Holidays To Garden Route

First named Bahia Formosa or 'beautiful bay' – and it's easy to see why – Plettenberg is home to stunning beaches and wonderful coasts, making it the perfect stop-off for some relaxation and sunset-chasing. Located just 600 kilometres from Cape Town, you'll find attractions such as the Robberg Peninsular Nature Reserve and the Birds of Eden aviary here, along with the chance to embark on a whale-watching or sea kayaking trip. Be sure to make a pitstop in Plettenberg for outdoor thrills and beautiful views.

So perilous to seafarers that it never became a major port, the entrance to Knysna's blue-green lagoon is guarded by the towering natural defences of the Knysna Heads. Like buttresses of sandstone, they funnel the Indian Ocean through their narrow channel, sheltering the waters in their rocky embrace. Spend time on the lagoon on a catamaran tour or soak up the views from the hiking paths above.

Holidays in Oudtshoorn offer fantastic up-close encounters with nature. From the semi-desert Karoo and Cape thickets to the Fynbos, there's a spectacular diversity of flora and wildlife spread throughout the unique natural landscape of this Garden Route town.

Dramatic river gorges, indigenous forests and stunning coastline make Tsitsikamma National Park absolutely beautiful. With adventure activities that will see you soaring with birds and diving with dolphins, explore the serene wonderland high above the forest on a canopy tour, gently gliding from treetop to treetop amid the giant Outeniqua Yellowwoods with Knysna loeries, Narina trogons and vervet monkeys.

One of the most popular annual events in the Western Cape. Enjoy oysters, served naked, cooked or garnished at over 30 local Tabasco Hotspots throughout the festival. There will be live music and comedy, bike races and marathons. This event is held in June and offers a fun day out for everyone.

Ideal for DIY enthusiasts! Enjoy workshops and talks on woodworking tools and wood joining techniques. This is a family-friendly event where kids can take part in woodworking activities and learn about the world of timber.

Aimed at entertaining the entire family, the 2019 Knysna Motor Show is a one-day event where you can check out a wide range of impressive vintage, veteran and classic cars, as well as classic motorcycles and rare modern supercars.

With many of the Winelands towns situated on the Garden Route, there is no shortage of opportunities to fill your boots with cheese whilst sampling some of the best wines in the country. Fynboshoek Cheese in Tsitsikamma has no menu, you are simply greeted with warm doughy rosemary focaccia bread and a huge variety of award-winning cheeses accompanied with crunchy fresh salads. For dessert? Cheesecake of course.

Indulge in fresh-off-the-boat oysters, prawns, crab and lobster, washed down with a delicious ice-cold glass of South Africa’s finest wine. The Garden Route is renowned for its sophisticated seafood restaurants and they do not disappoint.

Headlines Restaurant in Oudtshoorn is the only restaurant in the world that specialises in ostrich cuisine so if you’re keen to try ostrich for the first time, this would be the perfect place. This very lean meat tastes and looks like fillet steak yet lower in fat than skinned chicken or turkey.