Plettenberg Bay

Overlooking a sweeping half-moon bay, Plettenberg Bay is a charming and modern holiday resort on South Africa's famed Garden Route. Simply known as Plett by the locals, it's perched high up on a rocky peninsular with great views of spacious beaches, tranquil lagoons and indigenous forests. The bay, which was named Bahia Formosa (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers, is ideal for watersports like sailing, deep-sea fishing or scuba-diving. You can spot dolphins and seals dodging surfers in the waves, and during season (July-December) boat trips are on offer to see whales. There are three sandy beaches to choose from, or hike in the Robberg Peninsular Nature Reserve or around the Keurbooms River Lagoon. Golf and polo are also popular pastimes. Plett is a good base to explore the Garden Route and some of the most popular attractions like the Knysna Elephant Park and Monkeyland are within striking distance. For the adrenaline junkie, the highest bungee jump in the world is at the Bloukrans River Bridge.

Over summer from December to February, Plettenberg Bay is packed with local visitors during the local long school holidays. As a fashionable resort, it attracts affluent people looking for luxury in a beautiful setting. The beach is perfect for families, but during winter, it's often windswept and chilly. International tourists generally visit as part of a longer trip along the Garden Route.

Plettenberg Bay lies on the spectacular Garden Route on South Africa's south coast 210km (130 miles) from Port Elizabeth to the east and approximately 600km (370 miles) from Cape Town to the west. The nearest airport is at George, 125km (78 miles) west. The resort overlooks the ocean from a prominent hill with good views. To the north are the Tsitsikamma and Langkloof Mountains.

There are fine wide beaches that are all good for swimming in the temperate Indian Ocean. Backed by large vegetated dunes, Lookout Beach is popular for surfing and sunbathing and there's a great restaurant on Lookout Rocks overlooking the beach. Central Beach is the busiest and has life guards and is part of the Milkwood Trail, a nature walk that winds around town. The small waves here make for calm swimming so it's a good spot for families. Robberg Beach stretches between the Robberg Peninsular and Beacon Island and is ideal for long solitary walks.

The 5km (3 miles) Milkwood Trail starts in the car park off Marine Drive and meanders around town and along the beach and is marked by yellow footprints. There are good walks with mesmerising ocean views in the Robberg Peninsular Nature Reserve. Canoeing, bird watching and forest walks are on offer in the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve, 7km (4 miles) east of Plettenberg Bay, or enjoy a two-and-a-half hour boat ride through the pretty river gorge that is overhung with trees and plants.

Children can have plenty of seaside fun building sandcastles on the beach and paddling in the sea, and boat cruises to see seals, dolphins and whales will appeal to the little ones. Just off Piesong Valley Road, Wild Waters Adventure Park has a swimming pool with waterslide, a playground, mini-golf, trampolines and a sand pit. Many hotels cater for families and provide extras such as children's swimming pools or jungle gyms.

Along the main street are plenty of surf shops that sell swimwear, towels and other beach paraphernalia, plus gift shops selling jewellery, sarongs and crafts. The Old Nick Village (website: www.oldnickvillage.co.za), 3km (2 miles) to the east of town, is a group of galleries, studios and shops selling arts and crafts where there's also a small weaving museum and a pleasant garden restaurant.

There are plenty of cafés and most restaurants have bars, though Plettenberg Bay is not known for its nightlife. There is a popular club in the industrial area though; Vegas in Plett (website: www.vegasinplett.co.za), which has a pool hall, dance floor and VIP lounge. The best pub in town is the Lookout Deck that overlooks the crashing waves on Lookout Beach and has plenty of beer on tap, delicious strawberry daiquiris on the long cocktail menu and it serves pub grub.

You can be assured of gourmet food, fine wines and first class service in Plettenberg Bay's restaurants and most have superb views over the ocean or the Keurbooms River. Both centrally located on the main street, 57 Kloof (tel: (044) 533 1379) has floor to ceiling windows and a good range of steak, pasta and seafood, and the Blue Bay Café (tel: (044) 533 1390) is good for light deli-style lunches.

Plettenberg Bay is fairly small and easily negotiable on foot; though there are some steep hills between the centre of town and the beaches. Metered taxis are advised after dark. Hiring a car gives the greatest flexibility to explore the rest of the Garden Route.

There are several attractions within a short drive along the N2 highway. The Knysna Elephant Sanctuary (website: www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za) is 10km (6 miles) east of town, where visitors can walk with and touch elephants, while 16km (10 miles) to the west is Monkeyland (website: www.monkeyland.co.za), a netted spacious tract of forest that's home to lemurs, apes and monkeys. Next door is a similar concept for birds at Birds of Eden (website: www.birdsofeden.co.za). Just beyond is Bloukrans Bridge, where adrenalin junkies can try the hair-raising 216m (708ft) bungee jump off the bridge or the 200m (658ft) flying fox across the Bloukrans Gorge (website: www.faceadrenalin.com).

Five-star dining can be had at the Sand at Plettenberg Hotel (website: www.plettenberg.com) at Lookout Rocks where gourmet food is matched to fine wines. Dishes are superbly presented and drizzled in delicate oils, foams and sauces and the chocolate and meringue desserts are to die for. Don't miss the hotel's stylish cocktail bar with its cutting-edge white marble and leather interior.

Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg (JNB)