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6 Must-see stops along the Sunshine Coast
This is the area in South Africa which receives the most sunshine and its abundance of natural areas and beaches makes it also one of the most visited regions of the country. From beautiful coastal towns to nature reserves and wildlife, this is the place for you to enjoy your holiday away from the maddening crowd. Here are 6 towns to visit on your first visit to South Africa.
If you want the freedom to travel between them at your own convenience, have a look at car rental South Africa for the best options.
East London
This is one of the biggest cities in the entire Eastern Cape and also one of the country’s best surf cities for so many reasons. Nearby beaches include the formidable Nahoon reef which has kept people not just all over South Africa but also the world. Buccaneers Backpackers is also particularly famous backpacker’s hostel in the area as well. This will also more than likely be the destination with which you will be hiring a car if you are travelling from the East Coast of the country.
Port Elizabeth
Another great town in which to hang out in is the iconic Port Elizabeth, which is blessed with an abundance of iconic architecture and breathtaking beaches not to mention a towering Light House which has become a tourist destination in itself. There are also great shops, restaurants and places to stay that there is no reason to stop off and stay a while.
Bathurst
This picturesque farming town is roughly 40kms from Grahamstown (popular student hub of the Eastern Cape) and is famous for many reasons. One of the many reasons that people come to this part of the world is to visit a giant Pineapple which can be found just outside of the town. The destination also has the oldest pub in South Africa, The Pig and Whistle which also has an inn attached to it equally as old.
Port Alfred
This small coastal town is situated just 10km from Bathurst and is a great holiday getaway on the Eastern Cape; the area boasts not only famous surf breaks and beaches which seem to go on forever. This is not to mention the picturesque Kowie River. Its close proximity to other bigger cities in the area makes it an amazing beach stop when travelling through the Sunshine Coast.
Cape St Francis
This surf village for its size has a lot to offer from a Penguin Rescue and Rehabilitation Center as well as an iconic lighthouse. Seal Point is one of the areas if not countries best waves so many people come from far and wide to enjoy this place. The place is also the location of a nature reserve and one can see and enjoy the fynbos of the area.
Jeffreys Bay
This is widely regarded as the best right hand breaking wave on the planet for so many reasons. This is why many of the leading surf brands in the country have shops and offices in Jeffrey’s Bay. The town has grown over the years largely due to the thriving surf industry and because of this, there is an abundance of shops, restaurants and accommodation facilities to choose from.
St Francis Bay
Out of all the towns on the Sunshine coast, St Francis Bay is arguably the fastest growing situated literally across the bay from Cape St Francis. This destination was put on the map as early as the 60’s when iconic and legendary surf film ‘The Endless Summer’ found a perfect wave in the location and aptly named the wave Bruce’s Beauty after the film’s director Bruce Brown.
Getting there
The Sunshine coast really does have a lot to offer so unless you own your own vehicle; it’s strongly advised to hire one to really experience everything this magical part of South Africa has to offer. If you’re travelling from Cape Town, Cape Town car hire is the best way of achieving this.
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