Camping in the outlying islands

To most of our city dwellers, the thought of taking young children camping, along with all the planning and luggage it entails, might seem somewhat laughable and only for hardy, outdoor types. But that hasn't been my experience at all.

Hong Kong offers many camping opportunities through purpose-built sites at its beaches and country parks. And some of the most family friendly options can be found along the beaches of South Lantau. The adventurous can pitch tents, but you could plump for the more luxurious option of staying in a large safari tent complete with wooden floor and air conditioning.

So a night or even two in a tent with a family requires no more packing and paraphernalia than a day at the beach does - swimsuits, plenty of sunblock, a towel or two if they will fit in the bag, spare clothes and a stockpile of snacks. Throw in some pyjamas, sheets and an air bed if you have one, and you are ready to turn a day trip into an overnight stay.

But for a more down-to-earth experience, it's worth heading to the public campsite on Pui O beach. You will need to take your own tent, which can be bought, rented or borrowed.

On a recent outing, our children slept as soundly in the tent as they did at home, probably because they hogged the air bed, forcing my husband and I onto the sand. The sound of waves crashing against the shore also helped lull them to sleep. And they were breathing slightly fresher, cleaner air.

There is something wonderful about being able to spend most of the weekend outside in nature. Everything we ate came from the barbecue, and the tastiest morsels, hands down, were the fresh clams that our party spent several happy hours plucking from the seabed.

There is no need to take the iPad. Between swimming, digging for clams, chasing hermit crabs and building sandcastles, the children had plenty to amuse themselves.