Sports Stadiums Clubs
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Durban Beachfront Durban’s popular club for ocean lovers couldn’t be better situated - right on Durban’s Beachfront at Vetch's Pier, between Ushaka Marine World and the northern harbour breakwater.The Durban Undersea Club (DUC) is a family orientated, social activities club for people that are passionate about the ocean and beaches. The club offers numerous activities like scuba diving, spearfishing, underwater hockey, underwater photography, boating and surf skiing.DUC has a fully equipped dive locker with a 450lt/min air and nitrox compressor and 12 sets of Scuba equipment, a washing up area with rinse baths and showers for dive kit and boats. There’s also a bar and kitchen facilities, ablutions, dining area, function facilities, safe parking with controlled access and easy foot access to the beach from the sun tanning lawn area.The beach in front of the clubhouse is protected from large waves and currents by the Vetch's pier breakwater, a 500m long submerged reef which, along with adjacent limestone reef, is home to hundreds of species of marine life and is a great snorkel and or shallow Scuba dive (max 6m depth). The calm waters and protection from the Bluff makes the DUC beach one of the safest and best for beachgoers with children.
Animal Parks
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Durban Beachfront Come nose to snout with a toothy predator in one of the five largest aquariums in the world. uShaka Sea World incorporates a unique shipwreck-themed aquarium, a 1 200 seater dolphin stadium, a seal pool and penguin rookery as well as interactive activities in the dive tank, snorkel reef and touch pool.Gaze at huge Ragged-tooth sharks, Zambezi sharks, Hammerhead sharks, giant grouper and giant guitarfish. Touch a starfish, feel a sea cucumber or be adventurous and try the Oceanwalker Experience.
Things to do near
Durban Beachfront
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Beaches
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North Beach (0.3 km from Durban Beachfront) Durban’s palm-fringed North Beach delivers stunning sunrises all year round and has blissfully warm water. Enjoy a morning or evening stroll along the promenade and watch surfers riding waves off the pier. The vibe is fun and the beach attracts a vibrant mix of Durban’s cultures.
Galleries and Museums
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Durban Central (0.4 km from Durban Beachfront) Visit the Old Court House Museum, one of Durban's oldest buildings bearing a fascinating and varied past.The building was loop-holed during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879; it bore witness to both the South African Wars and the Bambatha Rebellion, and more recently acted as a recruitment centre and canteen during both World Wars. It was here that African men were given sanction to enter the city or were denied access, and had to pay the mandatory Poll Tax. Here too, at the beginning of his legendary vocation as an activist, Gandhi was asked by the judge to leave the court for wearing a turban! The museum features a number of collectables in the foyer, including an extensive miniature car collection. The Daphne Strutt Costume Room features fashion from throughout the 20th century, interesting accessories such as cigarette cases, bags, shoes, jewellery and hats enhance the display. A number of rare Art Deco and Nouveau pieces make this exhibition a must for aficionados. The 'Movers and Shakers' exhibition features miniature figurines relating to KwaZulu-Natal's history. A touch screen computer display introduces visitors to a broad overview of the province's history through the lives of these personalities.The Durban Room features the city's progression in lifestyle, wealth and means of production, from the colonial era to the post-colonial era.The Durban Room features four unique exhibits - the David SB Anderson Pharmacy, Henry Francis Flynn's Cottage, Clairmont Sugar Mill (showing developments in the production of Natal's most lucrative resource) and the Miss Fann Fancy Repository with a display of the fine imported fabrics, haberdashery and luxuries available in Durban at the end of the 19th century. Need to know? Visiting Hours are Monday to Saturday: 8:30 to 16:00; Sundays and Public Holidays: 11:00 to 16:00; closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Beaches
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South Beach (1 km from Durban Beachfront) Durban’s South Beach is a popular surf spot, known as a safe place for beginner surfers. Situated on the southern end of the Golden Mile, it is protected by lifeguards and shark nets.
Beachfront hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and lofty apartments line the palm-fringed shoreline. Despite development, some Art Deco architecture still remains. Grab a bunny chow and set your umbrella and towel on the sand for blissful chilling in the sunshine.
Beaches
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North Beach (1 km from Durban Beachfront) Right on Durban’s Golden Mile, the Bay of Plenty is one of this city’s popular surfing beaches, particularly during their mild winter season. It can get busy in the water when the surf is up. Right and left waves break consistently off the beach and jetty.
Sports Stadiums Clubs
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Stamford Hill (1.1 km from Durban Beachfront) Staging its first Test match in 1923, Kingsmead cricket grounds has seen some of South African cricket’s most significant triumphs. Kingsmead is also home to the KwaZulu-Natal cricket team – the Sunfoil Dolphins.
Today the extensively redeveloped stadium sport new stands, keeping the old main grandstand as a token of its past grandeur. The 25 000-seater stadium is almost situated within bowling distance of the warm waters of the Indian Ocean – it's just a short stroll to the beach.
The below-sea-level pitch is something of a local legend – apparently when the tide comes in it rises the water table, giving seam bowlers an unexpected advantage.
Big Event Venues
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Durban Central (1.1 km from Durban Beachfront) Situated opposite the International Convention Centre Durban, the Durban
Exhibition Centre is a multi-purpose
exhibition, function and conference centre.
Two large halls offer a
combined space of 9600m2 while several smaller halls, luxury suites and catering facilities are also
available. The DEC also features 20 000m2 of plazas
and gardens which are suitable for outdoor events
and conference parking.
