Aug 2019 - Jhb South

Coastal escape
Plett ... still (and always will be) the perfect
destination for a mid-year coastal break
With its plush boutiques and
smart complexes, Plettenberg
Bay is hardly a sleepy seaside
village getaway. But, in spite of the
dramatic development that has
taken place in recent decades, the
town remains a shrine to nature’s
bounty. And there’s nowhere
better to enjoy the view than
at the Sky Villa Boutique Hotel,
part of the Cape Summer Villas
Collection.
‘Plettenberg Bay always has the
most wonderful sunrises,’ my
mother tells me, reminding me
of how we used to sit, hands
wrapped round steaming mugs of
coffee, watching a small red ball
slowly climbing the horizon. That
was back in the nineties, when
Plett was our family holiday spot.
And, although much has changed
since then, the grandeur of the
sunrise certainly hasn’t. That’s
what I’m thinking as I watch that
same red ball from my balcony, its
rays refracted in a golden splash
on the surface of the lagoon. Just
beyond this gilded spectacle, the
beach beckons…
It’s no wonder that Plett’s
legendary scenery draws legions
of holidaymakers, local and
international alike. But the same
craggy beauty which makes it
a joy for the eyes also makes for
outstanding exploring. While it’s
tempting to sit and take in that
balcony view, I know there are
even greater splendours beyond
the hotel.
There’s the famed Robberg hike,
for instance – a favourite way for
locals to spend the weekend. The
walk takes you from rocky dunes
(watch out for the views of seals at
play) to a wave-splattered beach.
Then there’s cruising down the
Keurbooms River, where shadow
plays on fynbos-festooned
mountains and amber-coloured
water laps at private beaches. If
ever there was a place that called
you to spread out your towel and
Text: LISA WITEPSKI
32 Get It Joburg South August 2019
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2019/07/17 04:03:27 PM