Westbrook Beach, Dolphin Coast

Pretty Westbrook Beach, lying between La Mercy and Ballito on the north coast roughly a half hour's drive from Umhlanga, is a pretty beachside resort with a wonderful swimming beach and sands that stretch for miles.

The little seaside town that has sprung up around the beach, just south of Tongaat, is fairly modern, and a drive along North Beach Road that runs between the sea and the ridge of residences reveals mostly modern apartment buildings and townhouses that reach upward for the views, some of them On Show to prospective buyers or holiday makers who dream of a home by the sea. And they go by names such as Bali Hai, La Pirogue, and The Views, which are quite something.

As one continues along the stretch of road parallel to Westbrook Beach, the sea crashing onto the shore to one's right, the road noticeably narrows as the grassy bank to one's left rises and reveals the beginnings of typical coastline vegetation of these parts, milkwood tree dense with lush folliage to match the sticky, hot summers that draw people to this coastline.

Nearby enjoy Crocodile Creek where you can feed the crocs at 11am or 3pm every day, the Dolphin Coast market, Salt Rock and Thompsons Bay Beach where there are life guards and a tidal pool, and, just 35 kilometres south of here, Durban and the city's many attractions.

The north coast, littered with rocky coves, river mouths and temperamental seas is often the playground of dolphins and whales, if your eyes are peeled - this is, afterall, the Dolphin Coast. But really what you are at Westbrook Beach for is the unspoiled beaches, miles of sand and endless crashing oceans as you unwind, de-stress and get down to some serious reading, sketching and contemplation.