on Tai Tam Reservoir road. Keep going straight up on it. That's about the extent of the uphill terrain you will have to deal with. After 5-10 minutes, you'll see a sign on your right as well as a path. Take it, that's the waterfall trail. At this point, you are probable 2/2.5 hours in depending on your walking speed.

You'll be walking on that trail for about 20 minutes. At one point, you'll start hearing the waterfall and the path will be going down hill. There will be a curve, then a few steps and a bridge. Right before the bridge, on your right, you will notice an opening in the bushes. That's the "secret" access to the bottom of the waterfall.

Yep, it's a bit tricky and can be slippery, just be careful and make sure you have good shoes. No flip-flops!

That's what's waiting for you at the end. Well worth it. Water is nice and refreshing.

When you are done, climb up from you came from and head right on the path. After another 15 or so minutes, you will emerge at the Tai Tam road. The #14 bus stop is on your right, about 100 meters out. Be careful as there's no sidewalk. Now, if you want to go to the Sai Wan Ho MTR, you take the #14 bus on the right. If you cross the street and go 50 meters further down, the #14 there will get you to Stanley where you can do some shopping at the market and grab a nice supper.

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Please, don't litter!

Hiking is about communion with nature. So please pickup after yourself. There's no excuse to leave plastic bags, water bottles or any rubbish on or around the trails; if you managed to bring it, you can manage to bring it back!