Area Attractions
The Winkelspruit beach lives up to the South Coast reputation for premier bathing, white sands and warm water beaches. The beach has lifeguards and is protected by shark nets, so you can enjoy safe bathing. The beach has been largely unaffected by the devastating spring tides of 2007, that have wreaked havoc among the Eastern shoreline. It still offers great bathing. The beach is also a great surfing, bodyboarding and kite surfing spot.
Maierling is approximately half an hour from uShaka Marine World,
which boasts an impressive aquarium, water park, great shopping and good restaurants. The aquarium is housed
in a huge replica of a shipwreck, and contains a truely amazing array of exotic sealife, including giant turtles,
stingray, sharks, jellyfish and a tropical reef. The dolphin and seal stadiums offer great displays throughout
the day. uShaka is a must-see in the area.
CrocWorld. About 45 minutes to CrocWorld in Scottburgh, which
combines an extensive bird and reptile display with tranquil botanical gardens. You're welcomed at the entrance
by beautiful owls and the cry of a fish eagle. Around mid-morning the crocodile feeding is well worth seeing,
after which you can visit the crocodile farm, home to around 10 000 Nile crocodiles. There's
a nice restaurant with beautiful views over Scottburgh and the ocean. This is a great half-day activity for a
break away from the beach, especially for small children.
The Pavillion. About 30 minutes to the Pavillion shopping center.
One of the largest shopping centers in the country, Pavillion offers great variety shopping and family
entertainment. About an hour north from Maierling is also the
Gateway shopping center.
This massive shopping complex is worth the drive
on a rainy day, or when you need a break from the sun. Gateway offers a wide variety of unique family
entertainment options, including a very cool science museum, an iMax theatre, The Wavehouse, Fantasy Forest (a
massive arcade complex), the Nissan 4x4 track, and of course, tons of shops.
Other attractions in the area
- Aliwal shoal. Maierling on Sea is located 20 minutes from Umkomaas, from where you can launch to the world famous Aliwal Shoal reef. This reef with two awesome wrecks have been rated as among the top ten diving sites in the world.
- Annual Sardine Run. The sardine run is a spectacular annual phenomenon around June/July when shoals of sardines are pressed up against the Kwazulu Natal coastline as they migrate north from the Eastern Cape waters.
- Surf Fishing. The beach right in front of Maierling offers great fishing for Garrick, Shad, Stumpnose and a variety of other fish. Winkelspruit is home to fishing shops where you can pick up bait, fishing gear and friendly advice.
- Natal Sharks Board. Tasked with maintaining the 300+km of shark nets along the Kwazulu Natal shoreline, they offer early morning boat trips when maintaining the nets.
- Golf. The South Coast offers several world class golf courses. The climate ensures that courses are always in pristine condition, lush with indigenous flora. Several golf courses are close by, including the Amanzimtoti Country Club, Umkomaas Golf Course, Umdoni Park Golf Course, Scottburgh Golf Club and the spectacular Selborne Golf Course. Maierling is also within driving distance of some of South Africa's premier golf courses, such as the Durban Country Club and the country club at the Wild Coast Sun.
- Illovo Nursery. This nursery in nearby Illovo Beach is a real gem, offering a great variety of plants, pets and artwork. The nursery's unique design makes for an interesting afternoon visit. The nursery also offers a coffee shop and a safe play area with an impressive jungle gym.