Brenton-on-Sea is a small beach community about 10 kilometres southwest of Knysna, reached by road through the forest. The beach here faces directly onto the Indian Ocean rather than the lagoon, which means proper surf and open water — quite different in character from the calm lagoon beaches in town.
The beach is long, clean, and relatively uncrowded compared to the main Garden Route beaches. The surf is reliable for bodyboarding and surfing, and conditions for swimming are good in summer. A few holiday cottages and a small restaurant are the only facilities. It is a good excursion if you want an hour or two on an actual ocean beach without driving far.