Things to do near
West End (PE)
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Hiking Trail
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Schoenmakerskop (8 km from West End (PE)) Cape Recife Lighthouse is the third oldest lighthouse on the South African coast and was built in 1851. Stay on the beach past the lighthouse and go towards the car park at Chelsea Bay. From here you follow the gravel road. Then it will be a short climb to ruins of historical lookout buildings. Continue on the gravel road to the gate. Take drinking water. Difficulty is moderate.
The trail is 9 km long and takes approximately three hours. Vehicles need a permit that can be obtained at the entrance to the reserve. No permit is required for hikers who leave their vehicles by the gate. Please enquire.
Beaches
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Swartkops (9 km from West End (PE)) Swartkops Beach is a tiny stretch of shoreline that extends the Swartkops river mouth. Swartkops is a great spot for all kinds of fishing, lazing around and swimming and is ideal for travelling families.
Galleries and Museums
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Newton Park (9.4 km from West End (PE)) The St. Croix Motor Museum has a fine private collection of vintage and classic vehicles dating back to 1901.
If you have an interest in classic vehicles, then this is the place to visit. About 80 cars are on show, dating from the early century to the 1960's. Many other items related to the motor industry are also on display.
The museum is open on Saturday afternoons.
Weekday visits are by appointment only.
Hiking Trail
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Port Elizabeth (9.4 km from West End (PE)) The Guinea Fowl trail is located in the Baakens River Valley at the centre of Port Elizabeth. The walking trail is divided into an upper and a lower section.
The Upper Guinea Fowl trail is six kilometres long and takes approximately two hours to walk. The trail starts at 3rd Avenue in Walmer and ends at Sunridge Park at Kragga Kamma.
The Lower Guinea Fowl trail is seven and a half kilometres long and takes you downstream to Settler's Park. The trail meanders along the Braakens River and passes through a steep-sided valley below the city suburbs. Visitors can see wildflowers, trees and blue water lilies along the walk, as well as dassies, tortoises and lizards. The trail is not circular so walkers will have to organise transport for the way back.
There are ablution facilities and water available along the trails.
Galleries and Museums
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New Brighton (9.5 km from West End (PE)) A symbol of our freedom and unconventional in terms of museum design, the Red Location Museum is definitely worth a visit.
Red Location is one of the oldest townships of Nelson Mandela Bay, named for the corrugated iron barrack buildings which have rusted to a deep red. Many famous political and cultural leaders lived in Red Location and a number of significant ‘struggle’ events occurred during Apartheid.
Museum visitors are treated as active participants rather than consumers. The past is represented as a set of memories, disconnected yet bound together by themes using the concept of the Memory Box. This was inspired by the boxes that migrant labourers used for storing their precious possessions when separated from their families.
Red Location also draws together the strands of struggle that commemorate the efforts by different groups to free themselves.
The museum complex includes an art gallery, market, a creative arts centre, library, adult literacy centre and a conference venue.
Corner Olof Palme and Singaphi Streets, New Brighton
+27 (0)41 408 8400
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Friday 10:00 - 16:00
Saturday at Sunday 09:00 - 15:00.
Galleries and Museums
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New Brighton (9.5 km from West End (PE)) Looking for interesting and offbeat things to do in Port Elizabeth? Experience the sights and sounds of life in a traditional South African urban community during a half-day township tour.
Gugu's Township Tour will take you into the heart of New Brighton Township, one of Port Elizabeth's oldest and biggest townships, where you will experience authentic South African culture.
The guided tour includes a visit to the outstanding Red Location Apartheid Museum, a traditional Xhosa meal and mingling with locals at a shebeen (pub).
www.gugustownshiptours.co.za
Galleries and Museums
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Port Elizabeth (9.9 km from West End (PE)) The St. Croix Motor Museum is located in St Georges Park. On display is a private collection of vintage and classic motor vehicles, dating as far back as 1901. Many of the vehicles are for sale. The museum was created by Eben de Vos and is housed in an airplane hangar beside Mill Park.
There are about 80 vehicles on display, ranging from the early 20's to the early 60's. Many artifacts related to the motor vehicle industry are also on display.
Shopping Malls
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Greenacres (10.1 km from West End (PE)) Greenacres Shopping Centre is situated in the heart of Port Elizabeth, the economic hub of the Eastern Cape. This trendy shopping mecca forms part of a one-kilometre complex that entices visitors from afar to indulge in retail therapy.
