Plettenberg Bay is known as a perfect holiday destination for many reasons, but none so evident as our world class beaches. The seaside town of Plett is home to five international Blue Flag beaches and a number of other popular shores – all with clean white sand, generally pleasant water temperatures and views that will stay with you long after you have headed home from your Plettenberg Bay holiday.
A beach is given Blue Flag status for excelling in cleanliness, safety, provision of amenities and environmental information and management. This prestigious status is a huge coup for Plettenberg Bay and a massive plus for beach-lovers. This internationally recognised accreditation assures tourists that the beaches that they choose to visit adhere to international safety and other tourist standards.
Please note: although Plett’s beaches are generally very safe – it is always important to know the sea conditions and to only swim where there are lifeguards on duty.
Robberg Beach is one of Plett’s Blue Flag treasures. In summer, it is a mecca for sun-worshippers, swimmers and surfers who enjoy the waves within the sheltering arm of the Robberg Peninsula. In the cooler months, Robberg Beach is an ideal place for a stroll with the hopes of coming across a whale or two reposing just behind the breakers. Robberg Beach stretches 4km from the Beacon Island parking lot to Robberg Peninsula.
Central Beach is the hub of Plett’s beach scene and marine adventures. A small and sheltered beach close to restaurants, shops and marine activities such as marine safaris, seal swimming, ocean kayaking, snorkelling and deep sea fishing – it is impossible to be bored when you visit Central Beach. The snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities to be enjoyed from this beach offer a delightfully colourful display of soft coral, anemones and sponges and abundant marine life nursed on the sheltered reefs just off the beach.
Lookout Beach is another of Plettenberg Bay’s Blue Flag beaches. This ever-changing beach is one of Plett’s most beloved and is constantly being recreated due to the Keurbooms River’s wandering mouth with the rainy season’s occasional flooding. Lookout Beach is best known to surfers and bodyboarders for the good waves and to young families for the safety of the adjoining lagoon, which is also popular with kite-surfers and stand-up paddlers.
Keurbooms Beach, also an International Blue Flag beach, is located a short distance from the town of Plett. Kilometres of beach stretch out towards Tsitsikamma, decorated by magnificent rock formations, including the famous Arch Rock, and with beautiful views back across the bay towards Robberg. The wilder waves are often visited by pods of dolphins as they surf past and whale season brings many excellent whale sightings.
Nature’s Valley Beach, Plett’s final Blue Flag jewel is unlike any other – located at the end of the world famous Otter Trail and forming a part of the Tsitsikamma National Park, Nature’s Valley is a tiny place with big natural attractions. Nature lovers will love the untamed beauty and diverse fauna and flora – a superb spot for birding in the Plettenberg Bay area which includes a secluded lagoon and a walk to the indescribably lovely Salt River mouth.