By James Fouche / @jamesfouchewrites
Over the years, Plettenberg Bay has earned itself a reputation as a holiday destination catering exclusively to the super-rich or retirees, which is why locals dubbed it ‘Sandton-by-the-Sea.’ However, the pandemic-induced lockdowns of 2020 and subsequent advent of remote or hybrid working models have slowly altered the holidaying demographic across South Africa.
Local Travel Rises as Global Trips Decline
With travel restrictions in place and high inflation or price gouging evident in the retail sector, avid travellers ditched planned trips to Italy and France, or the family visit to the US and UK, opting for a Zoom call instead. Overworked and cash-strapped parents began looking at local family travel alternatives, turning coastal towns into hidden holiday gems.
Hitting the Road in a Family SUV
To put this theory to the test, we decided to visit Plett as a family to see if the hospitality scene in one of the most beautiful coastal towns in the world was indeed ready for the hordes of vacationers heading their way this season. We wanted to do a thorough job, so we got a Jetour Dashing for the trip – one of the fastest-selling family-focused SUV brands in the country this year. We loaded up the boot with five suitcases and three excited busybodies, then set off for Plett.
The Challenge of Travelling as a Family of Five
Five is an odd number when travelling. As with our cruise ship cabin experience, most hotels can accommodate a maximum of 4 pax. Our three kids are still young enough to lie crosswise on a queen- or king-sized bed, like sardines in a roll-up tin can. This means we can book one inter-linking room or two two-sleeper rooms and only pay the extra breakfast charge for number five, though this privilege won’t last for long. Cottages or family cabins usually offer bunk beds or sleeper couches, but those aren’t always available in the city centre.
Family-Friendly Accommodation Options in Plett
While Plettenberg Bay boasts plenty of luxurious stays where parents nervously guard crystal vases, expensive paintings, and infinity pools, the town also offers a wide range of family-friendly accommodation options where kids can play, splash, and explore freely.
Bayview Hotel: Central, Comfortable, and Convenient
Our first port of call was the Bayview Hotel on the Main Road. With interlinking rooms and a play area, Bayview feels like home. Everything seems to be in the right place. This spot works well as a base of operations. Daytime activities might require travelling, but explorative nighttime strolls can be enjoyed on foot.
Forest Gate Eco Estate: Affordable Fun for Kids
For a self-catering cabin feel, we opted for Forest Gate Eco Estate, just outside town. This project has appeared in the last three years, and there are still loads to do, but the accommodation ticks all the boxes for a family travelling on a tight budget. The cabin is basic and brings back memories of great holidays as kids. It helps that there are coin-operated games, trampolines, electric motocross bikes available to rent, outdoor play areas, and an entire indoor playroom structure with slides, all inside The Two Brothers on-site restaurant.
The Plett Quarter Hotel: Luxury with Attention to Detail
The Plett Quarter Hotel, also a new addition to the bay, offers a slightly different experience. From reception to accommodation through to morning buffet, the team at Plett Quarter runs a much tighter ship. Akin to The Plettenberg, there is a strong focus on a type of service that might be overwhelming for those not used to luxurious or exclusive accommodation. The Quarter’s solution to interlinking rooms is separate wings that branch off into different rooms. Upon hearing there would be three kiddos, the team shuffled things around, brought in a third bed, and adjusted amenities for the plus-one. Parents notice these seemingly trivial details. The little things make a massive difference for travelling parents.
A Town Built on Hospitality
The one thing to know about Plettenberg Bay is that the town is always in holiday mode. For want of a better description, locals are always ready to serve. As terrible as this sounds, it is a hospitality mindset that keeps on giving. Treat visitors well and they will return. In that vein, the area has a bounty of activities to explore. From the Bloukrans Bridge Bungy Jump and the Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours over the Storms River, all the way to hiking and boating excursions, Plett has it all.
