Durban Surfing – Guide to Spots / Where to Stay / Seasons
This guide to Durban surfing runs through all you need to know about paddling out in the primary city of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
An introduction to Durban surfing
Known as South Africa’s surf city, Durban has got an awesome mix of friendly beach breaks and gnarly reef breaks that cater to all levels of surfer.
For beginners, there’s the Golden Mile – or just The Mile, as it’s known to most around here. There, spots like Addington Beach and uShaka are replete with accessible waves that are protected from uber-strong SE swells. These are generally playgrounds for Durban’s surf schools and surf camps and have a good atmosphere for traveling surfers wanting something casual.
For more advanced surfers there’s the likes of New Pier and Cave Rock (the undisputed king of Durban spots). When the SE powerful barrels that’ll get your heart pumping and your thighs throbbing.
There’s action all year in Durban thanks to its consistent swell and warm water, courtesy of the Agulhas Current – NE, SE and E all work here and there’s rarely a day without a wave.
The best seasons have to be autumn and winter (March to September), when the SSW swells meet offshore winds to create really clean, crisp waves that will glass up all morning.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in South Africa
Durban surfing at a glance
The good…
- Very consistent surf country
- Warm Indian Ocean waters
- Breaks within easy reach of the city center
The bad…
- Localism at the better-quality Golden Mile spots
- Sharks
What’s in this guide to Durban surfing?
Where is Durban?
Imagine you’re looking at a map of South Africa. It’s shaped a bit like a giant upside-down cone, eh? Now, find the eastern coastline, the one that’s being hugged by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. You’re going to want to let your gaze wander halfway up that coastline.
That’s where you’ll see Durban, nestled right on the water’s edge!
Durban is also the biggest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. That means it should be well linked by road and other transportation methods to the rest of the country.
How to get to Durban?
Durban’s main airport is King Shaka International Airport (DUR), located about 35 km north of the city center.
The airport services both domestic and international flights. Major airlines such as British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and South African Airways have flights to Durban from various locations worldwide. After landing, you can take a taxi, shuttle service, or rent a car to reach the city center.
If you’re already in South Africa, you can drive to Durban. From Johannesburg, it’s about a 5 to 6-hour drive along the N3 highway. From Cape Town, it’s a much longer drive of around 16 hours via the N2 highway.
It’s a nice one though – you could do it so you cover basically the whole of the legendary Garden Route. Rent in Cape Town and drive from there if you have time – it’s a trip of a lifetime. Seriously.
South Africa’s railway system connects Durban with other major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Shosholoza Meyl train service offers an affordable, though slower, alternative to flying or driving.
Finally, several long-distance bus companies, like Intercape and Greyhound, operate services from cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria to Durban.
Do I need to hire a car to surf in Durban?
You won’t need a car hire to surf in Durban. That is, if all you want to do is surf in Durban.
We say that becuase it simply wouldn’t seem right to hit this corner of SA and not venture out to do something else – a safari up in Kruger, hikes in the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, or even the epic Garden and Cape drives that start to the south. For all those, and for stringing together a South African surf trip that includes the likes of J-Bay, a car is a must.
Durban surf spots
Durban’s surf spots are split into two.
There are the ones south of the harbor – in an area known as The Bluff – and the ones to the north – in an area known as The Golden Mile.
The first are the most famous because they host Cave Rock, Durban’s charger wave. But the ones to the north have smaller swells to offer surfs for a greater variety of surfers, especially beginners.
Here, we’ll start south and move north…
Brighton Beach (Cave Rock)
Cave Rock is Durban’s motherload wave. It’s a challenging reef with a super-steep drop followed by a fast right hand face that barrels in perfect almond pits.
Those who make the initial sections – the bottom turn has to be on point for you to count yourself among them – will need to retain high speeds to make it through some backdoor sections and onto a face that’s pockmarked with boils the whole way along.
It’s been surfed by the Durban trailblazers since the 70s, when names like Rudy Palmboom showed the sort of epic tubes that could be scored when SE 12 footers roared up in the SE swell channel. They’re still out there, that dedicated local crew.
They’re actually the only guys who can nail Cave Rock properly, surfing it all the way from the take-off beside the tides into the thick reef that lies just north.
Cracking wave. NEVER for beginners or intermediates. This is serious stuff.
Ansteys Beach
Ansteys Beach, located in the Bluff area, provides a variety of waves suitable for all levels of surfers. It offers a consistent beach break with both left and right-handers.
Best on a medium tide with ENE winds and SSW swell direction. It’s less crowded than central Durban spots, making it a favored choice for locals seeking uncrowded waves.
