17/08/2017
50 things to do in Plett and its surroundings:
• Spend a magical day in the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve and at Storm’s River mouth. A walk to the suspension bridges will help settle the lunch you can enjoy at the café, and shop for unique and beautiful souvenirs
BUT DO ALL OF THESE THINGS FIRST!
Beaches, beaches, beaches. The family will love to swim at safe Central TRAVELLING WEST (Towards Knysna)
• Stop off and explore the craft shops at The Heath and have a healthy snack while the children play in the adventure playland.
• Visit Radical Raptors and enjoy a close encounter with these stunning birds of prey.
• Picnic at Kranshoek scenic spot and admire the stunning views and waterfall. Hike down to the beach only if you are very fit! (Turn left at the Sasol garage.)
• Visit the Garden of Eden for a short walk in the forest
• Visit the Wolf Sanctuary and learn more about these misunderstood creatures.
• Walk with the elephants at the Knysna Elephant Park
• Have a day of family fun at Adventure Land with water slides and pools for all ages and desires. Take your picnic baskets and braai goodies for a full day of family fun.
• Visit Knysna shops and Waterfront for a great day for the girls.
• Go to Thesen Island for even better shopping and restaurants
• Take the Featherbed Bay ferry to the Western Head for fabulous views, walks and lunches.
• Take a ferry, yacht or luxury catamaran to sail the lagoon and travel into its mouth at The Heads
• Travel to the end of the road to get to the Eastern Head. Lunch at the fabulous restaurants with views and food to die for!
• Visit Coney Glen for a lovely secluded beach and huge trees for a family picnic
• Spend a weekend or longer on the lagoon with Lightley’s Holiday Cruisers
• Visit the miles of beaches at Brenton on Sea, or the lagoon at Brenton on Lake. Then lunch at the charming The Bell – the smallest pub in Knysna with its wonderful history and delicious food in Belvidere.
• A drive to Buffalo Bay offers miles of white unspoilt beaches with a charming sleepy village.
• First visit the museum in Queen Street, Knysna and then drive to Millwood for hikes in the forest, picnics by the stream and exploring of the old mine workings which are the only remaining sign of the gold rush of the late 19th century.
• Take a day trip to historic Portland Manor for a picnic in the superb grounds.
• For a full day, travel to Oudsthoorn to visit the Safari Park with cheetah, crocodiles and meerkats. But don’t miss the world famous Cango Caves while there.
TRAVELLING EAST (Towards Port Elizabeth)
• Boat up the Keurbooms river for a day picnic on the sandy secluded beaches, watching for the fabulous Knysna Lourie and other unique birdlife on the way
• Visit Buffalo Hills and ride on horseback amongst the game. Visit Nyati Jack’s Jungle Juice distillery for a taste of his famous mampoer
• Spend a happy morning browsing the shops at Old Nicks, and finish with lunch in the pretty gardens.
• Don’t miss Thyme and Again, a roadside restaurant, bakery and organic veggie shop. Wonderful food and the best play area for under 5’s
• Visit Keurbooms beach with tea at Enrico’s restaurant with incredible views. Walk off the tea and snacks by walking to Arch Rock to the east, or visit the rock pools full of fish and baby octopus to the west. (Sometimes the beach is washed away and you cannot get to Arch Rock!
• Visit the snake park
• Visit the shop at the Crags garage for its well known fabrics with designs drawn from nature – and all sorts of other goodies.
• Then take lunch at the adjacent Bramon Wine Estate for fabulous food in amongst the vines. Bring some of their award winning wines home too. There are more wineries along Redford Road – turn left just after the Crags garage.
• Spend a long day visiting Monkeyland, the Elephant Sanctuary, Tenikwa home of the big cats, and Birds of Eden – the largest free flying bird sanctuary in the world.
• Pop into the craft shop at the Crags to view Langa Lapu fabrics. Visit the Mohair Mill Shop for more bargains and special purchases. The Pepper Mill restaurant is famous for its batter fried fish and chips.
• Take a picnic to Natures Valley and even spend a night at De Vasselot Reserve. Canoeing on the lagoon and swimming in the warm water is a summer delight. The funky restaurant will fill hungry tummies there too
• Hike around the Nature’s Valley lagoon and climb up to the fantastic Pigs Head promontory for views over the bay. Or walk from the restaurant and café towards Salt River mouth for steep climbs in the fynbos and magical views. Walk into the forest to revel in the splendor of the giant yellowwood trees on the Kalandar Trail – the whole trail is only for the very fit however! The climb is vertical!
• Bungy jump the world’s highest bungy at Bloukrans. Or just watch others by walking under the bridge over this deep ravine. Lunch under the trees at the Storms River petroport
• Visit historic and pretty Storm’s River Village. Take a forest tractor drive for the children or the Canopy Tour with its slip lines through the tops of the forest for the more energetic.
• Quad bike or slip line to the Tsitsikamma Falls at Witels Guesthouse
• Visit the Fernery and walk the Dolphin Walk along the tops of the cliffs with the sea pounding below
• Walk to the Big Tree – take your camera with you for it is amazing
• Beach in the lee of Beacon Isle Hotel (which offers delicious breakfasts and lunches by the way) Or hike 5 kilometers of snow white sand to Robberg Nature Reserve on Robberg Beach with its blue flag status. Or drive out to Keurbooms beach for more miles of sand and a magical romantic nature
• Swim, surf, boogie board, skim board, there is no end to the fun to be had in the sea. All beaches have life guards who will ensure all are safe.
• A family day at the Keurbooms lagoon, (turn right just before the Market Square), offers warm shallow water, lovely beaches and beautiful views. An ideal place to relax before that braai on the beach for supper
• Shop till you drop. The Market on Main has funky one of a kind stalls and delicious food in a happy friendly atmosphere. Friday nights are especially great with live music and wonderful atmosphere. Or walk the main street and visit all the shops along the way. End at Market Square for even more shopping! And don’t miss the restaurants on the way.
• Eat, eat, eat. From the famous Lookout Deck with great food, great company and a fabulous view, to Lemon Grass Seaside Restaurant sitting more or less in the river, LM in the main street with a unique blend of African and Portuguese cuisine, coffee shops and cafes abound and will not disappoint. Don’t miss Enricos at Keurboomstrand either!
• Plett’s best kept secret is the little café linked to the Ski Boat Club on Central Beach. Just keep going down the boardwalk, in front of the Sea Rescue Boat House, until you see the tables and chairs on the deck next to the big ski boats parked on the beach. But go early because it is usually full of the locals!
• Don’t miss Robberg Nature Reserve with incredible views over the bay and towards the west. Watch the sun go down over the sea with a glass of wine and a warm braai in the evening, after a hectic day tackling the hikes, graded for all levels of fitness. Don’t take the hike to the Point of Robberg without strong hiking shoes and plenty of water.
