Port Elizabeth Holidays - Eastern Cape Tourism, Western Region.
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Welcome to Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.
Port Elizabeth, often shortened to PE, and nicknamed the 'friendly city', the 'windy city' and the '10 minute city' (because everything is only 10 minutes away), Port Elizabeth stretches for a distance of 16km along the Eastern Cape shores of Algoa Bay, and is a major transport hub with its well equipped Port Elizabeth Airport, and PE Harbour linking Southern Africa with other national and international destinations.
Port Elizabeth (PE) forms part of the Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, which has a population of over 1 million, making it the fifth largest city in South Africa. With its mild winters and limited rainfall throughout the year, Port Elizabeth (PE) is rated as having the fourth best weather of any coastal city in the world, and is also a water sports mecca. Port Elizabeth Bay offers visitors an impressive variety of activity throughout the year, which includes exceptional windsurfing and fishing, with Algoa Bay hailed as one of the best sailing venues in the world. Port Elizabeth (PE) is also famous for its beautiful beaches, which includes St Georges Beach which boasts the much sought after Blue Flag status, as well as the very popular Port Elizabeth King's Beach with its kiosks, restaurants, mini golf and go-kart track, making it ideal family fun. Enjoy almost any water sport you can think of at PE Hobie Beach, known as one of the best beaches in the Eastern Cape, or relax at Port Elizabeth's Humewood Beach which is quieter, and offers lots of shade for the sun-shy visitor,
Port Elizabeth scuba diving is also of world class quality, with visitors being given the choice of scuba diving beautiful reefs and shipwrecks on the famous Port Elizabeth Bell Buoy Reef near Humewood. The large Eastern Cape, Bell Buoy Reef covers almost 5 acres, with depths which range from 2 - 20 meters, and is sure to thrill even the most seasoned diver.
If you prefer to stay on dry land, PE offers the golf lover 3 superb 18 hole golf courses. Walmer Country Club is the Port Elizabeth golf course which is a genuine challenge to the amateur golfer. With thick coastal bush, tree lined fairways and the notorious Port Elizabeth winds, this Eastern Cape golf course can be a handful to most golfers. Port Elizabeth Golf Club, commonly known as 'The Hill', is one of South Africa’s oldest, with emphasis placed on good food and entertainment, and of course golf! Then lying further south is Humewood Golf Club with its wide and undulating fairways, fast greens and thick coastal bush, this tough PE links golf course is a must for any golfer visiting the friendly Eastern Cape city of Port Elizabeth.
Port Elizabeth's combination of eco-attractions and adventure make it one of the Eastern Cape's top tourism destinations. Port Elizabeth offers visitors endless hours of entertainment, which includes the PE race track, a massive bouquet of Port Elizabeth museums, PE nature reserves, hiking trails, the PE aquarium lion park, the Port Elizabeth casino, and a variety of historical and cultural attractions.
Port Elizabeth is in the unique position of being on the Indian Ocean, as well as in close proximity to a number of malaria free Eastern Cape Game Reserves such as Shamwari Game Reserve - home to the Big Five, as well as Addo Elephant Park, the third largest national park in South Africa.
What to see in Port Elizabeth:
- PE Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Complex is a veritable feast of fun for old and young alike.
- St. Croix Motor Museum contains a private collection of about 80 vintage motor vehicles dating as far back as 1901.
- PE Bayworld Oceanarium is one of the biggest and best dolphinariums in the world.
- Nelson Mandela Voting Line Sculpture is a 38m long, metal laser-cut silhouette sculpture.
- St Georges Park PE, home to the second oldest cricket club in SA; an open air theatre, swimming pool and bowling greens.
- Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Art Museum houses collections of South African and international art.
Things to do in Port Elizabeth and areas surrounding PE:
- Walk the Guinea Fowl Trail located in the Baakens River Valley, Port Elizabeth.
- Horse-ride along the Eastern Cape PE coast.
- Bike-ride along the Port Elizabeth beachfront
- Swim at the McArthur Baths Swimming Pool Complex
Eat out at a diverse range of eateries to suit all pockets and tastes. For long, drawn out gastronomical adventures, try fine dining in Port Elizabeth, or grab a bite from one of the many takeaways, stalls and vendors.