Big days see A-frame tubes cut in when it’s like 8+ foot and direct SE. Most of the time, it’s shoulders to rip top to bottom on shorter rides.
uShaka Beach
uShaka Beach is the most protected of all the beaches along the Golden Mile area. It’s basically as tucked into the Durban North Breakwater as it’s possible to get, so all those S-direction swells need to work extra hard to make thier presence felt.
That’s really good news for complete beginners. You can come here to score 2-foot lips when it’s massive down on The Bluff side of the town.
There’s now a good cluster of surf schools facing uShaka Beach, so it’s the spot we reccomend if you want an initial surf lesson or an easy rental with zero localism.
Addington Beach
Addington Beach, part of Durban’s ‘Golden Mile’, is a friendly beach break popular among longboarders and beginners due to its gentler sets that come in mainly over sand.
The break works well with a moderate ESE wind and a solid SSW swell, generating mellow left and right-handers. It is best surfed around mid-tide, avoiding extreme high and low tides.
Stuff here is a lot less hollow and powerful than spots like Cave Rock or New Pier, making it a perfect spot for cruisy rides and the local surf schools, who do come down in force when conditions align
The Wedge
The Wedge, also known as Dairy Beach, is a part of Durban’s Golden Mile and a major hub for surf competitions.
It delivers consistent beach break waves with both left and right-handers.
The Wedge can handle larger swells and still hold shape, producing well-formed, punchy waves suitable for all surf styles. Its optimal conditions are a SSW swell direction and ENE wind, functioning best on a mid to high tide. Crowds are the main issue, espeically the grumpy ones, and they’re often around.
North Beach
North Beach in Durban, a consistent beach break, offers good surf throughout the year. Its waves are typically waist to head-high, with the possibility of larger sets on bigger swell days.
The spot can generate both left and right-handers, which tend to be more rippable than heavy. It works best with a SSW swell and light W to NW offshore wind, usually surfed from mid to high tide.
Staying close by is a solid option for intermediate surfers who want to be within walking distance of some of Durban’s more casual waves, especially since the whole area and promenade has been redeveleped since the 2010 footie World Cup.
Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty, located on Durban’s Golden Mile, is a reliable beach break generating solid left and right-handers.
Famed for its consistency, it can hold larger swells and offers good shape, delivering a mix of fun walls and occasional hollow sections. Optimal conditions occur with a SSW swell, ENE wind, and at mid to high tide. The spot is often bustling, particularly during surf contests, as it’s home to the Durban Surf Lifesaving Club.
Despite its popularity, the lineup can spread out, allowing for more wave opportunities. Beyond the surf, this beach is a lively area with great amenities and a vibrant atmosphere.
Surf camps in Durban
We’d put money on it that there’s going to be a much bigger array of surf camps in the Durban area in the next 10 years. The region has such sheer consistency that there’s no doubt about it. For now, though, there’s only one real option…
- Pumula Surf Camp: 5 Day Surf Yoga Camp in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – The only real surf camp in the Durban region is about 60 miles south of town. That’s actually good news for leaners because you escape the contested peaks of the city and hit the more beautiful beaches of the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The camp has some lovely private rooms, offers a package that includes 4 lessons over 5 days, plus two yoga sessions. The variety of breaks means all levels will enjoy, but we’d say it’s best for mix-level groups of beginners and intermediates.
Where to stay when surfing in Durban?
We’ve mainly picked out hotels in Durban that get you close to the best waves of the Golden Mile. They’re prime because they get you on the regenerated seafront area that’s basically the hub of the city. Peaks and peaks and more peaks are within walking distance…
- Unit 802 Ten South – If we flew into Durban right now, we’d be hoping like hell than this four-person flat was available. It’s right on the Golden Mile beaches, a hop across from the surf, and it’s downright lush.
- The Edward – A grand hotel with 1950s sorta’ vibes to its architecture and a lovely swimming pool.
- Marilyn Boutique Hotel – This charming neighborhood hotel takes you south of the Bluff and into the more exposed surf zone of Durban. It’s a great base for hitting the epic Cave Rock and others, what with its garden pool and leafy grounds. Just don’t expect to be near the action of central Durban and the Golden Mile.
When to surf in Durban?
When it comes to surfing in Durban, you’ll find consistent surf throughout the year thanks to its position on the eastern seaboard and the warm Agulhas Current. However, the prime surf seasons are during the autumn and winter months, from March through September.
During these months, Durban enjoys regular, long-period SSE swells generated by the roaring forties, creating stellar conditions at spots like Bay of Plenty and New Pier. It’s sorta the same stuff that hits Bali, only coming in the other direction across the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, the prevailing winds during this period are offshore, from the W to NW direction, grooming the swells into clean, well-shaped waves.
Spring and summer, from October to February, can still offer up good surf days, but they’re less consistent. The NE wind, known as the “Berg Wind,” can occasionally bring epic offshore conditions during these months.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
