Algoa Bay curves generously around Port Elizabeth, giving the city a long, east-facing beach front that catches morning sun and afternoon wind. The water is warmer than the Cape — this is the Indian Ocean side — but PE earns its "Windy City" nickname in earnest, and whitecaps are the norm rather than the exception from October to February. For swimmers that means conditions are often choppy; for windsurfers and kiteboarders it's paradise.
Kings Beach and Hobie Beach run into each other as one long unbroken strand along Marine Drive, but they have different characters. Kings is broader and quieter, good for families and early-morning walks. Hobie is the action end — the shallow bay makes it the national hub for windsurfing, and competitions bring international competitors through regularly. Both beaches are well-maintained, with lifeguards on duty in season and beach volleyball courts along the promenade.