Shelly Beach | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 30°47′53″S30°24′36″E / 30.798°S 30.410°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
District | Ugu |
Municipality | Ray Nkonyeni |
Main Place | Margate |
Area | |
• Total | 5.37 km2 (2.07 sq mi) |
Population (2011) [1] | |
• Total | 2,577 |
• Density | 480/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 29.3% |
• Coloured | 1.9% |
• Indian/Asian | 8.5% |
• White | 60.1% |
• Other | 0.2% |
First languages (2011) | |
• English | 51.8% |
• Afrikaans | 21.8% |
• Zulu | 17.0% |
• Xhosa | 6.0% |
• Other | 3.5% |
Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
Postal code (street) | 4265 |
PO box | 4265 |
Shelly Beach is a coastal resort town on the South Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, located approximately halfway between Margate (8.5 km) and Port Shepstone (7.1 km). [2] [3]
Shelly Beach is situated between the Zotsha Creek to the north, the Mhlangeni River to the south and the R61 freeway to the west. Its neighbouring areas are Oslo Beach to the north and St Michael’s-on-Sea and Uvongo to the south.
The opening of Shelly Centre in 1985 placed Shelly Beach as a prime shopping destination on the KZN South Coast [4] followed by the developments of Southcoast Mall in 2005, [5] Shelly Beach Business Park in 2007, [6] the Shelly Beach Day Hospital (now a 24-hour hospital) in August 2010 [7] and the reopening of McDonald's in Shelly Beach in 2021 since the 1990s. Today Shelly Beach has become the gateway to shopping on the Lower South Coast, host to the two largest malls in the region, namely Shelly Centre and Southcoast Mall.
The main retail thoroughfare in the town, Marine Drive, is the location of several local shops, car dealerships, restaurants, and shopping centres. Shopping centres in Shelly Centre include Shelly Centre, which is the largest shopping centre on the South Coast, Shelly Boulevard and Southcoast Mall, which is the second largest shopping centre on the South Coast. The latter is not located on Marine Drive, but on the border of Shelly Beach, next to the R61. [8] [9]
Shelly Beach is host to two beaches along its coastline, namely Shelly Beach and Windsor on Sea Beach.
The name "Shelly Beach" refers to the many shells on the beaches in which there are. Here, the finest miniature pink lady shells can be found among many other varieties.
Shelly Beach boasts numerous popular diving and snorkelling sites, where the most spectacular varieties of tropical fish, sharks, corals as well as mystical underwater caves can be discovered. These popular sites include Potato Reef, The Caves, Deep Salmon, Arena Reef, Bo Boyi Reef, and Adda Reef. [10]
Established in August 2010 as the Shelly Beach Day Hospital, the Shelly Beach Hospital is the sole hospital serving Shelly Beach. Owned by Shelly Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd, it is a private hospital operating 24-hour emergency services. The hospital is located on Izotsha Road, opposite Southcoast Mall. [11]
Shelly Beach Clinic is a government-funded municipal clinic operated by the Ugu District Municipality. For public hospitals, residents of Shelly Beach normally use the Port Shepstone Regional Hospital. [12]
Shelly Beach straddles along the R620 (Marine Drive) connecting Port Shepstone to the north with Uvongo to the south. The town also lies just off the R61 highway (future N2 Wild Coast Toll Route) between Port Shepstone and Port Edward. Running north-west, the P55 (Izotsha Road) connects the town with Izotsha to the north-west and Gamalakhe to the west (via the P200).
The R61, forming part of the South Coast Toll Route, involves the payment of toll at the toll booths of the Izotsha Ramp Toll Plaza, situated on the off and on-ramps of the Izotsha Road interchange (Exit 39). Traffic arriving from the south to turn off at exit 39 and traffic joining the R61 S from Izotsha Road must pass through the respective ramp plazas. The R620 to Margate and Port Shepstone serves as the untolled alternative route to the R61.
Margate is a coastal resort town in the KwaZulu-Natal province, about 20 kilometres south-west of Port Shepstone and 127 kilometres south-west of Durban. The river which flows into the sea at Margate is called "Nkhongweni" (place of entreaty) as the original inhabitants of the area were reputed to be so mean resulting in travellers begging for hospitality.
Port Shepstone is a large town situated on the mouth of the Mzimkhulu River, the largest river on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast of South Africa. It is located halfway between Hibberdene and Margate and is positioned 120 km south of Durban. It serves as the administrative, educational, industrial and commercial centre for southern Natal.
Scottburgh is a coastal resort town located along the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It situated south of the mouth of the Mpambanyoni River (confuser of birds).
Port Edward is a small resort town situated on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and lies on the border between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. It is situated on the R61 road between Port Shepstone and Lusikisiki.
Hibberdene is a small coastal town on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast in South Africa, approximately 23 km north-east of Port Shepstone and 90 km south-west of Durban and halfway between coastal towns of Scottburgh and Margate.
Ramsgate is a village on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, just southwest of Margate. Ramsgate is located on the mouth of a river known by the Zulu name Bilanhlolo for the bubbles caused by strong currents making it look like the water is boiling. In 1922, there was only one person living there, Paul Buck, a painter and violin maker and he called the place Blue Lagoon.
Umzumbe is a seaside resort situated at the mouth of the Mzumbe River (bad kraal) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The name of the river is derived from a band of Hlongwa cannibals who occupied the valley. The Hlongwa was almost wiped out by the Zulu king Shaka in 1828.
Uvongo is a seaside resort town situated along the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast at the mouth of the Vungu River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Situated 4 kilometres north of Margate, Uvongo is the largest upmarket residential area on the Lower South Coast.
The R61 is a long provincial route in South Africa that connects Beaufort West with Port Shepstone via Graaff-Reinet, Komani, Mthatha and Port Edward.
Marburg is a settlement in the Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, situated approximately 112 kilometres south-west of the city of Durban. Marburg was a Norwegian settlement given the name Marburg for a nearby German mission. The Norwegian founders played a significant role in the development of Marburg and Port Shepstone, which it forms part of today. The British colonial government gave the settlers a free voyage to South Africa and also houses and 100 acres of land. Marburg was the only successful Scandinavian settlement in South Africa.
The R620 is a regional route in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that connects Southbroom with Port Shepstone via Ramsgate, Margate, Uvongo and Shelly Beach.
Gamalakhe is a township situated about 6 km (4 mi) inland on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is a region along the southern stretch of coastline of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, south of the coastal city of Durban.
Oslo Beach is a small coastal village located along the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and forms part of the coastal town of Port Shepstone.
Murchison is a peri-urban settlement in the Ugu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Manaba Beach is a small coastal town on the South Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, located approximately 2 kilometres north of the Margate CBD and 13 kilometres south of Port Shepstone. The name ‘Manaba’ translates to 'ease and relaxation' in the Zulu language.
Southcoast Mall is a shopping centre located in Shelly Beach on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the second largest shopping centre on the South Coast after Shelly Centre and mainly serves the Lower South Coast region.
Leisure Bay is a small coastal village located on the Lower South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
St Michael's-on-Sea is a small seaside village located on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, between Uvongo and Shelly Beach.
Izotsha is a small rural settlement on the South Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, just inland from Shelly Beach and approximately 7 kilometres south-west of Port Shepstone. The name ‘Izotsha’ translates to 'it will burn’ in the Zulu language.
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