5 Best Sights in Plettenberg Bay, The Garden Route and the Little Karoo

All the dolphin-watching boats and kayaking trips leave from Central Beach. A constant stream of tenders going out to the fishing boats moored in the bay makes this area quite busy, but it's still a great spot. Just avoid the boat ramp area and swim in the southern section. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

Named after the native keurboom tree, this sandy beach is about 10 km (6 miles) from Plett on the eastern edge of the bay. If you're fit you can walk all the way from here to Nature's Valley, but you need to watch the tides. Otherwise, you can stroll about a mile down the beach, relax for a while, and then walk back. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: walking.

Always one of Plettenberg Bay's most popular beaches, Blue Flag-certified Lookout Beach is a favorite spot for swimmers and surfers. Families enjoy paddling on the lagoon side of what is essentially a large sandy spit. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (in season); parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

Just past the Beacon Island Resort is Robberg Beach, a great swimming beach that continues in a graceful curve all the way to the Robberg Peninsula. You can catch a glimpse of dolphins and whales just behind the breakers. Robberg 5 Beach is popular for surfing and bodyboarding. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; sunbathing.

There are three fabulous walks through Robberg Nature Reserve, all with equally spectacular scenery. Even the shortest one needs you to be steady on your legs because there are rocks to clamber up and down. The shortest takes about half an hour and offers great views of the ocean. A longer walk taking 90 minutes passes above a seal colony. Taking at least three hours (or even four or more if you have a more leisurely pace), the longest walk goes right to the end of the peninsula and often offers views of dolphins and whales offshore. It's worth taking a picnic, because you’ll want to stop and admire the wildflowers along the way. A fascinating archaeological excavation at Nelson's Bay Cave has a display outlining the occupation of the cave over thousands of years.