Winter swells are rolling into Surfer's Corner, and Cape Town's most famous beginner break is buzzing with longboarders chasing waves. And now finding a park just got that little bit easier.
The City of Cape Town's Coastal Management branch this week opened the rebuilt eastern parking area – the section that sits between the Muizenberg Civic Center and the beach. It's not much, and parking is still a pain when there's a bit of swell and an offshore blowing, but every space helps!
"We know how important the parking areas are at this very popular beachfront," said Alderman Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment. "I'm sure visitors will enjoy the new paved area, and improvements. Some minor work is still ongoing and the soft landscaping will be implemented in due course."
The parking revamp is part of a two-year refurbishment of Muizenberg beachfront , which includes major upgrades to seawalls, toilet blocks, public spaces and the surrounding walkways. Work on the western gravel lot next to the railway line is still underway, while the much-anticipated connection to the St James Walkway is set to reopen in time for the festive season.
It's all a little chaotic for now, but in time, the upgrade will be well worth it, as this reboot of the historic beachfront in this seaside suburb promises better beach access, public spaces and climate-resilient infrastructure that will keep one of Cape Town's most iconic surf spots paddling out for decades to come.
What's the Muizenberg upgrade all about? Find out over here…