St Francis Bay, Sunshine Coast
Once you've booked your St Francis Bay accommodation explore our pages for info on attractions and what to do in St Francis Bay.
Touted as the country’s answer to ‘little Venice’, St Francis Bay lies just 90 kilometres west of Port Elizabeth - a series of little man-made canals and waterways that lend themselves perfectly to boating, swimming and other water sports.
St Francis Bay is the playground of dolphins, whales and the wealthy, the bay magnificent with a white sandy St Francis Bay beach that offers some of the safest bathing on the coast and some fine opportunities to fish on the rocks. Surfers flock here, as they do to most of this part of the coast, for its waves; and the fabulous beaches are surrounded by nature reserves, making them alive with the calls of birds and an incredible escape from the city lifestyle that ensnares most of us.
It gets pretty tricky around here to remember just which St Francis you’re in. The bay includes Port St Francis, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay. St Francis Bay lies alongside Cape St Francis at the estuary of the Kromme River, navigable for about 10 kilometres with many twists and turns that make it an amazing stretch along which to boat.
Essentially a little holiday village, St Francis Bay includes a marina and a wonderful collection of white-walled thatched homes set right on the waters of the canals. The small boat harbour here offers sheltered anchorage for fishing vessels and other ocean going vessels, and each home has its own mooring.
The St Francis Lighthouse, erected to warn ships of the reef that juts out beyond Sea Point, almost a kilometre out to sea, now marks one of the ‘corners’ of the African coast. The Irma Booysen Flora Reserve lies close by and offers some wonderful opportunities to see local fynbos. Otherwise, your time is given over to pleasure, eco and river cruises, surfing, swimming and generally enjoying the good life.
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St Francis Bay Reviews
"WE LOVE YOU, ST FRANCIS BAY! Always an epic party over New Years and crazy-beautiful beaches! ..." - Casey, Jo and Tegan, Cape Town
Visitorials: We Love South Africa
St Francis Bay Visitorial
I Love St Francis Bay because ...
Featured in: Visitorials: We Love South Africa
We’ve asked those in the know to share their favourites things about St Francis Bay. Find out where locals go for the best cup of coffee, lunch suggestions and much more. We’re letting you in on all of their secrets ... I Love St Francis Bay because ...
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Featured Attractions in (or near) St Francis Bay
Cape St Francis Nature Reserve
Between Cape St Francis and St Francis Bay lies the Cape St Francis Nature Reserve, one of four nature reserves on the tip of this cape - the others are Seal Point Nature Reserve, Seal Bay Nature Reserve and the Irma Booysen Flora Reserve. This area is not only one of incredible natural beauty, rich in both plant ... more information
Eastern Cape Beaches
The Eastern Cape in South Africa boasts some of the world’s best beaches and 800 km of unspoilt picturesque coastlines where blue oceans tumble onto quiet beaches. The Eastern Cape coastline is a mecca to all water sports enthusiasts and has a popular and thriving surfing culture ... more information
Noorsekloof Nature Reserve
The Eastern Cape is abundant in fascinating fauna and flora. It has a unique combination of species and is rich in its biodiversity. The Noorsekloof Nature Reserve is dedicated to showing some of this off to locals and visitors alike. This reserve is situated in Jeffrey’s Bay, and ... more information
Seal Point Nature Reserve
Pretty Seal Point Nature Reserve is one of four nature reserves that lie at the cape alongside the villages of Cape St Francis, Port St Francis and St Francis Bay. It is situated at the Cape St Francis lighthouse, beyond Cape St Francis Nature Reserve, Seal Bay Nature Reserve and the Irma Booysen Flora Reserve, at the ... more information
St Francis Bay Golf Club
St Francis Bay Golf Club is situated in the village of St Francis Bay on the warm Indian Ocean coastline of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The St Francis Bay Golf Club is renowned country-wide for its warm hospitality and a great club spirit, which has been the essence of the club over the years, and ... more information
St Francis Links Golf Course
The layout of the St Francis Links Course combines every element of shot making with its undulating terrain, greens and surrounds as well as its variation in length and direction. The bunkers look as though they have been simply plowed out of the land. It is the bunkering that truly defines the quality and character ... more information
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Things To Do in St Francis Bay
Cape St Francis Lighthouse
Where: Cape St Francis
How much (per person): Free to Browse
Boasting the tallest masonry tower on the South African coast, the Cape St Francis lighthouse, called such as it lies above the generous bay ... more information
Gamtoos River Mouth
Where: Jeffreys Bay
How much (per person): Free
The Gamtoos River winds its way through the Eastern Cape bushveld, providing warm, calm waters in which to swim, frolic and fish. It is a fa ... more information
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Restaurants in St Francis Bay
Full Stop Pub and Grill
Where: Cape St Francis
The Full Stop Pub and Grill is a popular watering hole in Cape St Francis, where visitors and locals are invited to enjoy chilling out with a cold beer, a delicious pizza - with the added highlights o ... more information
The Big Time Taverna
Where: St Francis Bay
Reputed to be one of the best Restaurants in South Africa, The Big Time Taverna is located in St Francis Bay, the only restaurant on the canals. You can watch water enthusiasts enjoying themselves or ... more information
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Events and/or Festivals in St Francis Bay
Port St Francis Calamari Classic Festival
Location: Port St Francis, St Francis Bay
Duration: 3 days
TBC
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On Holiday in St Francis Bay
• St Francis Bay Map
• Visitorial - I ♥ St Francis Bay because …
• Things to Do in St Francis Bay
• St Francis Bay Accommodation
• St Francis Bay Hotels
• Sunshine Coast Accommodation
• Sunshine Coast Hotels
• Eastern Cape Accommodation
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