Gonubie

Description

Gonubie is a little seaside village on the estuary of the Gonubie River, just 8km from East London. Gonubie offers scenic walks, beautiful ocean and lagoon views, indigenous fauna and flora, and some of the best beaches along the Wild Coast. With both the beach and lagoon, Gonubie is a little piece of paradise on the Eastern Cape coast.

Gonubie is a water lover’s dream. Gonubie Beach has Blue Flag status with a tidal pool and wooden walkway to protect the dunes. When the tide is out, the lagoon is a great place to collect shells and discover fascinating marine life. Water sports like river and rock fishing, surfing, paddling, and boating can be enjoyed in the ocean or lagoon. Keep an eye out for whales and dolphins from the cliffs above the lagoon. The Gonubie River is navigable for 5km and is a fantastic spot for picnics. The Strandloper Trail is a 5-day beach trail that leads along rocky shores, sandy beaches, grassy areas, and coastal shrubs, past the ocean, tidal pools, river estuaries, forests, and sand dunes. There are overnight huts and braai facilities along the route. Alternatively, you can hike the Dassie Trail which is a one hour hike in East London.

Gonubie Nature Reserve is surrounded by a coastal wetland, home to over 160 species of birds. The Kwelera Mouth Nature Reserve, 20km north of Gonubie, is situated between the Gonubie and Kwelera Rivers and is home to small buck, monkeys, and a variety of birdlife. Other attractions include the East London Coast Forest Reserve (9km), East London Botanical Gardens (14km), and Gonubie Mouth Bird Sanctuary, home to over 160 species of birds.

Play a round of golf at Gonubie Golf Club or East London Golf Club (13km), browse the local produce at the Lavender Blue Market, or visit the East London Aquarium (16km). Other attractions include the Gecko Gallery (9km), Mercedes Benz Pro Driving Range (12km), Hemingways Casino (14km), Buffalo Park Cricket Ground (16km), and the German Settlers Memorial (17km).

Areena Riverside Resort is a great place for the family with a restaurant and zipline, as well as activities like quad biking, abseiling, canoeing, paintball, archery, pellet gun shooting, microlight flights, and boat cruises to enjoy.

Visit Gonubie Beach for a seaside holiday you’ll remember for years to come.