Hualien suits families: the city is small and flat, the sights are outdoors, and the long trails that close after rain matter less with young children. Plan around naps and the weather, and use taxis for the short hops.
Farglory Ocean Park
Farglory Ocean Park (遠雄海洋公園) is Hualien's big family day out: a marine theme park on the coast in Shoufeng, south of the city.
- Hours Daily 09:30 to 17:00 (longer in July and August); ticket sales and last entry stop two hours before closing
- Tickets Adult NT$990; ages 13 to 18 or students NT$890; ages 7 to 12 NT$690; ages 3 to 6 or 100 to 115 cm NT$490; 65 and over NT$490
- Getting there Coastal buses, Hualien Bus 1140 or United 1145, from Hualien Station to the Ocean Park (海洋公園) stop, about 35 minutes; or a taxi, about 25 minutes
Children must stay with a parent throughout, and there are nursing rooms. The official ticket page doesn't say whether under-3s go free, so ask at the gate. Arrive early: you need most of the day.
Whale and dolphin watching
Turumoan's official site sets no minimum age, and it sells child tickets for ages 3 to 11 and a reduced ticket for under-3s. The classic two-hour trip is NT$900 for adults and NT$700 for children on site, less online. In summer, dolphins are seen on almost every trip. If your children get seasick, choose a calm morning. → Whale watching
Taroko with children
Most gorge trails are closed for now, which makes the Taroko Visitor Center the place to go. It has an interactive children's environmental education hall designed for ages 5 to 12, and short films through the day. The Terrace Trail outside is short and flat.
Playgrounds, parks and beaches
- Pacific Park, Nanbin end: a big pirate-ship playground with a sandpit, on the seafront near the night market. → Hualien City
- Meilun Mountain Park: a big lawn for grass-sliding and picnics in the middle of the city.
- Qixingtan: a pebble beach for throwing stones and watching the sea, but no swimming, and watch small children near the water: the waves are dangerous.
Rainy days
The Stone Sculpture Museum is free for under-12s and has a hands-on workshop space. The county's temporary library at the Cultural Affairs Bureau has a children's reading area (closed Mondays). → Hualien on a rainy day
Fares for children
- Tourist Shuttle 310: children under 115 cm, or under 6 with ID, ride free (two per paying adult); children 115 to 150 cm, or under 12, pay half fare (NT$77). Every passenger needs a seat. → Buses and the shuttle
- Trains: book seats for the whole family as soon as sales open, 28 days ahead. → The train
→ Plan your trip · Two days in Hualien
Sources: Farglory Ocean Park, tickets, 2026 hours, getting there and services; Turumoan, classic trip; Taroko National Park, Visitor Center; Hualien Tourism, Pacific Park; Hualien Tourism, Meilun Mountain Park; Stone Sculpture Museum; Hualien County Library; Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 310. Checked October 2026.