Visit towns in Port Elizabeth:
Port Elizabeth - Glendinningvale
- Less than 1km from Port Elizabeth Golf Club
- 5 minutes drive to main PE beaches
- Within walking distance of PE Greenacres Shopping Centre
Port Elizabeth - Mill Park
- Located close to Port Elizabeth Airport
- Within easy access to PE shopping centres and restaurants
- 4.6km from PE harbour
Port Elizabeth - Summerstrand
- Walk to Port Elizabeth beachfront
- 2.6km to PE Boardwalk Casino
- 8 minutes from Humewood Golf Course
Port Elizabeth - Humerail
- Close to PE beachfront
- Within easy reach of PE golf courses
- Shop at Humerail Waterfront Shopping Centre
Port Elizabeth - Walmer
- 3.7km from PE International Airport
- Within walking distance of PE Walmer Park Shopping Centre
- 7km for PE Kings Beach
Port Elizabeth - Humewood
- Home to Port Elizabeth Humewood Golf Course
- 3 minutes from PE Humewood Beach
- 2km from PE Boardwalk Casino
Guest visit to Port Elizabeth
The first mission was to find accommodation in Port Elizabeth. I gathered that the new name for the Port Elizabeth area is now Nelson Mandela Bay, but apparently Nelson Mandela Bay hasn't quite taken off yet, and Port Elizabeth accommodation is still the more user-friendly search phrase.
We searched for the self catering accommodation in Port Elizabeth option, but found very little accommodation of interest.
As we were playing golf at Port Elizabeth Golf Club, or also known as The Hill Golf Club, we decided to search through the various nearby suburbs under the Port Elizabeth Bed and Breakfast category.
The Port Elizabeth CBD seemed like a waste of time, and offered very little in the way of accommodation or entertainment. This consisted mainly of offices, and was a no-no for a holiday in PE.
The most popular area seemed like Summerstrand. Bed and breakfasts in Summerstrand were plentiful and mostly of a very high standard.
The promenade was fantastic, and had stacks of great restaurants, and of course the much sought after Boardwalk Casino....... we lost a few bucks at the casino, but it was much fun.
The Port Elizabeth Golf Club was closer to Mill Park, and we were very lucky to find a Port Elizabeth Bed and Breakfast in Mill Park (King George's Guest House), which was a really nice 4-star bed and bBreakfast and just around the corner from the Golf Club.
We found Port Elizabeth (or Nelson Mandela Bay) to be a really nice clean city, and all the little suburbs like Summerstrand, Mill Park, Humewood, Bluewater Bay and Walmer offered great hotels, as well as bed and breakfast accommodation in the Port Elizabeth area.
We visited Jeffrey's Bay which was only and hour or so away, and loved the little "surfing town" - also worth popping into.
The PE Golf club was in fantastic condition and is a true test of golf.
Unfortunately we were rained out for our visit to Humewood Golf Club.
Options for bed and breakfasts in Humewood were also plentiful, and so was self catering accommodation in Humewood. Summerstrand accommodation would also have also been very convenient for playing golf at Humewood.
All in all, the suburbs of PE were very tidy, much architectural history can be found in some of the very quaint Port Elizabeth bed and breakfasts.
Besides visiting one or two dodgy night spots, we found that there was more than enough entertainment on the Port Elizabeth beachfront to make for a very lekker holiday.
Thanks Port Elizabeth - Love your city"
- The Hackers
Port Elizabeth Guest House Accommodation Eastern Cape
We found the perfect bed and breakfast in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth..........Beachwalk Bed and Breakfast
Well done to Clifford and Leane for spoiling us rotten.....4 star treatment as advertised!!
There was so much Port Elizabeth accommodation to choose from on Where to Stay, and we made the right choice. Close to the beach, close to everything
Anthony Hoskins
Review Port Elizabeth Accommodation - Walmer Bed and Breakfast
Thanks Where to Stay - we found the ideal Port Elizabeth accommodation at a Walmer bed and breakfast called Sir Roy's B and B.
Very affordable 4 star P E accommodation
Thanks to Linda and Roy for wonderful Port Elizabeth hospitality and great Walmer accommodation.
Martin and Jill