Ocean Park Hong Kong

Ocean Park Hong Kong is a place I’m in two minds about. I loved the rides and I loved learning about the fauna there but that fauna is held captive.

Before we get to Ocean Park Hong Kong we need to show a photograph of my breakfast from the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

A photograph of scrambled eggs and jam on toast
Scrambled eggs and jam on toast

Prior to leaving for Hong Kong, Ms20 had arranged ground transport with Buffalo Tours from our hotel to Ocean Park Hong Kong. After breakfast we waited for our shuttle bus. It was delayed but not too delayed. The guide on the shuttle bus was very good at explaining what we should see and do when we got to Ocean Park. He was also very careful to explain our pick up point and pick up time.

A photograph of The Grand Aquarium Ocean Park Hong Kong
The Grand Aquarium Ocean Park
A photograph of The cable car at Ocean Park Hong Kong
The cable car at Ocean Park Hong Kong
Closer photograph of the Ocean Park cable cars
Ocean Park cable car
A photograph of Inside an Ocean Park cable car
Inside an Ocean Park cable car
A photograph of Ocean Park from a cable car
Ocean Park from a cable car
A photograph of Deep Water Bay Hong Kong after a lot of post processing in Adobe Lightroom. The haze was very severe.
Deep Water Bay Hong Kong after a lot of post processing in Adobe Lightroom. The haze was very severe.

It’s said Deep Water Bay is the wealthiest neighbourhood in the world.

A photograph of The Hair Raiser Roller Coaster at Ocean Park Hong Kong
The Hair Raiser Roller Coaster at Ocean Park Hong Kong

The Hair Raiser was the best ride we experienced in Hong Kong.
I found this YouTube video which shows just how much fun it is.

Best ride in Hong Kong.

A photograph of Miss14, Ms18 and Ms20 with Deep Water Bay in the background
Miss14, Ms18 and Ms20 with Deep Water Bay in the background
A photograph of my daughters in front of multiple Christmas trees.
All the Christmas trees
Colourful plastic vegetables and fruit
Colourful plastic vegetables and fruit
Colourful plastic vegetables
Colourful plastic vegetables
A photograph of Miss14, Ms18 and Ms20 with a Giant Panda
Miss14, Ms18 and Ms20 with a Giant Panda
A photograph of a Giant Panda doing what giant pandas do best
Giant Panda doing what giant pandas do best

There are four giant pandas held captive in Ocean Park Hong Kong. Two are kept in the open and the other two in a closed in enclosure.

A photograph of Miss14, Ms18 and Ms20 with a giant panda in the background
Miss14, Ms18 and Ms20 with a giant panda in the background
A photograph of A panda eating. I couldn't get a decent shot of its head.
A panda eating. I couldn’t get a decent shot of its head.
A photograph of Giant panda faeces. It looks like a tangle of bamboo shoots.
Giant panda faeces. It looks like a tangle of bamboo shoots.

After the cable car ride and visiting the Giant panda and panda exhibit we went back to the area of the rides. We went on two roller coasters which were great. As good as any roller coaster ride I’ve had in Australia and as good as Space Mountain at Hong Kong Disneyland.

After the rides we went for lunch. We thought we’d try the Terrace cafe. It looked nice but the maître d’ was incompetent beyond imagination. we walked away after 20 minutes of waiting and being ignored while others (who could speak Cantonese) pushed through and got tables.

We ended up in the cheap and cheerful eatery. I had roast duck and pork with rice.

A photograph of Roast pork and duck with rice from Ocean Park Hong Kong
Roast pork and duck with rice

After lunch we went to the arctic and antarctic exhibitions.

In the arctic exhibit there were seals and a couple of walruses. The walruses were huge.

A photograph of a Sea lion
Sea lion
A photograph of a Sea lion
Sea lion
A photograph of a walrus
Walrus
A photograph of a walrus
This walrus has very ugly mouth parts
A photograph of a walrus
This walrus has very ugly mouth parts
A photograph of Penguins in the Antarctic exhibit
Penguins in the Antarctic exhibit

After the arctic and antarctic exhibits we went to the dolphin show. I shot about a hundred photographs but when I looked through them all I saw were dolphins held in captivity. Ocean Park Hong Kong makes a strong point about conservation, animal welfare, protecting marine ecological systems and zöological research. I still feel uneasy about these animals being trained for entertainment.

A photograph of A dolphin leaping high
A dolphin leaping high
Parakeet
Parakeet

In the south American rain forest area there were some Capybara. These rodents are huge.

A photograph of a Capybara
Capybara
A photograph of Miss14 and a Capybara replica
Miss14 and a Capybara replica
A photograph of Ms20 and a Capybara replica
Ms20 and a Capybara replica
Miss14, Ms18 and Ms20 with tree giant pandas
Miss14, Ms18 and Ms20 with tree giant pandas
A photograph of us saying Farewell Ocean Park Hong Kong
Farewell Ocean Park Hong Kong

It was an enjoyable day at Ocean Park save for the lunch episode at the Terrace Cafe.

After we left we went to Times Square in Causeway Bay and enjoyed dinner, albeit an expensive dinner at Greenhouse.

I had Singapore noodles with lobster and bacon.

A photograph of a plate of Singapore noodles with lobster and bacon from Greenhouse
Singapore noodles with lobster and bacon

After such an expensive main course we went to McDonalds for dessert

A photograph of a McDonalds Strawberry Sundae
Strawberry Sundae

And so ended Saturday in Hong Kong. It was a good one.

Have you ever been to Ocean Park Hong Kong?

6 Responses

  1. Hi Gary. I have been once to Ocean Park (about seven years ago) and just enjoyed a few of the rides as the park was closing for renovations. The pandas seemed very well cared for as I was concerned about their welfare before going there. I thought their cages might be too small but they had lots of space (not in cages). So I really liked your comment that the park is concerned about animal welfare. I am like you if I ever went to a dolphin show (I never go) as all I would see are animals trained for entertainment which I am totally against. It’s sad. Great post. Am loving following your trip around HK.

    1. Thanks Sue. Part of me loves watching the dolphins jump and spin, but I’d prefer to see them do that out in the open ocean. I agree, the giant pandas have a large space, they seem to be content and given their endangered species status I think having some in captivity is not such a bad thing.

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