Galleries and Museums
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Durban (1.4 km from Durban Beachfront) The BAT Centre is Durban's vibrant multi-purpose arts centre merging visual and performing arts under one roof. The bright mosaic and mural-covered building has undergone a complete transformation from its former navy hang-out days. Here you will find galleries, artists-in-residence, plus performances of folk music, poetry and spoken-word. The auditorium is the site of the main events held at the BAT Centre. It can hold up to 750 people or 500 people
seated and has dressings rooms and ablution facilities.
Why BAT? Acronym for 'The Bartel Arts Trust' this centre is also an urban-based community art centre that is a venue and facility for skills training, promotion and exposure of disadvantaged and emergent artists. The focus of the centre is local arts, culture, crafts and entertainment that reflects the Zulu, Indian and Western heritage of KwaZulu-Natal. The difference at BAT is the grassroots, the experimental, the cross-arts trends and the innovation that is promoted at the centre.
Beaches
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Addington Beach (1.4 km from Durban Beachfront) Due to its protected position near Durban’s harbour, Addington Beach is a perfect beach for learning how to surf and bodyboard in gentle waves. Addington Beach is also the beach for you if you're keen to escape the crowds and swim in calm water. Set on Durban's Golden Mile, the beach is protected year round by shark nets and professional lifeguards.
Big Event Venues
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Durban Central (1.5 km from Durban Beachfront) Where Africa and the world meet. The International Convention Centre Durban (DICC) is one of the most advanced conference facilities in the world. Key factors in the design of this
state-of-the-art technology driven centre are flexibility and versatility.
The DICC is a purpose-built, fully air-conditioned centre with three convention hallsthat are interlinked but separate. Moveable walls allow for numberous different venue configurations. Alternatively the halls can be opened up to form one large venue with seating for 5000 delegates or 7000m squared of column free floor space.
Together with its sister venue, the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC), the ICC can double its capacity to accommodate 10 000 conference delegates. The centres can function independently or as two halves of one whole. This is achieved by closing Walnut Road, a brick-paved concourse between the two centres, to provide easy access for delegates.
Casinos
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Battery Beach (1.6 km from Durban Beachfront) SUNCOAST Casino & Entertainment World's setting is idyllic – surrounded by waving palm trees and right on Durban's beachfront along the ‘Golden Mile’.Durban’s largest casino offers entertainment heaven for anyone inclined to gaming. Gamblers can choose from 1 330 slot machines, 50 gaming tables and the exclusive 77 Ocean Drive for higher limit slots and tables.Along with the astonishing array of gaming on offer, the Miami South Beach Art Deco style complex houses plenty of shopping and entertainment options. There is mega fun for the whole family with 12 restaurants and fast food outlets, kids entertainment, eight cinemas and a dance bar.
Beaches
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Ushaka (2.1 km from Durban Beachfront) uShaka Beach, located in close proximity to uShaka Marine World, is a great beach to go for if you're keen for a surf, or if you're simply into some beach relaxation.
Parking is secure, cheap, and if you're a beginner surfer this is a splendid beach to try it out for the first time.
Shopping Malls
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Durban Central (2.1 km from Durban Beachfront) Ever dreamt of sashaying in a sari, getting tattooed with henna or tucking into an ‘atomic bomb’ curry? Satisfy your yearning for burning and a lot more at Durban’s oldest market.
Venture down to the Victoria Street Market on the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets in Durban Central and step into a sensory Afro-Indian world. Here the smell of incense and spices pervades the atmosphere where over 180 traders sell their produce. You will find all manner of delightful food and spices including a fish market.
Durban’s Indian community is the largest outside of India and has influenced the character of the city immensely. Operating since 1870, Victoria Street Market still offers a dizzying whirl of colour, aromas, vibrant fabrics and the cheerful noise of bartering. Shoppers can purchase silk saris, scarves, jewellery, woven baskets, beaded and carved curios, Asian ceramics and even cheap Chinese products.
Further down is the clothing mecca of Grey Street (Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street), where you will find typical Indian architecture, narrow lanes, colonnades over pavements and an array of fabric shops.
Open Monday to Saturday 08:00 – 18:00; Sunday and public holidays 10:00 – 16:00.
+27 (0) 31 306 4021.
Shopping Malls
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Durban (2.1 km from Durban Beachfront) With its incomparable harbour views, Wilson's Wharf is Durban's trendiest fusion of fun food, top shows and crafts, blended with the rustic interface of a boating marina and working slipways.
The waterfront has something for everyone, from a fast-food court to restaurants providing funky food and fine dining, from cuisine from the four corners of the globe to an oyster bar, and from harbour cruise dining to a cosy coffee bar or festive pub atmosphere.
Shops contain a wide range of quality crafts and speciality items for the discerning shopper, while the 165-seat intimate Catalina Theatre brings top shows to Durban's only stage with bay vistas.
The Marina offers deep-sea fishing charters daily, or visitors may take their pick of the catch-of-the-day from a full range of seafood at the wharf-side fresh fish market.
Beaches
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Durban (2.3 km from Durban Beachfront) Wedge Beach is a popular surfing spot located to the right of the beachfront's new pier in Durban. The name of the beach is related to surfing, as with most of Durban's beach names. It refers to the typical A-frame shape of the waves at this beach. It is ideal for surfers, swimmers and sunbathers, and due to Durban's tropical climate it is warm enough to spend a relaxing day on the beach even during winter.
Popular Attractions
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Stamford Hill (2.5 km from Durban Beachfront) Leap off the top of the Moses Mabhida Stadium for the most exhilarating ride of your life. The ‘Big Rush Big Swing’ is the only stadium swing and the largest swing of any kind on the planet.
Step into the void 106 meters above the stadium field and swing out under the famous arch. Ultra-friendly and qualified guides give ample instruction and assistance. All equipment is provided.
+27 (0) 31 312 9435
www.bigrush.co.za