​One breed of sportsman well served in Region 7 is the golfer, with the Royal Johannesburg, Observatory, Modderfontein and Huddle Park courses available - the latter, though council-owned, is under a 15-year lease to Linksfield Golf Development because of costly repairs that are needed.

Most of the region's parks and open spaces are in the southern residential areas. With Bezuidenhout, Old Royal, Dixon, Rhodes, Alexander, Hofland and Orange Grove parks among them, they include some of Johannesburg's longest-established regional leisure areas. Recreational facilities also include some old, familiar places, such as Patterson Park and Jabula. Among other centres are the Alex Trek Recreational Area, the Bezuidenhout Valley Caravan Lapa, the East Bank Recreational Centre and the Helen Joseph Multi-Purpose Centre. Alexandra Stadium is prominent among the dedicated sports venues.

There are members-only tennis, bowling, soccer and hockey clubs in the region. For mall shoppers, the large Eastgate Shopping Centre with its cinema complex provides a convenient destination for much of the area, while the northern section has the many attractions of Sandton. Sandton City shopping centre, together with the adjoining Nelson Mandela Square, form one of the largest shopping complexes in the southern hemisphere, attracting shoppers from around Johannesburg and even abroad.

One of Johannesburg's longest-operating flea markets, Bruma Lake Flea Market, provides the pleasures of unusual finds and curio shopping together with eateries and entertainment for the kids. The region also boasts the Liberty Life Wanderers cricket ground, home to the Highveld Strikers and a world-renowned venue for international one-day and test matches. Further south is the Houghton Golf Club, which is well used by residents from across the city.