Beaches along the Dolphin Coast near Durban – KwaZulu Natal
Are you tired of the Durban beaches and need a bit of variety to choose from? This is a selection of beaches from Ballito and a couple of minutes’ drive north from there. Head north on the N2 past Ballito for this meander.
a) Tinley Manor
To get to Tinley Manor beach, take exit 222 – Tinley Manor Beach. Once you’ve taken the exit, turn right; at what almost seems like a T-Junction, keep right. Keep driving along Seaview Drive. Keep an eye on the sea, eventually you’ll notice a tidal pool and public parking on your left.
Even though the Tinley Manor beach has lots of rocks, this is a good destination for families. Here you’ll find a large tidal pool and fishing from the rocks is popular. Tinley Manor seems largely untouched by the property developments that have taken place at nearby towns.
b) Sheffield Beach
After visiting Tinley Manor, head back the way you came and get back onto the N2 south bound. Take exit 214 – Umhlali Beach / Salt Rock Road and turn left. From here you can follow the Sheffield Beach signboards, first turning left and then the first opportunity bear right thereafter. At what seems like a T-Junction, keep left. Keep going until you reach 87 Colwyn Drive, there’s a pathway down to the beach next to this property.
From now on, don’t look for sign boards indicating where the public beaches are; rather look for areas where a group of cars are parked. If you see a bunch of cars and there’s no evidence of a house party, it means that there’s a pathway to the beach.
While heading back along Colwyn Drive, there’s a nice beach access between 33 & 45 Colwyn Drive. A bit further on, if you turn left into Barrier Lane / Drive, this is a lookout point, where you can sit on a bench and enjoy a high lying view of the sea and coast further south. When you’re done taking in the view, head out of Barrier Lane, turning left. Keep driving along Sheffield Drive. Turn left into George Hulett Place, here’s a walkway to the beach. When done, turn left out of George Hulett Place again.
c) Salt Rock
Keep driving along Hugh Dent Drive; at the T-Junction turn left. Keep driving along Basil Hulett Drive and you’ll notice public parking for beach goers on your left and curio stalls on your right.
d) Shaka’s Rock
Keep going along the same coastal road. Eventually it becomes Ocean Drive and just next to number 43 there is a walk-way to Chaka’s Rock Beach. This beach is ideal for young children; bring your goggles with so that you can do a bit of snorkeling in the old tidal pool.
Keep going along Ocean Drive.
e) Thompson’s Bay
Turn left into Rock Lane. Here you’ll have a good view of Thompson’s Bay and interesting rock formations. Back on Ocean Drive, you’ll find the Thompson’s Bay main beach next to 91 Ocean Drive.
f) Ballito
If you turn left into Sable Drive and drive to the end of this road, you’ll reach Willard Beach. Head back out of Sable Drive and turn left to continue on to the main Ballito beach. When you get to the 3 way stop, turn left into Dolphin Crescent.
At the T-Junction, turn right into Compensation Beach Road. You’ll notice a walkway to the beach almost immediately on your left. Between this beach entrance and the next one mentioned here, there are many walkways down to the beach.
The final stop is to turn left into Hawkins Road. Here you will find some nice restaurants to have something to eat and drink before heading home.
Ballito is the most well developed town of the ones you drive through on this beach meander. Here you will find many of your favourite restaurants and large shopping centres.