Planning a family day
Ocean Park with children
How to plan a day at Ocean Park Hong Kong with children: the zone built for the youngest, strollers and lockers, hills, breaks and food.
See tickets on Klook ↗Quick answer
Ocean Park works for children of many ages, but the hills need planning. The Waterfront has Whiskers Harbour, a zone built for the youngest children. Strollers and wheelchairs can be rented at Aqua City, and you can leave and re-enter on the same day with a wristband. Start on the Waterfront, rest often, and check the height rules for each ride.
A zone built for little ones
Wikipedia describes Whiskers Harbour, on the Waterfront, as a zone with attractions for younger children. It lists a hot-air-balloon Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, a playground, a small train and a games zone among them. The park's attractions page also lists Castle of Redd, a playground in the zone, and the Merry-Go-Round. If your children are small, the zone is a natural place to start and to return to between the bigger rides.
Strollers, lockers and rests
The park's FAQ says strollers and wheelchairs can be rented at the Locker, Stroller and Wheelchair Rental in Aqua City, on the Waterfront, with a refundable deposit, and that lockers are available there and at the Summit. Because the Waterfront sits at the base and the Summit up the mountain, a stroller is useful for the first half of the day. Ask at the rental counter what you can take up to the Summit before you commit.
The hills and the lifts
The park is built on a mountain, so a family day involves slopes. The cable car and the Ocean Express funicular link the Waterfront and the Summit, and the park calls the funicular a four-minute ride that mimics a trip in a submarine. Wikipedia also notes an outdoor escalator system on the Summit. Use the lifts, not the walking routes, with tired children, and treat the cable car as part of the day's fun. A funicular ride between the halves also works as a short rest for small legs.
Rides and height rules
Every ride has its own height and age rules, and the park's attractions page is where they are listed. Check them for each child before you queue, because a refused ride is a long walk back. The page also lets you filter attractions by accessibility, which is useful for families with different needs. If a child is too small for a ride, walk-through zones such as the aquarium and the panda area keep the whole group together. Older children who are tall enough will find most of the thrill rides on the Summit, so save that half for later in the day.
Food, drink and prayer
The park's FAQ says Halal-certified food, Indian food and vegetarian dishes are available at designated restaurants and kiosks, and that a prayer room sits at the Summit next to The Flash. Power-bank rental stations are placed around the park. Look at the park's dining page for current restaurants before you go, since menus and venues change. Dietary needs are easiest to plan for in the larger restaurants, so look at the dining page before you set a meal time.
Breaks, naps and re-entry
If a child needs a nap or a long lunch, ask the staff at the turnstile for a wristband before you leave the park and show it with your ticket on return. Plan the day as two loops with a break between them: the Waterfront in the morning and the Summit after a rest, or the reverse. Keep one cheap activity in reserve, such as the Ocean Express ride, for a moment when everyone needs to sit. If you plan two loops, decide at lunchtime whether the afternoon should be rides or animals, depending on how tired everyone is.
Who this isn't for
Ocean Park is not the best fit for children who mostly want to meet film characters, since the park is built around animals and rides. It is also a tiring day for very young children without a stroller, and the tickets cannot be cancelled once booked, so do not buy for a day when a child may be unwell. An open-date ticket gives 180 days to choose a better day.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a zone for young children?
Yes. Whiskers Harbour on the Waterfront has attractions for younger children, including a hot-air-balloon Ferris wheel, a playground and a small train.
Can I rent a stroller?
Yes. Strollers and wheelchairs can be rented at Aqua City on the Waterfront, with a refundable deposit, according to the park's FAQ.
What age counts as a child ticket?
The park's FAQ lists child as ages 3 to 11 and under 3 free. Check the Klook package page for the voucher's rules.
Can we leave for a nap and return?
Yes. Ask staff at the turnstile for a wristband before leaving, then show it with your ticket on return.
Where are the height rules?
On each attraction's page on the park's website, which also lets you filter by accessibility.
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