This slice of heaven along the Garden Route is a holiday destination of note!! A laid back coastal town that stole our hearts and fed our wanderlust!! Here are some of our personal best experiences to serve as your travel guide on what to do in Plettenberg Bay.


Robberg Nature Reserve

Hiking in Robberg Nature Reserve is by far our favourite experience in Plett. This place is unreal – crystal blue water, velvet sand dunes and viewpoint after viewpoint after viewpoint!!

We packed a bag and a flask of coffee, put our hiking shoes on and walked the 4km trail loop to the island. We entered the reserve as soon as the Cape Nature gate opened and completely missed the crowds. !! One of the best scenic walks we’ve done in the Garden Route if not South Africa!!

View our Robberg Nature Reserve Travel Guide.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Cheese & Wine Tasting at Newstead

Newstead is a sweet spot in ‘The Crags’ to pop in and enjoy a cheese board and wine tasting. We enjoyed the cold white wine and warm afternoon sun in this beautiful vineyard restaurant.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Abseiling in the Mountains

Okay, this was way more intense than we thought. Definitely not for the faint hearted but wow what an incredible experience. Adventure activities can sometimes be underwhelming but this Africanyon Abseil is honestly the real deal! So if you’re not afraid of heights and looking for scenic views and absolute adventure – then book yourself a trip down the cliff.

Just to note – we didn’t have any prior experience in abseiling so it’s open to anyone who is able and keen! Africanyon also offers a canyoning and kloofing adventure which we’re eager to try next time!!

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Seafood Dinner at The Plettenberg

Wow what a spoil. We arrived just in time for sunset and were instantly drawn to the outside tables. We had our first drink enjoying the views of wandering seagulls and rows of waves rolling in towards the coastline.

You can’t come to Plett without indulging in some serious seafood and the platter for two at The Plettenberg was pure heaven!! Definitely a romantic evening worth splurging on.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Champagne Cruise & SUP Tour

Champagne drinking, river cruising and SUP boarding – what a combo!! This cruise activity starts at the Plettenberg Bay Forever Resort and takes you up the Keurbooms River. The boat stops off half way for you to either enjoy some standup paddle boarding or to drink more champies from the shore – we recommend doing both!

We love this activity because if you’re in a group or diverse family, it caters for all ages and capabilities. Being quite a small boat you could probably book a whole tour out just for you and your family/friends.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Hikes and Beach Walks

Plett offers some beautiful walks in nature. Hosting South Africa’s most famous and iconic multiple day hike, the Otter Trail. We haven’t personally done a lot of these trails yet but have heard Kranshoek Coastal Walk, the Natures Valley Network and the Stinkhoutkloof Trail are great options.

Slightly easier options which we can personally recommend include the nature walk to ‘The Big Tree’, the ‘Garden of Eden’ Forest Walk and the endless beach stroll opportunities across Central Beach and Robberg Beach.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Lookout Beach & Restaurant

The Lookout restaurant is perfectly positioned between the Keurbooms Lagoon and the Indian Ocean. It’s a great spot for casual breakfast or an ice cold beer alongside your fish & chips. Our favourite sunset spot for sure!!

This flat lagoon is great for Standup Paddle Boarding, fishing or boating – with the Lookout Beach being a great area for surfing, swimming and relaxing.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Hog Hollows Horse Trails at Kay & Monty

Picture this – a horse drawn carriage taking you through the Plett winelands and stopping along the way for cheese baskets and wine tasting. Hog Hollows was such a unique experience and one of our favourite romantic date recommendations.

We ended our tour off at Kay & Monty Vineyards for a glass of red and a warm lunch infront of their fireplace. This was definitely our most romantic day in Plett thus far.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Sunset at Robberg

It just wasn’t okay to visit Robberg only once – so we came back for sunset and was even more blown away – both figuratively and literally on this particular evening ;). At the parking entrance they have picnic spots where you can braai – or you can walk along the path and enjoy the views.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Wildlife Sightseeing

Plett is not short on wildlife experiences – our favourite being the unplanned whale and dolphin spotting from the coastline. There are a number of activities and attractions you can visit, such as the Tenikwa Centre, Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, Plett Seal Adventures … see all the options here: wildlife in Plett.

We encourage you to research any animal attraction before visiting to ensure it is acting in the best interest of the animals involved.

What to do in Plettenberg Bay

Storm’s River Bridge at Tsitsikamma

Just out of Plett in the Eastern Cape is this scenic, wonderful destination. We entered the Tsistikamma National Park and fell in love with this lush walk to the Storm’s River suspension bridge. Pack your walking shoes and go visit the spot where the river meets the ocean.


For more on what to do in Plett – we found the Plett Tourism website really useful. Otherwise visit our South Africa page for more recommendations and reads from this beautiful country!!