What comes to mind when you hear the words Plettenberg Bay, or Plett as it is fondly known? For me I think of gorgeous beaches, wonderful restaurants and opportunities for cocktails with friends. However, this is not all Plett has to offer. This popular seaside town, just after Knysna on the Garden Route, lies almost on the border of the Eastern and Western Cape.
Its history is vast as many Portuguese explorers visited the area in both the 15th and 16th century. With three nature reserves, Keurbooms River Nature Reserve, Goukamma Nature Reserve and the Robberg Nature Reserve, both within very close proximity you can be assured of Pletts beauty. Golfers can test their skills on the magnificent 18-hole course at the Plettenberg Bay Country Club or the Goose Valley Golf Club.
Relax and spend a few days or if you have more time a few weeks, as many of the December holiday makers do …
10 Splendid Things To Do When Next in Plett
Adventureland Plett
If you love water but hate the sand that the beach has but would still like to keep cool then why not head over to Adventureland Plett? Here you’ll find a park that offers a 75m supertube, a 25m mini-tube, a ‘Kamakazee’ slide, a ‘Raging Rapid’ and a 12m Free Fall slide.
There are alternate versions of both the Free Fall and Kamakazee slides for your young children as well as a baby pool. If you’d like to make a day of the adventure bring all your braai goodies as there are braai facilites onsite.
Address: On the N2 between Plett and Knysna, Garden Route
Telephone: +27 (0)44 532-7869
Opening hours: Every day (water based activities are every day September to April only)
Hiking in the Robbeg Nature Reserve
If you like to get outside and experience the outdoors in all its splendour why not organuse a hike in the Robberg Nature Reserve? You not only have 3 options to choose from but you’ll be revitalised and recharged from the fresh air while enjoying gorgeous scenery, a Cape fur seal colony, a wide variety of birds and fynbos which is both unique and beautiful.
The hikes range from 45 minutes to 5 hours and 11 kilometres in length. Although most of the hike is relatively relaxed and flat it is still moderately strenuous so a level of fitness is required if you’d like to fo the hike which leads straight to the Robberg point (not reccommended with little kids or at high tide).
Address: Robberg Nature Reserve, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route.
Telephone: Not applicable
Opening hours: Open daily from 07h00 to 17h00.
Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
Enjoy a unique wildcat experience at the Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre. You can take a one hour guided tour to meet some furry felines that are captive-bred and live in a semi-natural environment. You’ll be so close you can even hear them purr.
During the tour you’ll meet cheetah, the leopard (ZweLakhe) and some cats that are not as well known including servals, caracal, African wild cat and the rare black-footed cat. Cats are not the only animals the centre has, find out more about South Africa’s national bird the Blue Crane or the cheeky meerkats.
If you’re feeling really adventurous why not go for a walk with the Tenikwa Cheetahs through the Tsitsikamma Indigenous Forest, an experience like no other.
Address: Forest Hall Road, The Crags, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route.
Telephone: +27 (0)44 534-8170
Opening hours: Daily. Tours depart every half an hour from 09h00, with the last tour leaving at 16h30.
Cocktails at Lookout Deck
One of my favourite things to do in Plett is head to The Lookout Restaurant & Deck for a cocktail or two. If you don’t know where the Lookout is you simply need to ask one of the locals as this is an iconic restaurant in the area and a really popular hangout spot.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Plett during the whale season you can pick the perfect spot on the deck and count the number of whales you spot. If you’re blazing hot from lying on the beach retreat here for a drink off their extensive menu or a bite to eat at any time of the day. From breakfast to dinner you can be rest assured you’ll find something on the menu to fill even the hungriest of bellies.
Address: Lookout Restaurant, Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route
Telephone: +27 (0)44 533-1379
Opening hours: Summer: From 08h30 to 22h30. Winter: From 09h00 to 21h00.
Plett Market on Main
This is the place to meet locals and experience the vibe that makes Plett so unique and such a popular town to visit. The Plett Market on Main is open daily and has 7 food stalls with a huge variety of food to satisfy all tastes.
You’ll also find great items for sale which include skins and leather, antiques, jewellery, African art, wonderful second hand clothing, hats books and more. If you’re at the market on either a Wednesday or Friday you can listen to the live music which begins at 18h00 and plays on until 21h00.
Address: Main Street, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route.
Telephone: +27 (0)44 533-1630
Opening hours: Monday to Tuesday and Thursday from 08h00 to 19h00. Wednesday and Friday from 08h00 to 22h00. Saturday from 08h00 to 20h00. Sunday from 08h00 to 15h00.
Doubleshot Coffee Bar
This is the place for coffee when you’re in Plettenberg Bay. The perfect spot for you to get your caffeen fix no matter which form it comes is – skinny latte, cappucino, flat white or espresso you’ll be smacking your lips and asking for more. The interior of the shop is cool and you’ll immediately feel relaxed when you enter.
The owners Karin and Karin are passionate about the art of coffee and see it just as that – an art! Come in for a coffee with your friends or to catch up on the days news, whatever your reason for going it will certainly make your day.
Address: Upper Level, The Square Lifestyle Centre, Main Road, Plettenberg Bay
Telephone: +27 (0)82 344-2661
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 07h30 to 14h00. Saturday from 08h00 to 13h00.
Visit the Trumilk Dairy
If cheese and wine is your thing then you need to make sure you book an afternoon in your diary to visit the Trumilk Dairy in the Bitou Valley where you can relax the day away while sipping on fine Cape wines and tasting award-winning cheeses.
The Trumilk Dairy has been crowned as having the ‘best Feta cheese’ in South Africa, however feta is not all they offer – you can snack on creamy cheddar and beautifully hand-made French style camembert. Don’t forget to bring a cooler bag along with you because once you taste their cheese you’ll want to take truck loads of it home with you!
Address: Stoffpad, Wittedrif, Plettenberg Bay
Telephone: +27 (0)44 535-9564 or +27 (0)44 535-9776
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 08h00 to 17h00 and Saturday from 08h00 to 12h00.
Bramon Wine Estate
Now that you’ve got a whole lot of cheese from the Trumilk Dairy in your fridge you need some wine to enjoy it with. So the perfect place to visit is the Bramon Wine Estate. This boutique vineyard is the only estate this far east of the Western Cape and is set on 5ha in a mountainous area called The Crags – 20km easy of Plett.
It is a family estate and has produced an award winning Methode Cap Classique as well as a gorgeous still wine. A little bit of history, the first vines, Sauvignon Blanc, were planted in 2000 and this kickstarted wine growth in Plettenberg Bay and the area has now been classified as a wine of origin region.
Address: N2 The Crags, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route
Telephone: +27 (0)44 534-8007
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 09h00 to 17h30.
You will find an abundance of fun activities and things to do in Plettenberg Bay. We’d love to hear your favourite things to do, please share them with us in the comment section below …
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Plettenberg Bay Info:
- Plettenberg Bay Holiday Apartments
- Things to Do in Plettenberg Bay
- Plettenberg Bay Accommodation
- Garden Route Hotels
- Accommodation in South Africa
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We normally holiday in Wilderness each year and decided to venture a bit north from George this holiday. We visited Monkeyland and Birds of Eden for the visit time. What a thrilling experience! I personally enjoyed the monkeys. As a keen photographer I had some great photographic opportunities. If you look at the photos and you do not know about Monkeyland, you may think I was somewhere in the Amazon on a safari. My girlfriend enjoyed Birds of Eden more, unfortunately with a dark cloud cover it the forest was a bit dark for photographs. I will strongly recommend Monkeyland and the Birds of Eden.