10 THINGS TO TRY IN PLETT THIS SUMMER
Whether Plettenberg Bay is your annual holiday destination of choice, or whether you’re a first time visitor – fair warning: you’ll always find something new to experience and there will never seem to be enough time for everything that you’d like to do. There’s never a dull moment, especially in the summer months, and it’s one of the reasons that so many of our visitors return to Cornerway House year after year. So, in the spirit of summer fun, we’ve put together a ‘Bucket List’ of sorts for you to enjoy this Plett Summer…
STAND-UP PADDLING KEURBOOMS
LEARN TO SCUBA DIVE
One of Plett’s best-kept secrets is that the scuba diving along the Southern Cape coastline is incredibly interesting. The mingling of the two oceans along our coastline leads to reefs with many species and a fireworks display of colourful invertebrate life. Not to mention the opportunity to swim with the playful Cape fur seals off Robberg. Visit Pro Dive at the Beacon Isle Hotel for a quick one-day course: a short intro is followed by an orientation in the pool before heading out to explore beneath the surface!
CARRIAGE RIDE THROUGH THE PLETT WINELANDS
For those who don’t feel comfortable saddling up for an equine tour through the Plett Winelands with Hog Hollow Horse Trails‘ carriage ride along Redford Road. Slow down and enjoy your surroundings as you’re ‘carted’ from estate to estate, sipping on a chilled glass all the while! Choose from 30-minute, one-hour or two-hour tours.
PLETT POLO INTERNATIONAL MATCH
This is one for the books – our quaint little coastal town hosts the biggest event on the South African polo calendar at Kurland Estate. Each year, the well-heeled and finely dressed gather at Kurland for an international polo match that is both exciting and elegant! There are boxes for those who enjoy the elegance of the game and a picnic area for a more casual experience – both highly recommended. Booking is advisable!
HIKE NATURE’S VALLEY
We’ve told you about Nature’s Valley and Salt River before, but it’s worth mentioning again. From the drive down into the valley via a winding pass amidst the ancient indigenous forest to the highest heights of the surrounding coastline – Nature’s Valley lives up to its name. A hike that is both challenging and rewarding is the hike to the point; this is the last peak of the famous Otter Trail and, therefore, is officially on the famous trail for those who haven’t yet been able to get onto the waiting list 😉 You’ll also pass the well-known ‘shark gully’ where there are often large numbers of smooth-hound sharks swimming. And the views? Well, above should give you an idea…
HARKERVILLE ORGANIC SATURDAY MARKET
Before we forget, be sure to get the famous Bush Breakfast – it’s delicious! However, there’s more to the Harkerville Market than breakfast – browse stalls of arts & crafts, plants, baked goods and, of course, organic veggies. It’s best to get there early, as the fresh greens often go quickly and do make some time to stop at gorgeous The Potter and another market ‘village’ The Heath.
GET LUCKY SUMMER SUNDAYS
Aaah, sunny summer afternoons on the lawns of the Beacon Isle Hotel, listening to the musical wonders produced by South Africa’s favourite, GoodLuck and a selection of famous ‘friends’. We are so fortunate that GoodLuck chose to take up summer residency, Get Lucky Summer, in Plettenberg Bay and, thus, plays a show every Sunday over the high summer season and one excellent New Years Eve concert. This year, they’ll be joining on various dates by Matthew Mole, Jeremy Loops, Goldfish and World of Birds. Tickets for these shows also go quickly, so book soon.
CANYONING IN THE CRAGS
Escape the summer heat with a cooling adventure through the canyons of the Crags, just outside Plettenberg Bay. Canyoning, known as kloofing in South Africa, is a process of traversing a river canyon by swimming, jumping, climbing, ziplining and abseiling and Africanyon‘s location amongst the indigenous forest and freshwater river is just about the most perfect introduction to kloofing!
