Lugard Falls

Victoria Peak / Tai Po Shan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

About Lugard Falls


Hiking Distance: about 800m round-trip (from Peak Tower)
Suggested Time: 15-30 mimutes

Date first visited: 2024-11-23
Date last visited: 2024-11-23

Waterfall Latitude: 22.27174
Waterfall Longitude: 114.14707

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Lugard Falls (盧吉飛瀑 [Lújífēi Pù] or [lou4 gat1 fei1 buk6] in Cantonese) could very well be the closest waterfall to the well-touristed Victoria Peak, which is something just about every visitor to Hong Kong pretty much has to experience.

More specifically, the waterfall is a mere 400m from the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria at the Victoria Peak touristed area.

Hong_Kong_217_11222024 - Lugard Falls
Lugard Falls

Yet even with the close proximity to such a famous attraction, I got the sense that very few of these people even bother to visit the waterfall (let alone be aware of it)!

Heck, when Julie and I first visited Hong Kong together in April 2009, we didn’t even know about this waterfall and thus we didn’t visit it even though we independently went up to Victoria Peak on our own.

Anyways, Lugard Falls is actually a fairly tall but temperamental waterfall since its location is so close to Victoria Peak that it doesn’t have a substantial drainage to sustain its flow for long periods of time.

Thus, for our late November 2024 visit (when I was finally able to witness it; more on this later), we were fortunate to have our trip preceded by some heavy rain a couple days before our arrival in Hong Kong.

Hong_Kong_027_iPhone_11232024 - Victoria Peak was the famous tourist attraction that just about all visitors would want to experience, but it was a short walking distance to get from here to the Lugard Falls
Victoria Peak was the famous tourist attraction that just about all visitors would want to experience, but it was a short walking distance to get from here to the Lugard Falls

As a result, the pictures you see on this page reflects the remnants of that injection of flow after a few days without significant rain.

I’d imagine that a few more dry days later, this waterfall would likely trickle or go dry, which is why I claim that you’d need to time a visit to get a good experience.

As for visiting Lugard Falls, all it took was to get up to Victoria Peak (typically by the historical tram but you can also take the bus up to the peak; see directions below).

From there, you’d then walk in the opposite direction of the views (e.g. the Lion’s Pavilion) and head towards Harlech Road, which is just across the street from Peak Road (the road cutting right in front of the Peak Tower).

Hong_Kong_189_11222024 - Walking on Harlech Road from the Peak Galleria Complex towards the Lugard Falls
Walking on Harlech Road from the Peak Galleria Complex towards the Lugard Falls

Then, walk onto the narrower Harlech Road for around 350m, which leads to a bridge fronting the upper drop of the Lugard Falls.

This stretch of Harlech Road (also called the “Fitness Trail”) is actually part of the Peak Circle Walk so there are certainly options to extend a visit up here, or even get some exercise in (as I noticed locals doing during my Saturday morning visit).

There’s no official figure on its height but by my estimation, you can at least see the upper 5-10m of its drop.

The rest of its falling course goes beneath the bridge into a steep ravine that prevents access to the waterfall’s base, which is why I suspect is why no one really knows its true height.

Hong_Kong_034_iPhone_11232024 - Looking downstream from the bridge fronting Lugard Falls towards the general direction of what I believe is Aberdeen Harbour and some of its neighbouring buildings
Looking downstream from the bridge fronting Lugard Falls towards the general direction of what I believe is Aberdeen Harbour and some of its neighbouring buildings

In any case, the view from the bridge is towards the general direction of Aberdeen Harbour with a few odd buildings clinging to the mountains in the light of sight.

By the way, if you’re wondering why Lugard Falls has an English name, it comes from Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, who was the governor of Hong Kong from 1907-1912.

Anyways, the overall detour to get to this waterfall, document it, and come back to Victoria Peak only took me around 15-20 minutes.

Since I happened to be on a tour that allowed me to explore Victoria Peak at leisure for about 25-30 minutes, this was plenty of time to fit in this excursion and avoid the crowds already at the views of Victoria Harbour.

