Durban Beaches – Durban’s world famous Golden Mile!

Durban in South Africa is famous for its wonderful weather all year round and its fantastic tourist beaches. Durban’s Golden Mile is full of beautiful surf breaks that are visited annually by many tourists.

At the start of the Golden Mile you will find the Bay of Plenty, North and Dairy Beach. North Beach is where the world famous Mr. Price Pro surfing competition takes place and is visited by competitive surfers from all over the world. Here you can surf with a view of the beautiful Durban skyline and if you arrive early enough you may even be visited by a school of curious dolphins! North Beach is not only perfect for surfing, but also for body boarding, kitesurfing and paddle skiing, and has the facilities for skateboarding. Protected by shark nets and patrolled by lifeguards, North Beach is a popular beach with locals and tourists alike. You will also find many restaurants; be sure to visit Joe Kools and sit at a table upstairs overlooking the boardwalk.

Walk south from North Beach and you’ll find Ushaka Marine World and Wet ‘n Wild Adventure Park. North of the pier in front of Ushaka is a beautiful beach where you can surf and body board. Get there first thing in the morning and rent a kayak while the water is blissfully calm or even take a kayak tour with the tour companies that operate from the boardwalk. It is also possible to sign up to do some scuba diving with the PADI certified Calypso Diving and Adventure Center.

South of the pier in front of Ushaka you will find Vetchies Reef. Here you can snorkel in the calm and safe waters of this artificial reef and discover fascinating marine life. Diving from the beach is also possible and local Durban dive clubs offer regular dive trips.

South of Vetchies Pier you can find Addington Beach, which is a large stretch of beach perfect for surfing and paddling along the shore. Like North Beach and Ushaka Beach, it is protected by shark nets and lifeguards and is also very popular with the locals as it is safe for young and old alike.

Millions of dollars have recently been spent on upgrading the waterfront, and Durban’s beach will soon be able to compete with the world’s most famous beach destinations.