It depends on where you're travelling from and what method. As an example, travelling from Sheung Shui to Tsing Yi by bus is around HK$8 (I think!) but will take you 40mins - not recommended during rush hour because of traffic congestion. Travelling by MTR is around HK$25 but fares change if you're using an Octopus Card and some other factors but this will take you around 20mins. The MTR's website has a route planner and that also includes costs but generally speaking, bus is usually cheapest. As for how long to stay there will depend on what you want to do! You could spend all day at Disneyland and stay late for the fireworks, but you've also got the Buddha statue and monastery. If it's just for the statue and monastery you've then got to consider how to get there. Walking will take you hours, bus is quicker but the Ngong Ping 360 cable car is the easiest and quickest but most expensive (their website has ticket details, but an adult return in a crystal cabin is HK$315) and that will get you there from the Tung Chung MTR station in 15mins (once you clear the queues). Re how much money to bring, once you reach the top of the mountain, everything's free to enter with the exception of the Buddha statue, if you want to go inside, and that costs HK$45. If you want to eat a vegetarian meal, you can also get a deal and pay HK$100 which will get you into the statue and a voucher for a vegetarian meal. I brought my own water and snacks, but you can also buy those here (including ice cream) as well as souvenirs from numerous shops which align the route from the cable car station to this venue. If you're travelling alone, excluding transport, HK$100 will see you through the day providing you bring your own food, and that's to get you into the statue and a small souvenir. Time-wise, once you get to the venue, I'd allow for 1 hour at the monastery and 1 hour at the statue - there's not a whole lot to do once you get over the scenery and have looked at the exhibits, really! If you bring your own picnic, you can take your time and spend a few more hours soaking up the atmosphere and if you bring a family, you'll obviously have to allow more time for them! Hope this helps.

Nicola, check out my day at Hong Kong on the forum - I got loads done in the time that I had (from about 2-10pm) including the Peak, Hong Kong Botanical gardens and a trip on the Star Ferry. Any queries PM me.

Yes... we used a booking site... but be prepared to wait anyway... it makes no difference... just google it.

If you are strictly visiting the Buddha, monastery, and the Ngong Ping Village (the overpriced, nothing new here tourist trap as I call it), you could rush through it in less than an hour. Add an extra 30 minutes for lunch. It really depends on how much you want to see and do at the top. If you wanted to go on ANY of the hikes (anything from an easy, flat path walk to hiking up the mountain) I would add at minimum 1 hour to the above totals. Possibly more. Suggest the following: A) If you are not into walks/hikes and just enjoy the statues and monasteries, then: 1 to 2 hours at the top. B) If you are also into walks/hikes: 2 to 4 hours at the top (depending upon how much you want to walk). For both options A & B, add 30 or 40 mins for travel each way (up to the top and back down to the base using gondola or bus) So from the 'base' (Tung Chung MTR/Gondola/bus terminal): Option A = 3 hours Option B = 5+ hours Those would my suggested times for a good weather day. If the weekday you are going on is a local holiday, add potentially another 90 minutes or so if you are doing the gondola in both directions.

Just go to Tun Chung Station get off the walk out to the bus Terminus right outside the station. Do not get confuse there are two bus terminus, the one that go to Lantau or Po Lin is that you have to walk further out and turn to the right side and cross the traffic light. Then You will see the terminal. Once you enter the terminal you will see the sign 3M-23 follow that sign till the right end and you will find the bus no. 23. You can pay cash or with Octopus Card if you have. Bus ride will take 30mnts. You can go to the Big Buddha first then to Pi Lin Monastery right after that continue to the village before heading to the bus on the way back. Hope it helps!. Good luck and enjoy.!

The MTR from the airport does not go to Lantau Island but you can catch buses (think S1 or S64, not sure as I did not use them, so check at airport) to Tung Chung MTR station on the island. From there you can catch buses to Nong Ping where the Po Lin Monastery is without taking the cable car which is quite costly. Just know that the bus journey is 40-45 mins and I don't know their frequency. If you have a few people, suggest taking the light blue taxi (only taxis allowed on the island) from Tung Chung to Nong Ping. Alternatively, take the MTR from airport to Central and take the ferry(fast one, about 29.90 HKD, half the fare for senior citizens) to Mui Wo on the island. From there take a bus to Nong Ping or to Tai O and from there to Nong Ping. If you have to be at the airport by a certain time I would suggest to give yourself plenty of time as intervals between ferry and bus trips are often hourly. Hope this is somewhat helpful.

there is a bus depot at the base village. The bus stops have English wording, so go to the one for Tai O. One leaves every 15 minutes.