Repulse Bay and the Southside Beaches from Causeway Bay
The south side of Hong Kong Island is the shortest true escape from Causeway Bay: cross the Aberdeen Tunnel and you are on a coast road of bays and beaches in well under half an hour. Repulse Bay is the headline, but the same corridor leads to quiet local coves and, further east, to the surfing beaches of Shek O. This page answers the two practical questions - how do I get there from Causeway Bay, and what is actually on the beach when I arrive.
One verified green minibus does most of the work, so you do not need a car, a taxi or a tour to reach Repulse Bay from Causeway Bay.
Which beach, and how to get there
Everything below sits on the same south-side corridor out of Causeway Bay. The green minibus 40X covers Repulse Bay and the Cape Road / Stanley run directly; Deep Water Bay and the Shek O beaches are served by the same corridor and are best reached by bus or taxi from the Causeway Bay terminus.
| Beach | How to reach it from Causeway Bay | On the beach | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repulse Bay Beach Beach Road, Repulse Bay |
Green minibus 40X through the Aberdeen Tunnel; HK$7.9 Causeway Bay to Repulse Bay | Restaurant, refreshment kiosk, changing room, showers, toilets, raft, playground, beach volleyball court | Classic beach day, families, food on site |
| Deep Water Bay Beach Island Road, Deep Water Bay |
Same Tunnel corridor, one stop nearer Causeway Bay than Repulse Bay | Fast-food kiosk, 35 BBQ pits, changing room, showers, toilets, raft | Barbecues, a calmer, shorter hop |
| Middle Bay Beach South Bay Road, Repulse Bay |
Same corridor, just past Repulse Bay | Refreshment kiosk, 9 BBQ pits, changing room, showers, raft | Quiet swimming, small and sheltered |
| South Bay Beach South Bay Road, Repulse Bay |
Same corridor, next bay along from Middle Bay | Refreshment kiosk, 16 BBQ pits, changing room, showers, bathing shed, raft | A low-key local beach with BBQ space |
| Shek O Beach Shek O Road, Shek O |
Further east on the same island; bus or taxi (see below) | Refreshment restaurant, 39 BBQ pits, changing room, showers, toilets, playground, car park, obstacle golf course | A full day out; the busiest south-side beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach Big Wave Bay Road, Shek O |
Further east, beyond Shek O village; bus or taxi | Fast-food kiosk, 20 BBQ pits, changing room, showers, toilets | Surf, and the end point of the Dragon's Back walk |
Source: Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) beach information for the Southern District, linked in full at the foot of this page.
Repulse Bay, the easy one
Repulse Bay is the south-side beach that needs no planning. Green Minibus Route 40X runs between Stanley (Stanley Prison) and Causeway Bay, and its published routing goes by way of Repulse Bay Road, Island Road and the Aberdeen Tunnel. In Causeway Bay it picks up around Jardine's Bazaar and Hennessy Road before heading through the Tunnel, so you board in the middle of the district and step off at the beach.
The 40X runs essentially all day: on Mondays to Saturdays from 06:00 to midnight every 3 to 8 minutes, and on Sundays and public holidays from 06:00 to midnight every 4 to 9 minutes. The service is operated by Aberdeen Maxicab Service Co. Ltd (hotline 2873 6808), and the published fare from Causeway Bay to Repulse Bay is HK$7.9. The same service continues past Repulse Bay toward Cape Road and on to Stanley.
If you are paying by Octopus, the green minibus and MTR interchange discount applies: HK$0.5 off when you switch between a green minibus and the MTR within 90 minutes using the same Octopus card. It is a small saving, but it makes the MTR-plus-minibus combination the cheapest way to reach the south side.
On arrival, Repulse Bay Beach (Beach Road) has a restaurant and a light refreshment kiosk on site, plus changing rooms, showers, toilets, a self-service storage cage and a raft. There is also a playground and a beach volleyball court, which makes it the most straightforward choice if you are with children or want to eat without leaving the sand. The beach office can be reached on 2812 2483.
Deep Water Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay
If Repulse Bay looks busy, three smaller beaches sit on the same stretch of coast and share the same access.
Deep Water Bay Beach (Island Road) is the closest of the group to Causeway Bay - it comes before Repulse Bay on the Tunnel side. It is the barbecue beach of the south side, with a fast-food kiosk and 35 BBQ pits, alongside changing rooms, showers, toilets and a raft. Beach office: 2812 0228.
Middle Bay Beach (South Bay Road, Repulse Bay) is the quietest of the three, a small sheltered bay with a refreshment kiosk, 9 BBQ pits, changing rooms, showers and a raft. Beach office: 2812 2546.
South Bay Beach (South Bay Road, Repulse Bay) is the next bay along, slightly larger, with a refreshment kiosk, 16 BBQ pits, changing rooms, showers, a bathing shed and a raft. Beach office: 2812 2468.
These three are for a slower day: bring your own supplies, expect fewer people, and check the lifeguard table below, because they do not all keep the same winter cover as Deep Water Bay.
Shek O and Big Wave Bay
Further east, past Stanley, the coast opens up into Shek O - a different kind of day out, and a longer trip from Causeway Bay. Shek O Beach (Shek O Road) is the big one: a light refreshment restaurant, 39 BBQ pits, changing rooms, showers, toilets, a playground, a car park and an obstacle golf course. It is the only beach in this group with its own car park, which is why it is popular with drivers and with groups. Beach office: 2809 4557.
