Two of Hong Kong’s greatest attractions are its extended summers and extensive coastline. Long, hot days are spent out at sea or on the beaches that adorn our islands. With nature so close, there’s an abundance of caterers and junk providers to take us out of the city for some sand and surf.

Junking with the experts
iCatering
iCatering is challenging traditional junk operators in Hong Kong to provide the best fully-catered junk service. Banished are the chips and dips, second-rate meals and fruit punch served in plastic pitchers; the former executive chef of Hotel LKF is not having any of that. Cedric Alexandra started iCatering to add good food to the boating experience. A glass of fresh fruit Champagne mixer welcomes passengers onboard, followed by starters such as tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella, grilled tuna with French bean salad and other canapés served on the boat. Then, a table piled high with a feast hot off the barbecue is set for you and your friends on a private beach. Alexandra also brings in African musicians to entertain as you star gaze into the night sky on the return trip towards the city lights. If you are feeling lazy and don’t want to organise a junk trip by yourself, invite yourself to one of theirs. Yup, iCatering throws cruise parties on the traditional Chinese junk ship Huan, starting at $348 per person. The cruises have themes such as sunset tea, star-gazing music jam and breeze brunches. The next set of “dining pleasures, ocean treasures” cruises begins on May 1. Advance booking is a must. 9/F, Luen Wai Commercial Bldg, 95 Des Voeux Rd West, Sai Ying Pun, 2984 0886; icatering.hk. Prices for food and drink start at $250pp and Junk starts at $4,000.

Foodie tours
Saffron Cruises
This junk provider is looking beyond the booze to take daytrippers on dining cruises around Hong Kong’s islands. Its latest tour is to Lamma Hilton on Lamma Island for the best of fish-tank cuisine. Think garlic prawns, fried calamari, yeung chow fried rice, fresh fish with scallions and ginger, and much more. Ice-cold beers and free-flowing wines are also part of the package, for about $200 per person. If choosing a live fish to get the chop is not your thing, there’s an alternative. Saffron has teamed up with Cafe Deco to do onboard catering. Other caterers of choice are welcomed. Bookings: 2857 1311. Junks start at $4,000.

Join the yatching set
Asia Yachting
If crowds are not your thing but you want to take a few close friends for a spin in your (rented) yacht, give Asia Yachting a call. It provides beautiful cruisers to speed through Hong Kong’s waterways. As you leave the junk boats in your wake, hold tight to your Champagne glass and nosh provided by DiVino restaurant. Best of all, you don’t have to spend hours reaching a beach. Asia Yachting’s speed boat can get you from Hong Kong Island to Tai Long Wan in less than an hour. This is cruising in style. The boats are equipped with two cabins, a bathroom and a kitchen, plus a flat-screen TV and a hi-fi system. May we get you anything else, sir? Bookings: 2548 2900. Starting $4,500 per day (10am-6pm), not including fuel.

Beach bunnies
Jaspa’s beach club
If you’ve been on too many Jaspa’s junks and want something different, try hiking to the caterer’s beach club instead. It’s a 20-minute stroll from the taxi drop-off point in Sai Kung Country Park to Pak A Village. Here, an old Chinese restaurant has been converted to include all the signatures of the Jaspa’s brand. Expect pizzas, steaks, salads and hearty Aussie fare in a waterfront setting. Pak A Village, Sai Kung, 2792 4733. Around $100 per person, not including drinks.

Old Hong Kong
Star ferry
For something a little quirky with a sense of history, consider renting out the Star ferry for a day cruise. Invite everyone you know as it seats 300 people, just like the regular ferries that shuttle back and forth from the island to Kowloon. The difference is here you can enjoy refreshments, have a buffet lunch and plug in a karaoke machine to belt out a few songs. The cruise can take you to Fat Tong Mun (Joss House Bay), Penny's Bay, Tsing Ma Bridge, Sunny Bay or a destination of choice. 2118 6120; harbourtour@starferry.com.hk Price for ferry start at $4,000 per hour, two hours minimum.

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Alternative party spaces

See Also:
Party entertainment for hire