North Beach

North Beach breaks as an exposed beach and pier setup with right-handers that turn hollow and critical in larger swells while offering rippable walls on smaller days. Southeast groundswell combined with westerly morning winds creates the most reliable conditions, though the break works across all tidal stages with a rising tide generally preferred. Crowd is heavy whenever conditions align, and the beach provides reasonably consistent waist-high to double-overhead surf across the year, peaking during Southern Hemisphere winter.

North Beach holds significance as South Africa's original professional surfing venue, hosting the Gunston 500 from 1969 through 1999—the country's first pro event. Shaun Tomson, a Durban local, won six consecutive Gunston titles between 1973 and 1978 before becoming the 1977 World Surfing Champion. The venue later hosted the Mr Price Pro series and continues to draw competition events such as the Zigzag Durban Surf Pro.

The beach sits along the Golden Mile with public parking available near the Or Tambo Parade beachfront, though spots fill quickly during peak sessions. Lifeguards are on duty and basic facilities exist, but the lineup attracts consistent crowds. Hazards include sharks, rocks, and seasonal jellyfish, and the bottom is sandy throughout.