Hong_Kong_032_iPhone_11232024 - Looking up at the full extent of the upper portion of the Lugard Falls from the near end of its bridge fronting it
Looking up at the full extent of the upper portion of the Lugard Falls from the near end of its bridge fronting it

That’s why I claim that regardless of whether you’re on a paid day tour of Hong Kong or you’re visiting Victoria Peak on your own, there really isn’t an excuse not to at least check out this waterfall while you’re up here.

Even if the waterfall isn’t flowing well, at least it takes you away from the crowds for a moment and lets you experience a more laid back side of Hong Kong.

Of course, even as I say this, you certainly won’t be alone here for long since it is a popular spot in its own right (just not as pushy and as crushed by crowds as the viewpoints of Victoria Harbour).

Authorities

Lugard Falls is on Victoria Peak overlooking the city centre of Hong Kong in the Central and Western District of Hong Kong Island. It is adminstered by the Central and Western District Council. For the latest conditions or other inquiries, you may want to try The Peak website.

Hong_Kong_023_iPhone_11232024 - Some kind of monument and fountain fronting the entrance to the Peak Tram Station, which took us right up to the Victoria Peak
Hong_Kong_161_11222024 - Inside the Peak Tram Station, it seemed like the queues to get onto the tram were way more developed in 2024 than I remembered it when we first came here back in 2009
Hong_Kong_163_11222024 - I definitely didn't remember these projections surrounding us while queueing up to ride the Peak Tram when we first came here in April 2009
Hong_Kong_164_11222024 - Going up some inclined travelators on the way up to the loading station for the Peak Tram
Hong_Kong_166_11222024 - Now riding the Peak Tram up to the Victoria Peak via the Peak Tower Complex
Hong_Kong_169_11222024 - After getting of the Peak Tram, we then had to go up escalators within the Peak Tower, which has now become a bit of a shopping mall
Hong_Kong_172_11222024 - Another look at the shopping mall within the Peak Tower after having disembarked from the Peak Tram
Hong_Kong_279_jx_11232024 - Once we got up to Victoria Peak, this was the view that we managed to get from the Lion's Pavilion lookout
Hong_Kong_173_11222024 - After leaving the Peak Tower, we then found ourselves within a plaza where across the way was the Peak Galleria (another shopping mall) as well as the walkways leading to the free views of the Victoria Harbour
Hong_Kong_175_11222024 - Looking across at the context of the Peak Tower and the Hong Kong city centre straddling Victoria Harbour
Hong_Kong_180_11222024 - The chaotic context of the Lion's Pavilion along with a free viewing area of the Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong City Centre from Victoria Peak
Hong_Kong_184_11222024 - Checking out the Lion's Pavilion, which hadn't gotten completely crazy crowded - YET!
Hong_Kong_185_11222024 - Looking towards a traditional archway entrance for the Lion's Pavilion at Victoria Peak
Hong_Kong_186_11222024 - Now walking across the area between the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria towards Harlech Road
Hong_Kong_187_11222024 - Walking onto the narrow Harlech Road on the way to the Lugard Falls
Hong_Kong_188_11222024 - Some interesting banyan tree roots growing alongside one side of Harlech Road en route to Lugard Falls
Hong_Kong_220_11222024 - Continuing along the Harlech Road en route to the Lugard Falls
Hong_Kong_190_11222024 - The trail I was on to get to the Lugard Falls was also called the Morning Trail according to this sign
Hong_Kong_218_11222024 - Context of the bridge where Harlech Road fronted the Lugard Falls
Hong_Kong_191_11222024 - My first look at the Lugard Falls from its bridge fronting it
Hong_Kong_213_11222024 - Looking across the bridge fronting Lugard Falls towards the general direction of Aberdeen Harbour and the continuation of the 'Morning Trail'
Hong_Kong_196_11222024 - Using the railing to get this long-exposed look at the Lugard Falls
Hong_Kong_198_11222024 - A wider long-exposed look at the Lugard Falls from its bridge
Hong_Kong_202_11222024 - Another direct look at the Lugard Falls up close from its bridge
Hong_Kong_206_11222024 - Looking downstream towards some high rise buildings in the general direction of Aberdeen Harbour from the Lugard Falls
Hong_Kong_209_11222024 - Angled look back at the Lugard Falls from the near side of the bridge fronting it
Hong_Kong_031_iPhone_11232024 - More stitched photo looking back at Lugard Falls and its context without some sign in the way on the left
Hong_Kong_219_11222024 - Heading back along Harlech Road after having had my fill of the Lugard Falls. Note that some people in blue jerseys were apparently partaking in some kind of running event that involved Harlech Road during my late November 2024 visit
Hong_Kong_225_11222024 - Apparently Harlech Road can support some vehicular traffic though it's quite tight, and I'd imagine it's not really a road for public vehicles
Hong_Kong_226_11222024 - Another look back at some folks partaking in some running event along Harlech Road
Hong_Kong_229_11222024 - Returning to the Peak Tower after having had my fill of Lugard Falls and Harlech Road
Hong_Kong_234_11222024 - Checking out the Lion's Pavilion one last time before it was time to return to the Peak Tram and get back down to Hong Kong Central
Hong_Kong_236_11222024 - When I returned to the Lion's Pavilion after having done the Lugard Falls, it was now quite crowded on the upper deck, which was why I'd recommend getting here as soon as you can to get your views, and then relax a bit going to Lugard Falls where you'll be dealing with far fewer people
Hong_Kong_246_11222024 - Back at the Peak Tram queue waiting our turn to go back down towards Hong Kong Central