Two choices in parking facilities are on offer. There is an outdoor parking space and a three-level parking facility with over 1000 parking bays situated on the Northern side of the building. Two levels of this facility are undercover, while the rooftop is open.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 09:00 – 18:00
Friday 09:00 – 19:00
Saturday 08:30 – 17:00
Sunday and Public Holidays 09:00 – 14:00
Selected tenants and food outlets trade longer hours for your convenience.
Banking Hours:
Nedbank Monday to Friday 08:30 – 16:00
Saturday 08:30 – 12:00
First National Bank Monday to Friday 09:00 – 15:30
Saturday 08:30 – 11:00
Rennies Foreign Exchange Monday to Friday 08:30 – 16:30
Saturday 08:30 – 12:00.
Sports Stadiums Clubs
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North End (10.8 km from West End (PE)) Situated on the North End Lake which is an idyllic setting for match days, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is the Eastern Cape's first dedicated football stadium.
Features include a three-tier design with two rings of skyboxes. Five first-round, one second-round, one quarter-final, and the third-place play-off 2010 FIFA World Cup matches kicked off here.
The football crazy Port Elizabeth / Nelson Mandela Bay and Eastern Cape residents are the beneficiaries of this brand new futuristic multi-purpose stadium with seating for 50 000 spectators. It is conveniently located near the N2 highway, just a few kilometres from the coast and the port of Coega.
In close proximity to Port Elizabeth / Nelson Mandela Bay is the Addo Elephant National Park and two of South Africa's award winning private game reserves and lodges - Shamwari Game Reserve and Bushman Sands Hotel (featuring a world-class Gary Player designed golf course) along with many other accommodation options. Called the "Friendly City" for good reason, Port Elizabeth offers a number of stunning beach options.
Golf Courses
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Mill Park (11.1 km from West End (PE)) Founded in 1890, the Port Elizabeth Golf Club is one of the oldest in South Africa. Over 100 years later many of the holes still have the same routing!
Today the 6121 metre layout features significant changes including bent grass greens, 25 strategically placed bunkers, and two nines of par 36 for a total par of 72.
Well established trees, palm trees, strelitzias and lush plantings line the fairways. The two signature holes, the 8th and 17th holes, feature distinctive water features.
The vibrant club house offers multi-functional lounges, bars and modern change room facilities with a sauna.
+27 (0) 41 374 3140
bookings@pegolf.co.za
Westview Drive, Mill Park, Port Elizabeth
Hiking Trail
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Bluewater Bay (11.2 km from West End (PE)) The Aloe Trail starts at the top of Tippers Creek Road between Amsterdamhoek and Bluewater Bay. The circular route is marked with red arrows and overlooks Amsterdamhoek and the Zwartkops estuary.
Vast numbers of aloes line the beginning of the trail, offering a blaze of colourful blooms during June and July and attracting numerous sunbirds. Keep following the red trail inland before returning to the ridge at a trig beacon. From here there are extensive views over the Zwartkops estuary, the saltpan and Zwartkops Nature Reserve.
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 7 km
Popular Attractions
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Port Elizabeth (12.4 km from West End (PE)) The Erica School for Girls in Port Elizabeth was begun in 1884 by Miss Mary Anne van Wyk, who initially gave lessons in the old Erica Hall. After the South African War, it was decided to erect a new school building, which was designed by architect W White-Cooper, and was built by HJ Beckett. It was opened on 4 November 1903 by Dr Thomas Muir, then Superintendent-General of Education. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 17 March 1989.
Galleries and Museums
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Uitenhage (12.7 km from West End (PE)) The Cuyler Manor was built as a homestead for General Jacob Glen Cuyler, Landdrost of Uitenhage from 1806 to 1827. This typical Cape Dutch house has been lovingly restored and furnished, and functions as a living museum. Demonstrations of traditional activities including soap and candle making, baking and weaving can be arranged.
Shopping Malls
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Walmer (13.1 km from West End (PE)) Walmer Park Shopping Centre offers everything under one roof. Clothing, home interior, jewellery, grocery, stationery, pet, music shops as well as various eating establishments and movie theatre.
www.walmerparkshoppingcentre.co.za
Nature Reserves
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Port Elizabeth (13.6 km from West End (PE)) Known as the oldest park in Port Elizabeth, this is also the home of the second oldest cricket club in South Africa, which has hosted countless test matches to this day.
St George's Park also features the Port Elizabeth Bowls Club, founded on August 14, 1882, and known as "The Mother Club of Bowls in South Africa" as it was the first bowling club in the country. Other facilities include a swimming baths complex, the Mannville Open-Air Theatre, the Port Elizabeth Lawn Tennis Club, Prince Alfred's Guard Memorial, and the Pearson Conservatory.