About Self Drive the Garden Route
The essence of the Garden Route
Route: Plettenberg Bay, Keurbooms River, Nature's Valley, Tsitsikamma National Park, Storms River
Description: dense forests, precipitous gorges, gushing streams and mountains that verge on the sea
Length: 200 km
Time: in a day
Overnight: our favourite places to stay – Plett, Nature's Valley, Storms River.
Plettenberg Bay via Robberg to Nature's Valley
Leave Plettenberg Bay along Beacon Isle Drive, cross the Piesang River and take Piesang Valley Road off the circle. Shortly afterwards, turn left into Robberg Road. Roughly 3.5 km later, take a left at the fork (the suburb of Whale Rock Heights) and follow the road to the Robberg Peninsula.
Robberg, or Robbe Berg (seal mountain), takes its name from the thousands of seals that used this peninsula as their home. There are still seals here, and the peninsula is now a nature reserve, preserving the rich coastal vegetation and sea life.
You don't have to walk far from the car park for incredible views from both the southern and northern sides of the peninsula. On a clear day one can see across Plettenberg Bay to the distant Tsitsikamma Mountains. If you have the time, a couple of hikes are well worth doing.
Drive back the way you came to town, taking the left turn into Piesang Valley Road, passing the left turn to the Plettenberg Bay Country Club. Reach a t-junction with the N2, take a right. Look out for the excellent views of the Keurbooms River lagoon.
Cross the Bietou River, and shortly afterwards, the Keurbooms River as the N2 curves right – Keurbooms River Ferries operate from the far end of the river crossing . Slow and take the left at the far end of the Keurbooms River crossing into the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve. The reserve has a 45 minute hike that follows a track up-river.
Head back to the N2 that now sweeps inland with the Matjies River valley to your left. Cross the Buffels River and shortly afterwards, take a right onto the R102 which winds through the Garden Route National Park and indigenous forest on the Groot River Pass, alongside a tributary of the Groot River to the Groot River lagoon. At the base of the rather windy downhill stretch take a right for Nature's Valley.
A left, after about 1 km, brings you to a parking area and from here it is not far along the edge of the lagoon to the beach. Be aware that this is not a safe swimming beach, as currents near the river mouth are particularly strong.
Nature's Valley to Storms River Mouth
Back on the R102, continue in an north easterly direction along the R102 as it climbs steeply out of the valley. After crossing the Groot River, the road swing right presenting excellent views if you stop the car (there should be a place to stop on your left).
Route 102 now intersects with the N2 and heads up the Bloukrans Pass https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsgr/bloukrans-pass.htm, a narrow, twisting passage, with its fair share of 90 degree turns, through dense indigenous forest that crosses the border between the Western and Eastern Cape provinces and gives fantastic views of the Bloukrans Bridge (the N2 crosses the Bloukrans River via this bridge, from which the highest commercial bungi jump in the world operates).
Coming out of the Bloukrans Pass the R102 now heads past Coldstream (a sawmilling centre). About now the N2 and R102 begin to run in close parallel after which they meet at a t-junction. Take a left onto the N2, travelling for just short of 7 km before taking a right for Storms River Mouth and the Tsitsikamma National Park (if you miss this turn, find another just past the town of Storms River).
The road heads through plantations and into the National Park, before winding through indigenous coastal forest to the mouth of the Storms River. There is a wonderful walk you can do along a wooden boardwalk from the restaurant, through indigenous forest, to a suspension footbridge across the river mouth. It is an absolute must-do, and will take you about an hour and a half.
Storms River Mouth to Paul Sauer Bridge
Back on the N2, turn right and begin to look out for the sign to the 'Big Tree' on your right (if you reach Storms River Bridge then you've gone too far). Choose from two parking areas: one fairly close to the road, and another deeper in the forest. Do the Big Tree Trail. It won't take long (15 minutes or so).
Now for an exciting bit of the drive. Continue on the N2 for about 1 km and then look out for a gravel road signposted 'Picnic spot' (or similar). Don't stop here to picnic. Instead, continue until the road forks and take the left onto the original Storms River Pass road, built by Thomas Bain well over 100 years ago. The road winds down slowly to a bridge across Storms River. Next to this is a lovely picnic site.
Head back to the N2 (watch out for the fork at which you turned left, as it is disorientating on the return trip), take a right and head to the Paul Sauer Bridge, more commonly known as the Storms River Bridge – a concrete arch bridge over the Storms River on the N2. It is 120 metres high and spans 100 metres. A pedestrian walkway next to the bridge gives wonderful views out over the gorge.
Return to Plettenberg Bay via the N2, if you are in a hurry, otherwise retrace the route through the Bloukrans Pass, past Nature's Valley.
Need to Know
WhereThis route includes Plettenberg Bay, Keurbooms River, Nature's Valley, Tsitsikamma National Park, Storms River
WhenBest during daylight hours.
