08:00 – Hit the beach
No trip to Durban is complete without a swim in the warm Indian Ocean. Start your day with a quick dip at North Beach, followed by a breakfast of Cajun scrambled eggs (with chopped avocado and sweet peppers) on a lounger on the sand at Circus Circus Beach Café.
09:00 – Get moving
Hire wheels at The Skate Store at the North Beach Skatepark and cycle or skate the short distance (about five minutes) to Moses Mabhida Stadium. From here, ride the Skycar for sensational beach and city views before the crowds come to ride the Big Rush Big Swing – aka the world’s tallest swing. Then take a spin along the beautifully paved Golden Mile promenade making for uShaka Marine World. Stop along the way at Afro’s Chicken Shack in a sunshine yellow shipping container at Addington Beach for the best burger and tjips in town.
11:00 – Make a splash
Burn off your burger at uShaka’s revamped Wet ’n’ Wild (the Body Tornado slide is a real scream), or swing out on the new Chimp & Zee adventure trail, with ziplines and aerial obstacle courses. If that’s all a bit high-octane for you, you can just chill on the uShaka Beach – fabulous and (best of all) free.
13:00 – Get arty
Make a beeline for the buzzing Glenwood neighbourhood, and the Community Art Centre at Phansi Museum, which boasts a spectacular collection of Zulu arts and crafts, from medicine gourds to glass beads, cleverly displayed and vividly explained by guides – but it’s imperative to book (call +27 (0)31 206 2889). Next, head for the KZNSA Gallery for great contemporary art. Scout the revamped gallery shop for home-grown pieces, from Musa Zincume’s Afro Bravo bags made from sweet wrappers, to Hlengi Dube’s beaded olive spoons and bracelets.
14:30 – (Bunny) chow time
Amble down Helen Joseph (Davenport) Road and lunch at the latest arrival on the busy restaurant scene: Roxi Wardman’s Spoonful Eatery. The pink-haired winner of MasterChef SA 2014 serves gourmet comfort food with a twist – order a bacon and egg Bunny (a hollowed bun stuffed with bacon, egg, mushrooms, caramelised onions, cheddar and home-made chakalaka) or the Elvis: banana bread French toast with peanut butter, crispy bacon, toasted peanuts, dark chocolate shavings and crème fraîche.
17:00 – Sundowner time
Cross the Berea to the quiet courtyard of Market Restaurant and relax under the leopard trees beside the fountain with a tall glass of Poison City Brewing’s Bird lager. Market’s owner Andre Schubert and Graeme Bird’s craft beer was first brewed in a friend’s beach house. Stay for dinner and order the warm hoisin plum shredded duck salad with citrus segments, or dive into the flame-grilled fillet or white truffle spaghetti carbonara.
21:00 – Jazz it up
Head for the Point Waterfront – more specifically The Chairman. The city’s coolest bar and jazz lounge was created by KwaMashu-born architect Ndabo Langa in the ruined shell of a 100-year-old building. It serves hot live sounds (so have your dancing shoes ready) and snack platters of traditional Zulu delicacies such as goat with dumplings. Order a Kind of Blue cocktail (with Johnny Walker Blue, of course), and get in the groove.