Port Elizabeth - Sunshine Coast - a City of Beaches and Fine Weather

As befits it's status as the capital of the Sunshine Coast, Port Elizabeth is rated as having the fourth best climate of any coastal city in the world after Casablanca, Las Palmas and San Diego making it ideal for all sorts of water sports.

Algoa Bay enjoys more sunshine hours than any other coastal city in South Africa with mean daytime summer and winter temperatures of 25 and 17 degrees C respectively, with low humidity. Sea temperatures range from a maximum of 23 deg C in summer to a minimum of 14 deg C in winter.

Except when the South Easterly wind is blowing, sea conditions in Algoa Bay are generally calm which makes for safe swimming and other water sports and beach activities. The beaches are noted for their clean, fine, pale sand. Most of beaches are patrolled by fully-trained, professional lifeguards during the Summer Season.

The main beachfront area in the southern suburbs comprises four beaches.

• King’s Beach is a magnificent 1,6 km-long expanse of wide golden sand extending from the harbour wall to Humewood. This beach is ideal for safe swimming, body surfing, sunbathing and beach walks, and includes family entertainment facilities. The King’s Beach promenade encompasses an extensive playground for children and paddling pools for toddlers.

• Humewood Beach is a favourite with families because it offers sheltered swimming, body-surfing and shade under the promenade. This beach has been awarded “Blue Flag” status for the 2006/7 season. The Blue Flag is an international award given only to those beaches that provide excellence in safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards. The Flag is awarded annually and is valid for one year at a time. South Africa is the first country outside Europe to win Blue Flag accreditation for one of it's beaches.
   

• Hobie Beach, with its landmark “Shark Rock Pier”, is one of Port Elizabeth’s main beaches and bustles with activity both in and out of the water during the summertime. The beach is preferred for swimming, sunbathing and body-surfing, and also offers sheltered rock pools with interesting inter-tidal sea life.  It is also one of the main bases for off-shore water sports.

• Pollock Beach, or “The Pipe” as it is known locally, is favoured by surfers because of its excellent waves and surfing opportunities.

McArthur Baths and Leisure Centre. This recently upgraded complex, ideally situated adjoining King's Beach, is now an international-class water recreational facility. The complex comprises two heated, open-air, fresh-water pools, a larger sea-water swimming pool, changing rooms, a children’s water chute and splash pool, as well as two restaurants and a boutique. Life-guards are permanently on duty at the complex. These Pools are open seven days a week from September to the following April.

Port Elizabeth's northern beaches consist of vast stretches of sand and dune beach, stretching from Bluewater Bay past the new port at Coega all the way to Colchester and beyond. These provide superb angling and swimming opportunities. Patrolled beaches along this stretch are Brighton Beach, Bluewater Bay and St. George’s Strand.

Sardinia Bay, a marine reserve with miles of unspoiled coastline stretching all the way to Jeffrey's Bay and crystal clear water, is excellent for diving, horse riding and scenic walks.