How muchFree
OvernightStay nearby in Natures Valley, in Garden Route
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Find Self Drive the Garden Route in these collections
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options by proximity
* Distances shown are "as the crow flies", not driving distances. Please confirm with the establishment should driving distance be a factor in your decision.
Treehouse Cottage
Treehouse Cottage is situated in a rural estate in the indigenous forest in the Crags, in-between Nature's Valley and Plettenberg Bay. The cottag...
Valmont Dam Cottage
Valmont Dam Cottage offers accommodation in Keurboomstrand on Valmont Estate. Valmont Estate is situated on the beautifully scenic Garden Route, ...
Valmont Bush Cottage
Valmont Bush Cottage offers accommodation in Keurboomstrand on the Valmont Estate. Valmont Bush Cottage is a self catering, rustic A-framed cotta...
Valmont Estate
Valmont Estate offers accommodation in the heart of the scenic Garden Route. The property boasts breathtaking scenery with lakes and trees. The t...
Rainforest Ridge Eco-Lodge
African Crags Eco-Lodge offers comfortable accommodation in the Crags, Natures Valley. Choose one of three units, all offered on a bed & breakfas...
Lily Pond Country Lodge
Surrounded by 12 hectares of magnificent indigenous forest and unique lily ponds. Experience the tranquillity of unspoiled nature with breathtaki...
Tranquility B&B
Tranquility B&B will always be ready to accommodate the love birds but will now also be fully equipped to accommodate the active and the adventur...
Boomskraap
Boomskraap is a holiday home offering self-catering accommodation in Nature's Valley situated close to the lagoon and ocean, making this the idea...
Entre Mer et Fôret
Entre Mer et Fôret boasts accommodation in Natures Valley, Plettenberg Bay. Bloukrans Bridge is 13km from Entre Mer et Fôret, while De Vasselot N...
Natures Valley Rest Camp
The Natures Valley Rest Camp offers Tsitsikamma self catering in two comfortable semi detached chalets and basic accommodation in a selection of ...
Other things to do in the area
Ocean Encounters
Our Ecological adventure leaves from Central Beach with an exciting beach launch and heads east past the bird sanctuary and Keurbooms beach to Ar...
Walking Keurboomstrand
Start: At the parking lot at the wooden boardwalk, Keurboomstrand Finish: back where you startedDuration: about 3 km one way, although you can al...
Jukani Wildlife Ranch & Care Centre
Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the big cats such as lions, cheetahs, Bengal tigers, leopard (spotted and black), jaguar, pumas, caracal and...
Hog Hollow Horse Trails
The Tsitsikamma is an exquisite part of the Garden Route in South Africa. It is breath-taking in its natural splendour and its abundance in fauna...
Hog Hollow Horse Drawn Carriage Tours
Many of the guest houses, boutique hotels and B&B's that make up the Garden Route accommodation offering are just a short drive from the beautifu...
Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary
Holiday accommodation on the Garden Route is in high demand. And, for anyone that's visited this gorgeous part of South Africa, that's no surpris...
Nature's Way Farmstall
When travelling on the R102 between Natures Valley and Plettenberg Bay, stop in at Nature's Way Farmstall for a taste of real dairy goods made fr...
Tsitsikamma Trail
It is no wonder that South Africa's first officially accredited hiking trail is also one of its most beautiful. The two- to six-day Tsitsikamma T...
Natures Valley Beach
Nestled within the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, Nature’s Valley Beach is a pristine haven that epitomizes untouched coa...
Noteworthy attractions
De Vasselot Nature Reserve
De Vasselot Nature Reserve is part of the Tsitsikamma National Park. Nature's Valley, the unpretentious holiday village, lies within De Vasselot ...
Bloukrans Pass
Bloukrans River Bridge, just beyond Nature's Valley in the Western Cape, is famous for its bungi jump, reputed to be the highest commercial bungi...
Bloukrans River Bridge
Bungi jump the highest commercial bungi jump in the world! The Bloukrans Bungi Jump surpasses the position previously held by the Victoria Falls ...
Langkloof Valley
Part of the Cape Fold Belt, the Langkloof Mountains are a short range of mountains that serve as a link between the Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua Mou...
Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area
Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area is considered one of the most important conservation areas in the country. Not only does it conserve 11 percent...
Tsitsikamma National Park
The Tsitsikamma National Park is situated at the heart of the picturesque tourist region known as the Garden Route, found in the Southern Cape of...
Fynbos Golf Course
The Fynbos Golf Course features hazards like bunkers, as well as tiered landing areas and well-defined tee boxes to ensure the smoothest game wit...
Kareedouw Pass
The Kareedouw Pass is one of several mountain passes through the quartzite of the southern Outeniqua-Langkloof-Tsitsikamma-Kareedouw range of Cap...
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Head off towards Nature's Valley from Plettenberg Bay on the N2 and Keurbooms River Nature Valley lies roughly 8 km along the major route of the ...
Accommodation convenient to Self Drive the Garden Route
FIND / South Africa Accommodation / Western Cape Accommodation / Garden Route Accommodation / Natures Valley Accommodation
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