Bathurst

Bathurst is a small agricultural town in the Eastern Cape Sunshine Coast interior, not far from Port Alfred, and famous for the Bathurst Oxbraai, the biggest Pinneaple in the world, red flowering coral trees, and for just being really small, pretty and agricultural.

The Bathurst Agricultural Show is held for three days over Easter each year, and is a major draw for the area, with all sorts of events held from stock auctions to horse shows and an extensive indoor and outdoor flea-market.

The Bathurst Oxbraai is held every year on December 29th and draws thousands of young people from all over South Africa, who then either stay on in Bathurst or head down to nearby Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea to party in the new year.

Other Bathurst attractions include the MoyaPark Bird Reserve and the Big Pineapple. Activities in Bathurst include a drink at arguably the most charming pub in the Eastern Cape – the Bathurst Arms. Port Alfred with its beautiful beaches and facilities is ten minutes away and Bathurst shares various water and outdoor activities and reserves with Port Alfred.

Bathurst is pineapple country, and a visit to the Big Pineapple is an interesting tidbit of a tour. The fibreglass Pineapple stands 16.7m high and has 3 floors inside, with a shop full of pineapple produce, gifts and goodies and some local arts, crafts and clothing.

Bathurst and the area surrounding the town have some great inland country accommodation options available for visitors to nearby Port Alfred.

Getting there: Bathurst is situated on the R67 a half hour drive east from Grahamstown or 10 minutes north from Port Alfred.