Jane Hodgskin, Communications Manager at The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau.

I moved to Hong Kong from Melbourne in January 2007 and have been here for 18 months now.

What I love most about living in Hong Kong is the extreme variations in both scenery and lifestyle. You can find yourself weaving through a human gridlock amongst the neon lights and market stalls of Mongkok, or you could be lost in your own thoughts, walking for hours along high, windswept mountain ridges and green, undeveloped coastlines without seeing a single soul. You can also choose to live a very ‘local' lifestyle or a very ‘Western' lifestyle, Hong Kong caters for everyone.

I love the beach, so any hike that involves this, rates highly on my list. So far, Stage Two of the MacLehose Trail from Long Ke to Pak Tam Au would have to be my favourite walk in Hong Kong.

I like the challenge of this hike, as it is quite strenuous, but what I like most about it is how the breathtaking scenery provides the ultimate distraction from your aching knees.

The highlight of this hike is clearly Tai Long Wan beach with its fine sands, breaking rollers and a huddle of small houses in the flat valley behind. It is also rumoured to have the clearest water in Hong Kong and is my favourite spot to have a picnic and swim to cool off after all that hard work.

Following the Tai Long Wan beach, the path continues for most of the hike along a steep ridge with spectacular views of Sharp peak and back over to Tai Long Wan.

Getting there: This hike starts at Long Ke, it is a continuation of Stage 1 of the MacLehose Trail. Hiking Stage 2 takes four hours (including a break for lunch and swimming) therefore unless you plan on hiking for seven hours it is best to get a taxi from the Sai Kung Country Park Visitors Centre to the end of the High Island Reservoir. The hike finishes in Pak Tam Au where you can also get a taxi back to the Visitors Centre. ■