Words: Anne Schauffer | Images: Stephen Pilbrough
The little suburb of Virginia is flanked by Glenashley to the north, Glen Hills in the west, and the Ruth First Highway – the M4 – which hugs the coastline.
Virginia Airport is right on the coast. Aircraft, executive jets and helicopters are a common sight flying low over the freeway and the suburb, as are trainee pilots doing their circuits. This airport is to move elsewhere, but its ultimate destination has been mired in controversy for so long now, nobody knows quite what the future holds.
Durban North’s beaches, including Beachwood, Virginia and Glenashley, stretch from the Umgeni River mouth to the suburb of Glenashley. Although not a good swimming area, Virginia Beach is favoured for its good looks and is among the few where dogs are allowed.
Property
Virginia is considered a family suburb, one with mainly freestanding homes on sizeable stands, surrounded by great schools and popular retail options less than a five-minute drive away.
Properties here are less expensive than those in adjoining suburbs, which makes them perfect as the first step on the property ladder. The advantages of life in Virginia are numerous, including easy access to the amenities of the affluent northern suburbs, plus the plethora of excellent schools within walking distance or a short drive away.
Resident Sally-Ann Lake says, “There are few gated complexes in Virginia, so we were very lucky to find a unit which was right on the border of Durban North, and one which gives us fabulous views out to sea.”
Schooling
This northern Durban belt has a wide range of schools, most with excellent reputations and even better amenities. Virginia Preparatory School and Chelsea Preparatory School are high in demand and are excellent feeder schools for Northlands Girls’ High School and Northwood School. Similarly, other local public schools, such as Glenashley Preparatory School, North Crest Primary School and Northlands Primary School, are well respected and provide a good education.
There’s also Danville Park Girls’ High School, and the private schools of Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, Oakridge College and Durban North College. The schools are known for their achievements in academics, sports and the arts, and parents are spoilt for choice when making their selection.
Explore
Virginia’s proximity to all the beaches, from Durban through to Umhlanga, makes it an ideal place for those who enjoy surfing, swimming and other water sports. Some homes have panoramic views of the sea, allowing residents to see the surf from the comfort of their verandas.
As a family suburb, there are numerous active cycling and other sports clubs, as well as a municipal swimming pool. For those who prefer the wild outdoors, there’s Virginia Bush Nature Reserve, a 38ha coastal bush reserve which falls under the auspices of Durban Metropolitan Open Space System.
On the other side of the Ruth First Highway is the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve which contains three species of rare mangroves: black, red and white. This 76ha reserve is a national monument and consists not only of a mangrove swamp forest but also an estuarine habitat at the mouth of the Umgeni River. Schools and other parties frequent the education centre and there’s a bird hide and an activities centre.
Resident Stefan Slade says, “We’re a hiking and walking kind of family, so living here gives us easy access to all the local nature reserves, as well as the beachfront promenades and the Umgeni River.”
With the suburb’s proximity to numerous good local and regional shopping centres, including coffee shops and restaurants, residents don’t have to travel far for anything.
Our house was always the most popular one among family and friends when the Durban Wings Show was on – we’re right there near the airport. We’d watch the most amazing aerial displays with the braai on, beer in hand – no driving or fighting for parking! I never tire of watching the planes land and take off.
Jeremy Mack, resident
Shop:
- Virginia Shopping Centre: for the 4,500m2 Checkers and other tenants such as Clicks, PEP and Capitec
- Hyper by the Sea: for all you need in one place, as well as a Mugg & Bean for a light meal after shopping
- Kensington Square: for the Kensington Super Spar, an array of speciality shops and other national brands
- La Lucia Mall: offering more than 130 stores under one roof
Nearest hospitals:
- Busamed Gateway Private Hospital
- Netcare Umhlanga Hospital
- Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre
Eat:
- Al Firenze, Umhlanga: for Italian classics, including wood-fired pizza
- Indian Summer, Glenashley: for North and South Indian dishes, as well as Indo-Chinese cuisine
- Mamma Luciana’s, Glenashely: for alfresco dining, long lunches and fun-filled dinners
- Atasca Portuguese Restaurant, Broadway: for a taste of Portugal in KwaZulu-Natal
