If there is one thing that is synonymous with Plettenberg Bay, it’s summer: sea, sand and sunshine wrapped up in a little coastal town, a favourite time of year for both locals and visitors. The summer holidays in Plett welcome both South African and international visitors; families gather from all over in large holiday homes, campers unpack for a waterside vacation and our guesthouses, hotels and bed and breakfasts brim with holidaymakers enjoying, amongst other things, the natural beauty and beaches iconic to Plett’s summer season. Here’s a little slice of Plett Summer for you, complete with tips for planning your 2017 summer holiday with us in Plettenberg Bay:
Plett sun, sand and surf
It’s no secret that Plett has some of the best beaches in South Africa – each unique, pristine and a favourite of many – and as many as five International Blue Flag beaches. Robberg Five, Nature’s Valley, The Dunes, Lookout Beach and Keurboomsstrand have the honour of holding Blue Flag status for 2016/2017. In addition to lounging on the beach and splashing in the waves, summer visitors can enjoy a spot of ocean sailing with Ocean Sailing Charters, a marine safari with Ocean Blue Adventures, surfing, scuba diving, kayaking and more on Plett beaches. The annual ClemenGold Hobie Regatta is a popular spectator event on the Plett summer calendar and, if you’re tired of the sand between your toes, head off Plett’s popular water park, Adventure Land for a day of waterborne fun!
Boogie Nights in Plett
There are times during the year when Plett’s nightlife consists mainly of wonderful restaurants and cosy concerts in local pubs, but Plett summer brings so much more to our nightlife. The original Barnyard venue is located just outside Plettenberg Bay and, while they do host a delightful array of artists year-round, their summer calendar is filled with the likes of Jesse Clegg, Mel Botes and Steve Hofmeyer for a foot-stomping good time. Plett is fortunate to play host to South African electronic favourites, GoodLuck’s summer residency, Get Lucky Summer on the lawns of the Beacon Island Hotel. Sunday afternoons rock at the BI as GoodLuck entertains with views across the bay to Robberg. Plett’s newest music venue, The Meadows, played host to some unforgettable parties during the Plett Rage Student Festival and extended that run to give summer visitors concerts including Jeremy Loops, We Love Summer and GoldFish – all told, Plett summer is the perfect combination of beach days and boogie nights!
Sport, Adventure and Nature
Plettenberg Bay seems to have every manner of natural attraction: ocean, mountain, canyon, river, forest and Fynbos – making it the perfect location of outdoor sports and adventure activities. Summer brings a number of exciting and colourful sporting events to Plett including the popular Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge which includes a family walk, trail run, ocean kayaking, ocean swim and mountain biking events and who doesn’t love a Color Run? This year brought us the Summer Music Color Run, which was an absolute blast! In addition to the summer events, adventurers can enjoy excellent hiking, trail running and mountain biking routes, bungy jumping with Face Adrenalin, Segway Tours of the indigenous forest with Tsitsikamma Segway, abseiling and kloofing with Africanyon, ziplining with Tsitiskamma Canopy Tours and an unforgettable kayak and lilo trip up the Storms River Gorge with Untouched Adventures.
Meandering through the Winelands
If summer in the vineyards is up your alley, then Plett is a good choice. Many of our Plett wine estates now have tasting facilities and delightful restaurants attached, making a meander through the Plett Winelands a good choice for any sunny summer afternoon. As Plettenberg Bay is a popular MCC (bubbly) region, you may wish to take a tour with Plett Wine Tours for a comfortable, knowledgeable and fun tour of the Plett wine region. Other options include a horse trail and carriage ride through the Plett winelands.
With months of summer left to enjoy, is it time to plan your Plett holiday?