Paddock is a small rural farming settlement situated along the N2 National Route on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, approximately 13 km north-east of Izingolweni and 24 km west of Port Shepstone.
Paddock lies just south of the Oribi Gorge, a canyon cut by the Mzimkulwana River, which is a popular tourist destination on the South Coast, especially for tourists seeking adventure and outdoor activities.
Paddock is nestled in the hilly countryside of the Lower South Coast, mostly supported by the surrounding sugarcane and macadamia farms. It comprises a group of residential and commercial farms built south of the N2 National Route.
Paddock falls within the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, which is part of the Ugu District Municipality.
Transport
Roads
The N2 National Route connects Paddock with Port Shepstone to the east and with Izingolweni and Kokstad to the north-west.
The P55 (Izotsha Road) heads south-east from the N2 Highway towards Izotsha and Shelly Beach.
Rail
Paddock once formed part of the Alfred County Railway, which was a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway that ran from Port Shepstone in the east, through Izotsha in the south-east, and Paddock to Harding in the north-west. After the standard gauge Transnet passenger services shut down in 1986, the ACR continued operations until 2005, when the famous Banana Express ceased operation.
