Nowadays, it takes a mere 25 minutes to make the trip from Central to the Gold Coast, thanks to the Western Harbour Tunnel and the Ting Kau bridge. It has grown into a commuter town without sacrificing the qualities that made it such an idyllic retreat in the first place.

Make no mistake about it, the Gold Coast is certainly easy on the eye. The whole development comprises residential blocks, a yacht and country club, a shopping mall and a luxury resort hotel. With flats boasting superb views of Lantau, as well as the Gold Coast Marina, there is a seaside feel to the place. This is only reinforced by Golden Beach, a large man-made stretch of sand that is open to the public.

Just for the record, both the sand and the palm trees were imported from Hainan Island. And while this artificiality may prove a deterrent to some, it is difficult to argue with the overall effect created. This is no sleepy seaside retreat - the high-rise apartment blocks and the multi-million dollar yachts decked in the marina attest to that.

Instead, the Gold Coast is perhaps best viewed as a seaside development, much like the others dotted around Hong Kong. The major difference is the fact that most people here appear to enjoy living away from the city. Any comparisons to Discovery Bay are swiftly quashed by the large percentage of local residents and the development is particularly popular with the large numbers that work in the vicinity.

For Hong Kong Island dwellers, it may come as a shock to find that there is a thriving commercial district centred around Castle Peak Bay. With Chek Lap Kok in close proximity, there are large numbers of people working at the airport who use the Gold Coast as their base. Nokia has its Hong Kong headquarters nearby, and Lingnan University is also located in the area.

As for the properties themselves, Sino Land has ensured that the flats feel spacious by judicious use of windows. Residential property at the Gold Coast comes in two guises - either as apartment blocks or as (the gloriously titled) beach houses that sit a considerable distance from the actual beach.

The Phase One development consists of five high-rise blocks while the much larger Phase 2 incorporates 14 high-rise blocks and 11 beach houses. Sizes of the apartments range from 700 square feet to 1,700 sq ft duplexes. The beach houses, meanwhile, start at 1,950 sq ft and go as large as 3,000 sq ft for a ground floor affair with a 500 sq ft garden.

All properties come with carparking and can be fitted out, at a cost, with either used or Ikea furniture.

Rentals offer reasonable value. A 700 sq ft flat with 2 bedrooms and a seaview is on the market for HK$12,000 per month. A 935 sq ft property, meanwhile, in one of the beach houses, goes for HK$14,000 a month.

In terms of sales, prices have dropped steeply at the Gold Coast since 1996. Chris Yau, a leasing manager at Sino Land, agreed with this but noted that the leasing market is still fairly active.

Grace Law, of Gold Coast Estate Agency, said: 'Prices have dropped by 50 to 60 per cent since 1996, although this is about the same for most of Hong Kong.'

Facilities, as you would expect, are present in abundance. The Gold Coast boasts Hong Kong's largest outdoor swimming pool at 20,000 sq ft. Also in evidence are numerous tennis courts, squash courts and a clubhouse which houses a gym. Children are well catered for with a string of playgrounds, as well as a number of classes and activities for them during weekends and holidays.

Shopping is convenient at the Marina Magic Shopping Mall. This is not your typical Hong Kong shopping centre, as the wide open spaces and shop front curtains testify to. There is a large Wellcome supermarket and the usual array of shops. At weekends, the whole area resembles a sort of continental bazaar, with arts and handicrafts stalls occupying the open spaces.

Any further shopping needs are catered for in neighbouring Tuen Mun, just 10 minutes away. There are five restaurants within Marina Magic and a further four at the Gold Coast Hotel.

The nearest public hospital is at Tuen Mun, although there are plans afoot for a clinic at the Gold Coast itself.

There is an international pre-school at nearby Sham Tseng, although there are few international primary or secondary institutions in the area.

For the more outdoors types, the MacLehose Trail ends one kilometre from the Gold Coast, and stretches all the way to Sai Kung.

Next week: Clearwater Bay

Graphic: pro11gwz