About Rocklands Beach

While technically not the first beach on the Sea Point Promenade, Rocklands Beach is the first beach physically located within Sea Point’s official boundary line. The first beach on the Promenade is ‘Three Anchor Bay Beach‘. Rocklands beach, however, comprises a small cove surrounded by the Sea Wall and accessible by 3x stair-cases adjoining to the Promenade.

Rocklands Beach offers safe swimming, and is popular with families with smaller kids, but it’s only safe when the tide is out. When the waters have receded, the cove is relatively calm and there are also rock pools to explore. Like many of the Sea Point beaches the beach sand is a lot more coarse than that of the other more popular Atlantic Seaboard Beaches (Clifton, Camps Bay etc).

The beach sand, here, is usually littered with broken shells and stone because of the rocky shoreline. Take extra care not to cut your feet, or be sensible and bring beach shoes or sandals (slops) with. Like most of Sea Point’s beaches, drying out kelp is common place too and in hot weather, the ‘fishy’ smell can be somewhat offensive.

With the Sea Point Promenade wrapping around this little cove of a beach, you have the privilege of nearby public ablutions (toilets), which are well maintained and usually pretty clean. There are also playground areas on the Promenade Lawns, if you or your kids tire of the beach.

Rocklands Beach is also popular with the local surfers, when the conditions are suitable, which is usually dependant on the tide and the wind direction. The surf and it’s break are best suited for intermediate to advanced level surfers due to the power of the waves, the submerged rocks, the coral reef and kelp beds. It is definitely not recommended for beginner surfers.

Parking is a challenge on most days as the only available bays are those situated along Sea Point’s very busy ‘Beach Road’, or along the intersecting side roads. This area is policed pretty heavily, so parking fines or impounding of vehicles, is commonplace.

Additional Information

Historically, Rocklands Beach gets it’s name from the original property that was located on the adjoining piece of ground in the 1800’s. In 1870, the home on this land became a known landmark, known as the Rocklands Boarding House, which was eventually demolished as expansion and development of the Sea Point area boomed. Today, the ground of the Boarding House is now home the SABC Broadcasting Corporation, situated at “209 Beach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town”.

Other than the beach, the Sea Point Promenade, with it’s lush lawns, play areas and various nearby food and drink venues, makes this a worth while visit, if you’re in the area. Personally, I’d rather go to Queen’s Beach, or Saunders Rock, if I’m going to a Sea Point Beach, but then again, I don’t have to worry about young kids.

Source: https://www.capetown.gov.za/