Twisk Nature Trail Information

The first stop of this trail features elegant Paper Barks. This Australian species, distinguished by its flaky sponge-like barks, is an evergreen tree that adapts well to cold and dry weather. Flowering in spring and winter, its blossoms are shaped like bottle brushes. Moving on, the trail comes to a small plateau. This is a helipad built specially for mission to put out hillfire or rescue lost hikers.

Twisk Nature Trail is one of the best places to see the volcanic rocks of Tai Mo Shan and stunning Melastomas. A little way ahead, the path winds past a popular camp site. Here, pine woods flourish on both sides, amidst climbers and a variety of native trees. Looking back, the massif of Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong's highest peak, impresses you with its daunting presence. Tai Mo Shan (misty mountain) seems a fitting name for a summit that is shrouded in mist on most days.

Moving on, the busy Route Twisk comes into view. This highway was built by the Japanese during WWII, and later became a public mainline in 1962 after being upgraded by the British Army. The English name Route Twisk suggests a linkage between Tsuen Wan and Shek Kong, abbreviated as TW/SK, and later became TWISK due to a spelling error.