Durban North Beach

Set to the North of the harbour (hence the North bit) running from the Bay of Plenty and Dairy Beach is Durban’s North Beach. The beach sits at the heart of the much redeveloped Durban beach-front which is aptly named “Golden Mile” or “Durbs by the sea” as some locals call it. Development of the Golden Mile began back in the 1970s when it became one of the country’s biggest holiday destinations, largely owing to the subtropical winter sunshine and beautiful sandy beaches. The Golden Mile was largely redeveloped and modernized in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and now boasts international class attractions, such as the uShaka Marine World and any number of restaurants, bars and cafes.

Today the golden sands of North Beach are backed by a palm lined promenade dotted with cafes and shops. Behind are the impressive modern facades of the high-rise hotels and apartment blocks that make Durban’s beachfront instantly recognisable. Should you ever get bored of the beach there are plenty of things for all the family within a stone’s throw. As mentioned is uShaka Marine World, the world’s fifth largest aquarium. Nearby is Mini Town, with its scale models of Durban landmarks and a the other end of the entertainment spectrum, the Suncoast Casino.

Whilst to many Durban, and to some extent the rest of South Africa, are synonymous with sharks the beaches are relatively well protected here with shark nets and patrols. This is good news for those who surf here as are the world class waves. Best known as a bodyboarding spot the surf here is described as a crunching right hand barrel. The other good news for those thinking of taking a dip is the sea temperature rarely drops below 22°C / 71.7°F.