Who says winter is the wrong time to visit Cape Town? Who says summer is the only time for fun in False Bay? While summer steals the spotlight, winter quietly transforms the Deep South into something magical. The mountains turn emerald green, waterfalls come alive, whales arrive from Antarctica, cosy cafés beckon, and outdoor adventures become even more exhilarating without the summer crowds. Better still? Winter is the perfect time to explore...
Spring Comes Splashing into Fish Hoek
Posted on Tue August 18, 2026 in Seaside Cottages - Fish Hoek Beach.
The Spring Splash is about to happen yet again on Fish Hoek Beach! Locals and visitors love this popular calendar event with its tonnes of ocean fun. It's a Cape Town thing ...
At Seaside Cottages, we watch Fish Hoek yawn and stretch with the scented breath of September’s Spring breeze. Then the days lengthen, the sun warms and the ocean beckons even more.
Swimmers, paddlers, surfers and beach lovers gravitate to the catwalk, the beach, and the water.
And what better way to welcome spring than with a good old-fashioned splash?
Fish Hoek Spring Splash, Sunday, 6 September 2026
Leap into the annual Fish Hoek Spring Splash on Sunday, 6 September 2026, the first Sunday of September.
Come to Cape Town's Deep South, get outdoors, enjoy the beach and celebrate the arrival of spring’s embrace. The ceremonial splash usually takes place during the morning, followed by a lively programme of family-friendly beach activities.
For many locals, the first spring swim is about getting wet in an annual ritual that signals the end of winter - and the beginning of those glorious Cape Town days when the beach once again becomes the centre of attention.
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Let the Beach Days Begin!
The Spring Splash is designed to be relaxed, lively and family-friendly. Expect plenty of sand, sunshine, competition and laughter, with activities that can appeal to everyone from enthusiastic swimmers to children determined to build the biggest sandcastle on the beach.
Events like the Spring Splash play an important role in the Fish Hoek community. They bring residents and visitors together while showcasing one of the area's greatest natural attractions, Fish Hoek Beach.
The Fish Hoek Mile Swim – Saturday, 12 September 2026
If watching other people swim isn't quite enough for you, the following weekend brings a rather more serious aquatic challenge.
The Fish Hoek Mile Swim is an iconic 1.6 km open-water race from Clovelly Beach back to the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club. This is not a casual Sunday dip. Swimmers need to register in advance, and there are no entries or substitutions on race day.
Swimmers register at the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club, walk along the beach from the club to the Clovelly starting point and the fun begins. The race is a wonderful example of Fish Hoek's strong relationship with the ocean and a reminder that False Bay can be both spectacularly beautiful and wonderfully challenging.
September: The Ocean Season Gets Underway
As spring arrives, a variety of swimming, paddling and lifesaving activities begin to gather momentum around Fish Hoek and False Bay. Weather and sea conditions naturally play a major role, so schedules can change at short notice.
Seadog Paddle Series
Paddlers have their own opportunity to get out on the water with the popular Seadog Paddle Series.
The long-running local time-trial series caters for surfski paddlers, sea kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders (SUPs).
The new season traditionally gets underway towards the end of September or around the first Friday of October, with races taking place on Friday afternoons at 17:30. The course starts and finishes on Fish Hoek Beach, right in front of the lifesaving club. It is a great way to experience the bay from a completely different perspective – and to watch experienced paddlers make the seemingly impossible look effortless!
Swim Cape Town Pod Swims and False Bay Treks
For swimmers who prefer adventure to competition, Swim Cape Town organises informal community "pod swims" and longer ocean treks around False Bay. During September, swimmers may gather on weekend mornings, depending on the marine conditions, wind, swell and forecast.
These swims are a great reminder that open-water swimming is about fitness, reading the sea, respecting changing conditions and experiencing the extraordinary marine environment of False Bay.
Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club: Getting Ready for Summer
September also marks the gradual return of lifesaving and youth activities around the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club. Although official beach patrols begin later in the season, preliminary activities such as fitness testing, surfboard training and beach sessions generally begin during September. The club is also closely associated with its youth Nipper programme, helping introduce children to surf lifesaving skills, fitness, teamwork and ocean awareness. For a coastal community, these skills include knowing how to behave around the ocean and understand its power, which can be lifesaving.
Come for the Splash – Stay for the Sea
There is something wonderfully appropriate about starting spring in Fish Hoek with your feet in the sand and your head turned towards the ocean. The Spring Splash brings families together. The Fish Hoek Mile challenges determined swimmers. Paddling events attract ocean athletes, while community swims invite people to experience False Bay at a slower, more adventurous pace. Meanwhile, the lifesaving club prepares another generation to understand and respect the sea.
And that is perhaps what makes September in Fish Hoek so special.
Spring Surprises at Seaside Cottages
The Spring Splash heralds the start of Spring in Fish Hoek. Seaside Cottages is your go-to self-catering accommodation paradise right on the beach. Book your bed for a holiday in the sun where ocean activities fill your days!
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