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Family Friendly
Beaches

Clarke Bay

Always alive with colour and awash with a hive of activity. Lined with restaurants for everyone’s pallet including Hops, Gianni’s, Milk Café, Al Pescatore, Galley, Fiamma Grill and Franco’s. The adjacent beach precinct has a swanky nightlife culture. Close by is Salmon Bay, a favourite with surfers, surf and deep sea anglers. 5FM continues to host the Ballito New Year’s Eve Street Party here, too!

Thompson’s Bay

Home to the famous ‘Granny’s Pool’, (quite a few school galas are held here!) Thompson’s Bay boasts the renowned ‘Hole-In-The-Wall’, a unique rock formation that is a firm favourite for photo shoots and a trove of rock formations that are out of this world.

Salt Rock

Also a great family spot, just across from the Salt Rock Library – so you can grab a good book before heading down to the beach. Salt Rock is privileged to host the annual free music concerts during the Pro surfing festival, where the cream of South Africa’s music scene play to swelling crowds.

Shakas Rock

This intimate and hugely popular beach is blessed with a glorious tidal pool (with corals) and is teeming with exotic sealife that can be explored by guided or unguided snorkeling during night or day.

Zinkwazi Beach

Snorkelling is popular in the shallow rockpools and the relaxed atmosphere is a perfect chill zone.The lagoon is popular with jet skis and fishermen.

Willard Beach

Ballito’s main bathing beach and the site of the legendary Pro surfing event. Willard Beach is the main attraction for visitors to Ballito. A magnificent stretch of beach with sheltered coves, Willard Beach is perfect for a day of fun in the sun. This swimming beach is protected by shark nets and attended to, by professional life savers.

Tinley Manor

A beautiful little beach with a lovely tidal pool. Very popular with fisherman and locals. Take in the buzz on weekends and holidays, and enjoy snorkeling and swimming in its welcoming waters. The tidal pool is a favourite spot with its elevated viewing and picnic decks.

Blythedale Beach

A blue flag beach and firm favourite for locals and visitors. It boasts ample braai facilities, a children’s play area and unspoiled coastline. This beach hosts the official KwaDukuza New Year’s Eve bash and beach festival.

Tugela Beach

Talk about Tugela North and South bank and fishing immediately comes to mind.Natal Sharks Board staff regularly patrol the beaches, both to assist anglers and to make sure restrictions are observed.

Dokodweni

The other Blue Flag beach on the North Coast is located a short drive away from Mandeni. It has a picture-perfect lagoon if you’re looking for peace and tranquility, and plays host to the annual iBeach Festival, a KZN event.