Wildlife Experiences for All Ages
The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) is an NPO and BPO conservation organisation that has spearheaded the #HandsOffOurWildlife campaign. Included under the SAASA umbrella are Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, and Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary. Their animals are mostly endangered in the wild or rescued from zoos, private owners, or the wild.
Monkeyland, Jukani and Birds of Eden
Monkeyland is the world’s first free-roaming, multi-species primate sanctuary, offering monkey safaris to see 11 primate species and over 550 primates. Go in the afternoon, when the lemurs have red eyes and are drunk from eating too much fruit. At Jukani, visitors are treated to all the big cats, a determined honey badger eager to escape, and a spotted hyena that stares menacingly at visitors with its big, empty eyes.
Birds of Eden, on the other hand, is not just a birders’ paradise, but captivating to behold in its entirety. This sanctuary is enclosed by a unique two-hectare dome (the world’s largest), spanning a gorge through indigenous forest. With over 3,500 birds from more than 220 species, it’s worth strolling and spotting all the birds.
Ocean Adventures and Outdoor Activities
Offshore Adventures takes folks out to sea on an exhilarating boat ride to swim with inquisitive and playful Cape fur seals. This is a safe and well-regulated excursion that young kids will undoubtedly enjoy. Families can treat themselves to outdoor fun at Archery Adventures, which is a stone’s throw away from Forest Gate, or they can splash their way through the various waterslides at Adventure Land.
Wine Tasting Along the Plett Wine Route
A Plett Wine Route wine tasting trip is worth exploring if wine is your thing. While the climate favours complex white varietals and stunning bubblies, like award-winning Cap Classiques and complex Rosés, the region has recently begun experimenting with red grape varietals, such as Grenache and Mourvèdre, under the guidance of famed winemaker Anton Smal.
Kid-Friendly Wine Farms and Tasting Experiences
Sollie Sauerman, the winemaker at Packwood Wines, recently bottled the region’s first red fortified wine. Newstead Wines, Kay & Monty Vineyards, Bitou Vineyards, and Packwood Wines all have established on-site eateries that offer kid-friendly meal options. Still, it is the tapas-style menu at Bramon Wine Estate that baffles the mind and tantalises the taste buds. Whiskey Creek Wines is the new kid on the block, but already delivers a beautiful Chenin, with That Wine Demesne bringing balance to the route with a moody Pinotage. For a harder drink, try the Olive Gin or Cape Malay Gin at the Robberg Distillery tasting lounge.
Dining Highlights in Plettenberg Bay
If food is your thing, there is a lot of exploring to do in town. Slops, across the road from Plett Quarter, regularly hosts singers and performers at their venue, with rhythmic tunes drifting down and adding to the bubbling Plett nightlife. Eleven Plett is a boutique hotel and coffee and wine bar with a distinct Cape Town feel, offering breakfasts, pizzas, and enclosed work pods for remote operators who must jump on a quick call.
Scenic Drives and Hidden Culinary Gems
For lunch, take a scenic drive along the winding road that leads down to Nature’s Valley. After some beach fun, visit the Blue Rocks Café. The name is misleading because the food is not the typical beach café fare. Meals are exquisitely prepared using only fresh local produce. While kids will love the hake goujons or the pasta, mom and dad must try their famous butter chicken pizza.
Where to Eat from Morning to Night
Barrington’s and Sotto Restaurant & Lounge both operate from early until late and offer a stacked menu for the whole family. Barrington’s also has an on-site brewery that’s worth checking out. Amelia’s at The Plettenberg is a classier dining experience, though kids will devour their burgers as though they’ve never tasted real burgers before. I recommend a lazy afternoon espresso martini while the kids play around the pool and the blue seas ripple in the distance.
Plett: A Lifestyle for Families
Plett is more than just a feeling; it’s a lifestyle, especially for parents travelling with kids. Rest assured, Plettenberg Bay is family-ready and all the establishments in the hospitality sector are awaiting the influx of tourists, young and old, who come seeking the town’s festive seaside atmosphere.
