Thesen Island Water Sports

About Thesen Island Water Sports

With the spacious canals winding their way through the Blue Flag marina estate of Thesen Islands, there certainly seems to be no end to the options available to those who love water sports. This estate is secure, meaning that only the local residents and those staying here on holiday are able to use the facilities, which makes it ideal for families looking for a safe, fun place to enjoy their vacation in the Garden Route.

Boating is the activity of choice for many of the Thesen locals, and about 360 of the more than 500 homes have their own private jetty. In addition to these, there are 202 communal moorings, as well as moorings outside of the restaurants at Harbour Town. So, go for sundowners on the boat, enjoy a meal and some great music at one of the local dining spots, and head home on the calm of the waterways.

There is a ‘no wake’ policy on the waterways, as there are some endangered marine species (such as the Knysna seahorse and pipefish) living in these waters. This policy also ensures safe swimming and the least amount of noise and disturbance to the residents. Any motorised craft requires that the driver have a skipper’s licence and that the boat have an identity sticker.

Canoeing, kayaking, and SUP-ping (stand-up paddling) are also very popular water sports for those staying at Thesen Islands. The waterways are calm and relatively shallow most of the time. There are a host of little beaches, mooring spots and launch ramps all around the islands, making it easy to hop on and hop off. Also, from the islands’ waterways, there is direct access to the massive lagoon, giving even more scope and opportunity to those that want to explore.

The lagoon is a hotspot for kite surfers, skiers, skurfers (skiing behind the boat on a surfboard) and boaters looking to get up some speed. Whale- and dolphin-watching tours and booze cruises are conducted on the lagoon.