HIT THE BEACH!

PORT ELIZABETH Spending time on the beach is an integral part of life in PE. Bring your towel and join the residents for some fun in the sun.

Relax on world-class sand

If a beach has blue flag status, you know things are running smoothly: The beach is cleaned daily, the ablution facilities are spick and span, there’s enough parking, the ecosystem is managed well and there are tourist-friendly facilities. Some beaches even have special wheelchairs for people to move around on the beach and enter the water. South Africa has 44 blue flag beaches, of which three are in PE: Hobie Beach, Humewood Beach (the oldest blue flag beach in South Africa) and King’s Beach. The blue flag season is from November to April. There are lifeguards on duty, stalls selling food and knick-knacks, the kids can swim in the rock pools and there are restaurants nearby should you get hungry. PE also has some of the best beaches for a stroll. A good option is the paved promenade from Humewood Golf Club to the harbour (about 6 km).

Surf’s up!

If you’ve always wanted to ride a wave, PE is the perfect place to learn: • Learn2Surf has been in business for more than 10 years. They offer two options: a private lesson with an accredited instructor (R350 for 90 minutes) or a group lesson for 3 – 5 people (R250 per person for 90 minutes). If you’ll be in PE for a while, you can do five group lessons for R900 per person (R180 per lesson). All equipment is provided. Contact: 083 414 0567; learn2surf.co.za • The Surf Centre has similar packages: R250 per person for one lesson, R900 for five lessons or R1 700 for 10 lessons. They’ll pick you up, take you to the beach and supply the necessary gear. If you already know how to surf but you left your gear at home, you can rent a surfboard (from R70 for two hours), a bodyboard (from R50) or a wetsuit (from R40). Where? Dolphins Leap shopping centre, Beach Road, Humewood ( There is also a surf shop.) Contact: 041 585 6027; 082 322 1150; surf.co.za

Take an iconic photo

Shark Rock Pier goes 100 m into the ocean and it’s probably one of the most photographed spots in PE. The sea roars down below, the waves smash the pillars and at night the lights of the pier are reflected in the water. People with cameras mill around, waiting to capture sea spray or a fisherman landing a catch. This stretch of coastline runs directly east to west, so you can get great sunrise and sunset shots – the pier in silhouette always works as a nice visual anchor.

Sandboarding and boat cruises

Landlubbers might prefer a sandboard to a surfboard… The Sundays River empties into the sea just east of PE and there are some big dunes near the mouth. Sundays River Adventures will take you downstream by boat and show you how to surf the dunes. Depending on your skill level, you can stand, sit or lie on the board. It’s much easier to remain upright on a sandboard than a surfboard, but when you fall you’ll get sand everywhere! Afterwards, you’ll do a short boat cruise on the river. If sandboarding is not for you, you can just do the boat cruise. There are lots of birds to be seen in the riverine vegetation, including fish-eagles, so bring your binoculars and camera. You might also spot a bushbuck or a kudu in the thickets. Where? Follow the N2 east to Colchester (about 35 km from the city centre) and pull over at the BP filling station. Meet up with the Sundays River Adventures instructors at the Taste of Africa restaurant next door. ( You can have breakfast here beforehand, or lunch afterwards.) Cost: Sandboarding R500 per person for two hours; R600 for three hours. Boat cruise R250 per person for an hour and a half; R350 for two and a half hours. Bring your own drinks and snacks. Contact: 071 185 6565; sundaysriveradventures.com