This coastal town along South Africa's Garden Route draws beach-going tourists and whale watchers. The waters shelter dolphins, seals and seasonal humpback whales.
Plettenberg Bay sits on South Africa's Garden Route, where the Indian Ocean meets wide sandy beaches. You can spot humpback whales from the Robberg Peninsula trails, walk through the world's largest free-flight aviary at Birds of Eden, or taste sparkling wines at Bramon Estate. The Nelson Bay Cave contains Stone Age artifacts from human settlements dating back 100,000 years.
Getting to Plettenberg Bay
The town sits 520 km east of Cape Town and 240 km from Port Elizabeth along the N2 highway. If you're not driving, catch a flight to George Airport and take a shuttle to Plett. National coaches stop at the Shell garage on the N2, while the Baz Bus comes directly into town center.
Beaches Along the Bay
Three main beaches line Plettenberg Bay's coast. Central Beach has water suitable for beginner surfers and swimming lessons. Robberg Beach stretches for 4 km with unobstructed views of the peninsula - walk here between 7-9 AM to spot bottlenose dolphins. At Lookout Beach, you'll find experienced surfers in the morning and evening hours, with several cafes overlooking the waves.
Exploring Robberg Nature Reserve
The 4-km long Robberg Peninsula extends into the ocean, creating a natural shelter for marine mammals. Choose between three marked trails: a 30-minute coastal path, a 2-hour circuit passing the seal colony, or a 4-hour route covering the entire peninsula. The trails lead past the Nelson Bay Cave archaeological site, multiple whale-watching points, and information boards explaining the local plants and animals.
Marine Wildlife Watching
Southern right whales swim into the bay to calve between July and December. Spot them from Whale Tail Lookout Point or join a boat tour. The Cape fur seal colony at Robberg Peninsula numbers over 5,000 seals, and you can see bottlenose and common dolphins swimming close to shore year-round.
Plett Wine Region
The wine region covers 58 hectares from Harkerville to the Crags, with seven operating vineyards. The combination of cool ocean breezes and calcium-rich soil creates good conditions for Sauvignon Blanc and Méthode Cap Classique sparkling wines. Bramon Wine Estate, planted in 2000, runs daily tastings paired with local cheeses and meats at their open-air restaurant.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Birds of Eden spans 23,000 square meters under a two-story mesh dome, with 3,500 birds from over 200 species flying freely. At Monkeyland next door, you'll walk through indigenous forest with gibbons, lemurs, and capuchin monkeys living in natural social groups. Both sanctuaries employ guides who explain their rehabilitation programs for previously captive animals.
Weather and When to Visit
Temperatures stay mild year-round, though conditions can shift within hours. Summer (December to February) reaches 37°C with brief afternoon showers. Winter days range from 16-22°C, dropping to 8-12°C at night. December and January see the highest visitor numbers - book accommodation at least three months ahead for these periods.