There are a variety of ways to get to Victoria Peak (most of which you can look up on GoogleMaps from wherever you happen to be at in Hong Kong).

In my mind, the most scenic and quickest way to get up to the views from Victoria Peak is via the The Peak Tram.

Hong_Kong_037_iPhone_11232024 - The entrance to the Peak Tram, which leads up to the Peak Tower and the views from Victoria Peak
The entrance to the Peak Tram, which leads up to the Peak Tower and the views from Victoria Peak

We happened to get to the Peak Tram Station Entrance directly via shuttle van provided by our organized tour operator.

However, to get there on your own, you can take the MTR (i.e. Hong Kong’s subway system) to Central Station, and then walk from there for about 10-15 minutes to the Peak Tram Central Terminus.

Once at the Peak Tram Central Terminus Station, then you can buy tickets and queue up to get onto the funicular that goes very steeply up to the Peak Tower.

Note that it’s also possible to get right up to the peak via bus (take bus 15 or X15 from Exchange Square to the Peak Galleria terminus, or take bus 12 or 12M from Lan Kwai Fong or Lyndhurst Terrace to the Peak Galleria terminus).

Hong_Kong_025_iPhone_11232024 - Going up the steep Peak Tram to get up to the Peak Tower and the views from Victoria Peak
Going up the steep Peak Tram to get up to the Peak Tower and the views from Victoria Peak

If you’re really feeling like you’ve got the energy and all the time in the world, then you can hike about 1.5 hours up the Central Green Trail from the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre to the Peak Tower.

Finally, if you’re really in a hurry, then you can take a taxi right up to the Peak Galleria area from the city centre in Hong Kong (which is said to cost around $65-$80 HKD, which is roughly $10 USD based on the exchange rate as of November 2024).

For geographical context, Hong Kong City is about 8km (about 15 minutes drive) south of Kowloon, about 36km (over 30 minutes drive) east of Tung Chung, and about 40km (over 30 minutes drive) southeast of Shenzhen, China.

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Bottom up sweep from the downstream view towards the waterfall itself as seen from the bridge across its stream

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Tagged with: harlech road, peak galleria, victoria peak, china, the peak, tai po shan, hong kong, hong kong waterfalls, lugard waterfall, peak tower



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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