A visit to Plettenberg Bay wouldn’t be complete without a good dose of “Vitamin Sea”. Our beaches are known to be some of the finest in South Africa and six of our beaches recently received international Blue Flag status for the 2017/2018 season: Nature’s Valley Beach, Keurboom Beach, Robberg Beach, Lookout Beach, the Dunes Beach and Singing Kettle Beach. We’ll forgive you if you haven’t visited them all, but we’d recommend that you make visiting each of our Blue Flag beaches a Bucket List item for 2018!
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach, marina or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its stringent criteria. Blue Flag criteria includes standards for safety, water quality, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management criteria. The only town in South Africa to receive Blue Flag awards than Plettenberg Bay is Cape Town, with 10 accreditations this year.
Plettenberg Bay’s marine safari company, Offshore Adventures, has also received Blue Flag status for the 2017/2018 season for both of their charters boats. Offshore Adventures offers visitors the opportunity to swim with the playful Cape Fur seals off Robberg Peninsula. A wonderful, unforgettable experience.
Please be aware that Plettenberg Bay is subject to rough seas and rip currents. Do not swim if there are no lifeguards on duty. See the bottom of this article for more information. A beach for every day of the week! Read on to find out what is special and wonderful about each of our six Blue Flag beaches in Plettenberg Bay:
ROBBERG BEACH
Robberg is without a doubt the “signature beach” of Plettenberg Bay. Located in the sheltered stretch of coastline between the Beacon Island Hotel and Robberg Peninsula, Robberg Beach is popular with surfers and swimmers. The beach itself is about 4km in length and is perfect for an early morning or late afternoon stroll. If you’re there during low tide, wade through the shallow waters to hunt for pansy shells – our Plett icons!
THE DUNES BEACH
One of the newer beaches on Plett’s Blue Flag list, The Dunes Beach is easily accessed from the Dunes Hotel & Resort. Located between Keurboomstrand and Keurbooms River Mouth, it’s a wild stretch of untouched coastline with uninterrupted views across the bay to the town of Plettenberg Bay and Robberg Peninsula. Pack a picnic, umbrella and beach blanket and enjoy a day of serenity at the coast, while you watch the dolphins frolicking in the waves. It is accessed from a walkway opposite the old Protea Hotel or via a car park near Waves Ave.
NATURE’S VALLEY BEACH
Nature’s Valley is a very special place to visit. Not only is it nestled between two national parks, but it’s also the last stop on the famous Tsitsikamma Otter Trail. While heavy seas often make swimming at Nature’s Valley Beach impossible, the lovely lagoon is always perfect for fishing, paddling and swimming. Nature’s Valley is a popular spot for fishing, hiking, paddling and bird-watching.
READ: MAKING THE WONKY MARRIAGE WORK BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT & CONSERVATION
KEURBOOMS BEACH
Another wonderfully wild Plett beach, Keurbooms Beach is perfect for strolling and watching the whales with even more beautiful views across the bay to Robberg. Keurbooms is characterised by beautiful rock formations: caves and archways and swimming bays. A long walk is highly recommended.
LOOKOUT BEACH
Lookout Beach is a Plett institution. This little spit of sand bordered on one side by the magnificent Keurbooms Lagoon and the ocean on the other is the perfect family beach destination. The ocean is superb for surfing and bodyboarding, the beach for walking and searching for pansy shells and the lagoon excellent for paddling, SUP and for little ones to splash safely!
SINGING KETTLE BEACH
Plettenberg Bay’s newest Bleu Flag beach is located in front of Enrico’s Restaurant, between The Dunes and Keurbooms beaches. A lovely spot for a short swim and walk to the famous Arch Rock with the promise of a cold beer or hot chocolate waiting at Enrico’s on your return!