When you stay at the North Star you don’t need to go searching for beaches, there is one right on your doorstep. With our direct beach access, all you have to do is cross the lawn and you are on the beach!
If you are more of a “sit-and-watch-the-waves-roll-in” type of beachgoer, then you really don’t have to venture out any further. It’s only a few steps away so parking and bathroom access are never an issue. You can return to the hotel anytime the sun feels too harsh or the wind starts kicking up. You can even admire the beach from our deck, close enough to smell the ocean and feel the sea breeze, but no need to get sand everywhere.
However, if you prefer to get in deeper than your knees, we suggest you travel a short distance to one of Umhlanga’s excellent public beaches. Here you can enjoy the safety and peace of mind of a lifeguard station and shark nets.
Umhlanga’s Public Beaches
Umhlanga Rocks Beach, Umhlanga Main Beach and Bronze Beach are all less than 5km from the North Star and are well-maintained and safe. The following amenities are available at these beaches:
Public Restrooms:
Public Restrooms are available at Bronze Beach; The Pier; Durban View Park and Main Beach. All 4 are open from 05h00 – 20h00, with Main Beach open 24/7.
Lifeguard Stations:
Lifeguard towers operate at Main Beach and Bronze Beach. The lifeguards go off duty at 18h00 in summer.
Umbrella & Beach Chair Hire:
Umbrellas and chairs can be hired at Main and Bronze Beach for R35 per item per day.
Shark Nets:
Umhlanga beaches are protected by shark nets that are manned daily by the KZN Sharks Board.
Parking:
Limited street parking is available on the roads that parallel the beach. It can get busy during peak season – so consider having a ridesharing service drop you off.
Durban View Parking Area is right at the start of the Umhlanga Promenade and about 1.1km from Umhlanga Rocks Beach if you walk along the promenade. Paid underground parking is available at the Pearls Mall – just 400m from Umhlanga Rocks Beach.
Restaurants:
You’ll find the North Star’s direct beach access, views and privacy hard to beat. But if you are venturing out and want sea views with your lunch try Bellézar Umhlanga – Beach Cafe & Bar or the Ocean Terrace at the Oyster Box.
More to see and do near the Beach:
The Umhlanga Promonade:
Umhlanga’s three main beaches are connected through the beautiful Umhlanga Promenade – previously called the O’Connor Promenade. A lovely 2.5 km walk each way – starting at the Durban View Parking lot and ending at the Breakers Resort. The promenade is paved and level – the perfect place for an easy morning walk next to the beach.
The Umhlanga Lighthouse
The Umhlanga Lighthouse is 21m tall and was installed on 24 November 1954. The lighthouse is unmanned and is controlled from the Oyster Box Hotel – the controls are situated in the Hotel office where staff monitor the controls and report to Portnet Lighthouse Services.
The Whale Bone Pier
The Whale Bone Pier was built in 2007 to reroute stormwater to improve the quality of the beach in the area. The pier was voted by CNN as “The World’s Most Beautiful” in 2014 and the whalebone structure won the South Africa national award for outstanding engineering.
The Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve
At the end of the Umhlanga promenade, you can enter the Nature Reserve and follow the wooden walkways and trails through a preserved coastal forest.
The Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve is a sanctuary not only for small wildlife but also for a number of wetland and coastal forest species. The reserve is small at only 26 hectares, but the trails are stunning and lead through dune forest, across the lagoon and onto the beach. At the lagoon mouth are the remains of a Stone Age sea shell midden.
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We hope you enjoy all the sunshine and sea that Umhlanga has to offer – remember if you are looking for that perfect beach getaway the North Star has stunning beach views from all 7 luxury rooms AND direct access to the beach. You can book your stay here.
