Road Test: kayaking is a fun way for the family to exercise together

Kayaking is a wonderful water-based sport to enjoy as a family, and in Hong Kong there are plenty of places offering lessons.

Living on the south side of Hong Kong Island, I chose Hong Kong Aqua-bound Centre in Stanley, which has a reputation among local families for friendly, professional instruction.

Half of the two-hour lesson is spent on safety and instruction, and the other on supervised kayaking along the coast.

My daughters, Alexandra, 16, and Francesca, 11, had no previous kayaking experience, so, after kitting us out with flotation vests, our instructor, Fesco Tse, introduced basic navigation and paddling skills.

We learned how to get into the kayak at the water's edge: stand facing the boat with a paddle held along the other side, use one hand to steady the boat, then slide with a hop into the cockpit, keeping your weight on the side of kayak that is supporting the paddle.

Tse also took time to overcome Francesca's initial apprehension about tipping over. We practised how to grip the paddle, learning how the paddle connects with the water via basic forward strokes.

Kayaking may look relatively sedate but it offers exercise for more than your arms. Adding a simple torso rotation while you paddle can engage the larger, muscles in your body.