Big Wave Bay Beach (Big Wave Bay Road, Shek O) is the surf beach and the end point of the Hong Kong Trail's final stage. It has a fast-food kiosk, 20 BBQ pits, changing rooms, showers and toilets. Beach office: 2809 4558.
Both are reached from the same south-side corridor, by bus or taxi from Causeway Bay; they are not on the 40X routing. Treat Shek O as a half-day or full-day trip rather than a quick hop. For the Stanley end of the route and the bus options that serve it, see our Causeway Bay transport guide.
Swimming seasons and lifeguard hours
Lifeguard cover on the gazetted south-side beaches follows an LCSD seasonal schedule, so it changes through the year. The pattern is: full cover from April to October, reduced hours in November and March, and a suspension in the depth of winter on most beaches. Repulse Bay and Middle Bay have no lifeguard service at all from December to February; Deep Water Bay is the exception, keeping cover right through the winter.
| Beach | April to October | November | December to February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repulse Bay | Apr-May and Sep-Oct 9am-6pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat/Sun/PH 8am-7pm | 8am-5pm | Suspended | 8am-5pm |
| Deep Water Bay | Apr-May and Sep-Oct 9am-6pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat/Sun/PH 8am-7pm | 8am-5pm | 8am-5pm | 8am-5pm |
| Middle Bay | Apr-May and Sep-Oct 9am-6pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat/Sun/PH 8am-7pm | 8am-5pm | Suspended | Suspended |
| South Bay | Apr-May and Sep-Oct 9am-6pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat/Sun/PH 8am-7pm | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended |
| Shek O | Apr-May and Sep-Oct 9am-6pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat/Sun/PH 8am-7pm | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended |
| Big Wave Bay | Apr-May and Sep-Oct 9am-6pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat/Sun/PH 8am-7pm | 8am-5pm | Suspended | 8am-5pm |
This is the published LCSD schedule, not a live status: hours can change with weather and special incidents, so check the LCSD beach page or call the beach office before you travel out of season. Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and the other gazetted beaches in this group carry shark prevention nets through the swimming season.
Combine it with the Dragon's Back hike
If you want more than a beach, the same south-east corner holds one of Hong Kong's best-known walks. Shek O Country Park covers 701 hectares and was designated in 1979. It is the park behind Shek O Peak, and it contains three linked trails, including the last two stages of the Hong Kong Trail.
The practical combination is this: walk the famous ridgeline section of the Hong Kong Trail, which finishes by descending to Big Wave Bay - and swim or eat there before heading back. A separate, easier option, the Pottinger Peak Country Trail, also runs within the park. Either way you finish on a beach rather than at a bus stop in the middle of the island, which is what makes the Dragon's Back memorable. Our Causeway Bay things-to-do guide and Hong Kong attractions page cover the rest of the district's day-trip options.
Getting back to Causeway Bay
Because the 40X runs in both directions until midnight, the return trip is the same service in reverse - board the Causeway Bay-bound minibus at Repulse Bay and travel back through the Aberdeen Tunnel. The published section fare between Causeway Bay and Stanley is HK$12.3, and the Causeway Bay to Repulse Bay fare is HK$7.9; the full published fare table, including Cape Road and intermediate sections, is on the Transport Department page linked below. If you are coming back late, keep an Octopus card topped up and remember the last departures are around midnight, not later.
For the wider network - MTR, buses, taxis and airport transfers - see the Causeway Bay transport guide, and use our Causeway Bay map to orient yourself before you leave the district.
Frequently asked questions
Can I swim in winter at Repulse Bay?
The beach stays open, but from December to February there is no lifeguard service at Repulse Bay or Middle Bay, and the same is true at South Bay, Shek O and Big Wave Bay throughout the winter. Deep Water Bay keeps 8am-5pm lifeguard cover in December to February. Out of season, treat any swim as unsupervised.
Which beach is closest to Causeway Bay?
Deep Water Bay is the first of the south-side beaches on the Tunnel corridor, so it is the shortest hop. Repulse Bay is a few minutes further and is the busiest and best equipped. Both are served by the same coast road.
Is there a minibus from Causeway Bay to Repulse Bay?
Yes - Green Minibus Route 40X runs between Causeway Bay and Stanley (Stanley Prison) via Repulse Bay Road and the Aberdeen Tunnel, roughly every 3 to 8 minutes on weekdays and 4 to 9 minutes on Sundays and public holidays, from 06:00 to midnight. The fare from Causeway Bay to Repulse Bay is HK$7.9.
Do I need to book anything?
No. The 40X is a turn-up-and-board public minibus, and the beaches are public. Pay with an Octopus card, or in cash with the exact fare.
Sources
- Transport Department - Hong Kong Island Green Minibus Route 40X (routing, fare table, frequency, operator, Octopus interchange discount; page last revised 17 August 2026): Transport Department GMB route 40X
- Leisure and Cultural Services Department - beach information, Southern District (addresses, telephone numbers, facilities and lifeguard service hours): LCSD beaches (Southern)
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department - Shek O Country Park (area and year of designation, Hong Kong Trail and Pottinger Peak Country Trail): AFCD Shek O Country Park
Fares and lifeguard hours are seasonal and were last checked against the official pages in October 2026. Always confirm the current fare table and lifeguard schedule at the source links above before you travel.