Durban's North Beach
The Golden Mile
This quaint, rather antiquated description of Durban beachfront - and the fact that it's still popularly used - bears witness to both its radiant beauty and the easy-going charm that evokes memories of 'modest' bathing suits and sepia-tinged holiday photographs. Merely a few paces from an enticing selection of international-class, ultra-modern and meticulously maintained colonial-style tourist accommodation, clean golden sands and warm Indian Ocean beckon with irresistible allure. Protected year round by shark nets and expert lifeguards, our sea has rhythm...and invites you to leap and frolic in waves perfect for surfing and body-boarding aquabatics.
Designated areas keep bathers and surfboard riders a safe distance apart, so there's no chance of being speared by an errant piece of sporting equipment! If you re new to surfing or board-sailing, sheltered Addington Beach has ideally-small waves for learning the 'three- dimensional dance with nature's energy'. Hawaiian kings may have invented surfing, but we caught on very quickly...and Durban's own 'hang-ten' history is displayed with devotion at the Timewarp Surfing Museum. Curated by (grand)father-figure of the Durban surf scene, Baron Stander, one of the museum's aims is to enthuse new generations...particularly those youngsters kept alienated from surfing culture by the racially-segregated beaches of our recent past.
Further added dimensions to the Durban beachfront's surf, sand and sun are daily dolphin shows and fascinating marine life at UShaka Marine World, the spine- chilling inhabitants of our Snake Park and scaled-down perspective of Mini Town. Salt-water paddling ponds and olympic-size swimming pool ensure we cater for water-babies of all ages and exercise- regimes!
Among all these attractions are cinemas, restaurants and taverns, fast-food outlets, amusement arcades, flea-markets and the opportunity to watch traditional Zulu arts and crafts in the making. For a low-flying bird's-eye view, survey the scene from our cable-car route...or stroll the long, Durban's water's-edge promenade for a more orthodox panorama.
North of Durban's Golden Mile, Country Club Beach, Tekwini Beach and Laguna Beach are way from hotels and self-catering holiday apartments overlooked...instead by two golf courses and major sporting complexes. At the wide Umgeni River mouth, Blue Lagoon Beach is Durban's most popular fishing locale...while beyond the river, La Lucia and Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve offer long, tranquil walks along empty sands.
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Durban's Marine Parade at sunrise
Photo by Andrew Honey. Copyright SA Tourism |
