Hong Kong Multi-Centre Holidays

Spending a few nights in Hong Kong is a brilliant way of breaking up the arduous journey to Australia – from HK it’s only a nine-hour flight to Sydney. In the Harbour City you’ll be able to tick off such iconic attractions as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Garden, as well as tackling the surf at Bondi Beach or taking a dip in the famous Icebergs pool.

But that needn’t be the end of your Hong Kong multi-centre holiday. From Sydney you could always journey west to Melbourne – Victoria’s cultural and culinary capital – or head north to Queensland and discover the Great Barrier Reef. Alternatively, you could fly from Hong Kong to Perth, in Western Australia, and check out a whole other side to Oz.

Just a three-hour flight away, this Southeast Asian gem is a popular choice for a Hong Kong multi-centre holiday. Like Hong Kong itself, Thailand’s incredibly diverse, so ticks a lot of boxes for all kinds of holiday goers.

If you’re keen for a bit more city living, spend some time in Bangkok. Thailand’s compelling capital is full to bursting with famous landmarks like the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, not to mention a decent helping of shopping centres, street food vendors and rooftop bars. Alternatively, you could visit Chiang Mai in the north of the country. Far more chilled out than Bangkok, it’s famed for its misty mountains, colourful hill tribes and ethical elephant sanctuaries. Or if it’s palm-fringed beaches you’re after, Thailand delivers there too. There are plenty on the mainland but many of the best are found on its islands.

Hong Kong acts as a gateway to mainland China, so if you’re keen to explore this exciting East Asian country, a Hong Kong multi-centre holiday’s a great way to go about it. A vast and well-populated nation, China packs in a variety of cultures and landscapes, as well as plenty of palaces, temples, gardens and skyscrapers.

Long-time capital Beijing plays host to numerous historic landmarks, including the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Tiananmen Square. But it also has a modern, cosmopolitan side and its nightlife scene’s up there with the very best of them. Plus, it can lay claim to having the most gravity-defying section of the Great Wall of China!

Besides Beijing, there’s glittering Shanghai, gastronomic Chengdu and ancient Xi’an – the one-time terminus of the Silk Road and home of the Terracotta Army. Or, if you’re keen to explore more of Greater China, why not add on Macao or Taiwan?

Soaring temperatures, high humidity and the possibility of typhoons mean that a Hong Kong multi-centre holiday is best avoided in the summer. However, spring, autumn and winter are all great times to visit. But when picking which month to travel, you obviously need to consider what the weather will be doing in your next destination as well.

For instance, much of Australia stays balmy all year round – and of course when it’s winter in Hong Kong it’ll be summer in Oz. However, you may wish to avoid certain parts of the country – like Western Australia, Northern Territory and Far North Queensland – at the peak of summer, when temperatures frequently surpass 35°C. Conversely, Melbourne and Sydney aren’t always as warm as you might expect and both can get down to single figures during winter.

If you’re planning to combine Hong Kong with a trip to Southeast Asia then be sure to check when the rainy season is. This varies from country to country – and in certain places it changes from one region to another. So careful planning is needed!