With winter on our doorstep throughout the largest part of South Africa, why not head to the Sunshine Coast for a sunny winter getaway? The Sunshine Coast is situated between Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape and stretches from Alexandria to Fish River Mouth and further inland to include the small town of Bathurst. The region’s climate is renowned with the most days of sunshine recorded on an annual basis in South Africa.
The Sunshine Coast offers a diverse variety of experiences and landscapes. The mild climate averages at 20°C during July and 26°C in February, with the nights seldom cooling down below 9°C, even in the dead of winter. The area gets most of its rainfall in March and the least during the winter months, making it the ideal getaway this time of year.
Still not convinced? Here are some of the wonderful things you can look forward to when visiting this sunny coastline.
1.Ten magnificent rivers
The Sunshine Coast is home to 10 rivers, each spilling into the Indian Ocean. These rivers include Bakanas, Bushman’s, Kariega, Kasouga, the Kowie, Rufanes (or Riet River), Kleinemonde and the Great Fish River. Bushman’s River can be navigated inland for 32 km, the furthest one can sail on a river after the Breede River in the Western Cape, and has game reserves hugging both banks.
The Kowie River, the lifeline of the small town of Port Alfred, is navigable for 22 km and plays host to a wide variety of water activities. At one stage the international Formula 1 Powerboat Series was hosted here and university students flood the banks annually for the Rhodes Boat Races. The Royal Alfred Marina, carved into the Kowie River, has been awarded Blue Flag status.
The Great Fish River is one of the country’s longest rivers and is 644 km in length from the source to the mouth.
2. The most beautiful beaches
There are a number of fantastic beaches along this coastline stretching for miles on end, and four of these have been awarded Blue Flag status. The Blue Flag beaches are Kelly’s Beach in Port Alfred, Boknes Beach, and Kariega and Middle Beach in Kenton-on-Sea.
3. Quaint little towns
The Sunshine Coast is made up of a string of small towns within its borders. Each has its own beauty, traditions, and special offerings for guests to the area. Visit Port Alfred, Bathurst, Alexandria, Cannon Rocks, Boknesstrand, Bushman’s River Mouth, Kenton-on-Sea or Kleinemonde – and you wouldn’t even have to drive further than 50 km in any direction to reach each of the towns.
4. Big 5 Game Reserves
Not only is the Sunshine Coast malaria-free, but going on a day trip to see the Big 5 is easy enough with so many reserves surrounding you. Alexandria also borders on the Addo Elephant Park and a wide variety of day trips to the local reserves are available. Or stay at Sibuya Game Reserve & Lodge outside Kenton-on-Sea, Mansfield Game Reserve outside Bathurst, Fort D’ Acre Reserve at Fish River Mouth or Kariega Game Reserve, also in Kenton.
5. A very, very big pineapple
The small town of Bathurst is renowned for many things: fine art, fresh food markets, quirky shops, historical buildings and homely pubs including the Pig & Whistle, the oldest continuously licensed pub in South Africa, and the annual Bathurst Ox Braai. But Bathurst’s most famous attraction is of course the Big Pineapple, an ode to the many pineapple farmers in the region and a great place to take the perfect selfie!
6. Water sport
With so many rivers and beaches in the surrounding area, there is a host of water sports to choose from. These include deep sea fishing, kayaking on the river, lazy afternoon cruises and wakeboarding. Port Alfred also offers the perfect surfing conditions, especially during winter. Cannon Rocks is known as one of the best kitesurfing spots in the world.
7. Outdoor adventures
Even though the area is popular for the wide variety of water sport the many rivers and beaches offer, it also offers a number of adventurous to-do’s for those of us who are not fans of getting wet. From horseriding, bowls and croquet to shopping and hiking ─ the area offers something for everyone. There are also three golf courses and the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club is over a century old. You could also head to the Fish River Sun to play their beautiful course or hit the driving range at Green Fountain Farm.
If you would like to try something out of the ordinary, you could go horseriding on the beach with Beachcombers Horse Trails or even explore some of the local shipwrecks with Shipwrecks Hiking and Canoe Trails.
This area is also the origin of many ghost stories from the last 200 years, with 50 ships sinking close to Port Alfred, another 3 at Kleinemonde and 26 at the Great Fish River Mouth. There is also a wide variety of hiking trails in the area which wind through forests, game reserves and along the coast, including the beautiful walk to the Dias Cross Memorial at Cannon Rocks.
8. Step back in time
The Sunshine Coast is absolutely drenched in history. British Settlers arrived in the area in the 1820’s after being sent by Lord Charles Somerset to form a barricade between the Cape Colony and the Wild Coast.
Port Alfred was originally built as two separate towns on opposite banks of the Kowie River. Settlers arriving on the west bank in 1820 named their settlement Port Kowie, and those arriving on the east bank named theirs Port Frances. The town was renamed Port Alfred in 1860 in honour of Prince Alfred, the son of Queen Victoria, who paid a visit to the area.
The 43 Air School, situated just outside the town, dates back to 1941 when it was established as a Joint Air Forces Training Base during the Second World War when 3000 soldiers lived there. There are many historical points of interest to visit in the area, including the Bathurst Agricultural Museum with an exhibition of over 1600 artefacts which include household items, historical toys, buggies, ox wagons, tractors and implements. Bathurst is also home to the oldest continuously licensed pub, the Pig & Whistle. You can also visit the St. John’s Anglican Church in Bathurst, the oldest unaltered Anglican Church in South Africa.
Visit the Sunshine Coast Tourism office in Port Alfred to get a copy of their heritage map and go on a self-guided tour.
9. Eat like a king
You will be spoilt for choice with the wide range of restaurants the area has to offer, from simple fresh greens and seafood to home-cooked goodness, tasty tapas and five-star gourmand eateries. The restaurants here will please even the fussiest of eaters. Try the wonderfully fresh dishes at Zest Café in the Courtyard in Van der Riet Street or, for both pub fare or a fancy dinner, visit The Royal St Andrew’s Hotel, which offers something for everyone at their beautiful Thistle Restaurant or The Highlander Pub.
Penny Farthing Café offers a great daytime experience on the Kowie River, or for something completely different, visit The Sandbar Floating Restaurant in Kenton. The Links Coastal Inn in Port Alfred has become an institution and offers delicious meals, while Pic-Kwick’s Restaurant in Bathurst has been nominated as one of the best pizzerias countrywide. You can also enjoy a meal, with some artisanal beer, at the Wharf Street Brew Pub in the historical Wharf Street right on the Kowie River.
10. Fantastic accommodation options
Now that you’re ready to head to the Sunshine Coast, LekkeSlaap.co.za has a wide variety of accommodation options to choose from. Live in luxury, right on the beach at The Beach House, enjoy the river views at Kowie River Guest House or enjoy a relaxed coastal break at House Purfikt in Kleinemonde. You can even experience life on a pineapple farm by staying at Langholm Pineapple Farm.
For more accommodation options click here.
Make the most of the winter holidays by heading to the Sunshine Coast ─ a lovely stretch of South African coastline with more than enough to do for the whole family!
With special thanks to Sunshine Coast Tourism and Kenton-on-Sea Tourism.
Photos courtesy of Attie Heunis and Sunshine Coast Tourism unless otherwise credited.
