Unspoilt sandy beaches
The beaches in Plett have won the town the award of Africa's Leading Beach Destination for 2020 at the World Travel Awards

Plett beaches

Dreaming of pristine, unspoilt sandy beaches?

Plettenberg Bay has some of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa. The town’s 35 km of picturesque Indian Ocean coastline features 15 km of pristine, unspoilt sandy beaches. Throughout the year, you’ll find beachgoers of all ages soaking up the sun and enjoying the many outdoor activities you’ll find in Plett.

Plett beaches are considered by many as the best beaches in South Africa, and testimony to this is the fact that Plett has been nominated every year since 2009, and won the title Africa’s Leading Beach Destination’ in 2020 with the World Travel Awards.

Lounging in the soft, warm sand is only the beginning. Surfing, skimboarding and bodyboarding are popular among locals and visitors. With up to 12-foot waves, the beaches along Plett’s coastline are home to some of the best waves in South Africa. Have a surfing lesson, visit during the “Robberg Fine Foods Classic Beach Regatta” or even try your hand at one of our many sea adventure races. You may also want to cast a line or charter a fishing expedition and try your luck along the coast.

Exploring the underwater world is fun and exciting, as it is home to fish, stingrays, dolphin, seals, sharks and whales – even the occasional octopus!

But you don’t have to dive to experience the amazing marine life hidden just below the waves. Plett’s impressive ocean safaris give you an up-close look at marine life without having to get your hair wet!

There are many different beaches to choose from in Plett. Some have lagoon areas for young children and others are hot surfing and bodyboarding spots for the more adventurous. Plett has six premier “Blue Flag” status beaches, including Robberg 5, Lookout Beach, Keurboomstrand, The Dunes, The Singing Kettle and Nature’s Valley.

Plett beaches

Dreaming of pristine, unspoilt sandy beaches?

Plettenberg Bay has some of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa. The town’s 35 km of picturesque Indian Ocean coastline features 15 km of pristine, unspoilt sandy beaches. Throughout the year, you’ll find beachgoers of all ages soaking up the sun and enjoying the many outdoor activities you’ll find in Plett.

Plett beaches are considered by many as the best beaches in South Africa, and testimony to this is the fact that Plett has been nominated every year since 2009, and won the title Africa’s Leading Beach Destination’ in 2020 with the World Travel Awards.

Lounging in the soft, warm sand is only the beginning. Surfing, skimboarding and bodyboarding are popular among locals and visitors. With up to 12-foot waves, the beaches along Plett’s coastline are home to some of the best waves in South Africa. Have a surfing lesson, visit during the “Robberg Fine Foods Classic Beach Regatta” or even try your hand at one of our many sea adventure races. You may also want to cast a line or charter a fishing expedition and try your luck along the coast.

Exploring the underwater world is fun and exciting, as it is home to fish, stingrays, dolphin, seals, sharks and whales – even the occasional octopus!

But you don’t have to dive to experience the amazing marine life hidden just below the waves. Plett’s impressive ocean safaris give you an up-close look at marine life without having to get your hair wet!

There are many different beaches to choose from in Plett. Some have lagoon areas for young children and others are hot surfing and bodyboarding spots for the more adventurous. Plett has six premier “Blue Flag” status beaches, including Robberg 5, Lookout Beach, Keurboomstrand, The Dunes, The Singing Kettle and Nature’s Valley.

The World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is announce in May 2023 that Plettenberg Bay was awarded Whale Heritage Site status. Plettenberg Bay joins The Bluff and Algoa Bay as the third Whale Heritage Site in South Africa.

The Whale Heritage Site programme is an initiative created by the WCA and supported by World Animal Protection, which recognises destinations around the world where coastal communities work together to protect, respect and celebrate cetaceans and their habitats.

CENTRAL BEACH

Often the busiest beach in Plett. Life guards on duty in season. It’s the launch site for Marine Safaris, dive charters and ocean kayaking tours and facilities include restaurants, bars, public toilets and the local National Sea Rescue Station; 2 km / 2 minutes from Plett Central.

ROBBERG BEACH

Popular for long – long – walks, Robberg Beach stretches for kilometres between the Robberg Peninsula and Beacon Island. Facilities include public toilets, a wheelchair access ramp and various parking areas; 2 km / 2 Minutes from Plett Central.

LOOKOUT BEACH (Blue Flag Status) icon-blue-flag-beach

Formerly Plett’s most iconic beach, this area wash washed away during the 2007 floods but has returned even more pristine within the past three years. This is now popular for long walks along the ocean side from the Lookout parking lot to the river mouth, and then along the Keurbooms River back to the parking area. This has also become a fantastic sun bathing spot, great for surfing and bodyboarding and has ample play area for the entire family. Life guards on duty in season. Facilities include restaurants, bars, public toilets, wheelchair access and limited parking; 1/2 km / 1 minute from Plett Central.

THE DUNES BEACH (Blue Flag Status) icon-blue-flag-beach

This beach is located between Keurboomstrand and the mouth of the Keurbooms river and is accessed in the west from a walkway opposite the old Protea Hotel, or from the east via a car park near Waves Ave. It is also accessible from The Dunes Hotel & Resort.

KEURBOOMSTRAND BEACH (Blue Flag Status)  icon-blue-flag-beach

A little wilder, but equally beautiful. Life guards on duty in season. Facilities include a restaurant (2 km / 2 minutes), public toilets, wheelchair access and ample parking; 10 km / 15 minutes from Plett Central.

NATURE’S VALLEY BEACH – Blue Flag Status  icon-blue-flag-beach

Nestled between two national parks, this large expanse of beach is in walking distance of the pristine Salt River Mouth. This is birdwatchers paradise! Life guards on duty in season. Facilities include a restaurant, public toilets, wheelchair access and parking; 25 km / 30 minutes from Plett Central.

ROBBERG 5 (Blue Flag Status)  icon-blue-flag-beach

Located in the central area of Robberg Beach, this beach is popular for surfing and bodyboarding. Facilities include wheelchair access, public toilets, wheelchair access and a parking area; 2 km / 2 minutes from Plett Central.

THE SINGING KETTLE BEACH  icon-blue-flag-beach

Located to the east of Keurboomstrand, this beach is accessible from the car park at Enrico’s Restaurant (formerly The Singing Kettle). Walking along the beach takes visitors to Cathedral Rock (sometimes called Arch Rock), an impressive arched natural rock formation representing a cathedral portal and rose window.

DAILY BEACH REPORT

Get a daily beach report here

PRESERVE OUR BEACHES

While you explore nature in all its glory, please help us keep these beaches beautiful for years to come! Most of Plettenberg Bay’s beaches and lagoons are designated “Marine Protected Areas,” so remember:

  • Deposit all litter in appropriate containers.
  • Stay on designated trails. Prevent erosion and preserve plant and animal habitats.

DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES

Pets are not allowed on most beaches. There are designated areas for pets which you can view here.

With such an amazing variety of things to do and ways to relax at the beach, it’s easy to see why Plettenberg Bay is a prime dream holiday destination for visitors from around the world.

SAFETY ON THE BEACH

Rip currents can develop anywhere where there are breaking waves. These rivers of current are made by water draining from the beach and flowing back out to sea.

break-the-grip-of-the-rip

Click here to download a handy guide on how to “Break the grip of the rip” (PDF 823kb).

Watch this video on how to spot and avoid Rip Currents

SHARK SPOTTERS GROUP

Join the Shark Spotters WhatsApp community for general announcements and important information. Here you can receive official Shark Sightings via the group for real-time updates on shark activity in Plettenberg Bay.