George is the gateway to the Garden Route and most people would think that if you’re staying here you’re just passing through or using it as a base to explore the neighboring towns.
We decided to stay a few days and made it our mission to enjoy all that George had to offer (well, in a 50km radius!)
Prior to our visit I did some research and came up with a list of family-friendly things to do in George (& surrounds), unfortunately our time in George was only 3 days so we didn’t get to everything on the list, I suppose that just means we’ll have to head back! Not a bad thing after all.
One of the most interesting museums in town is the Outeniqua Transport Museum Unfortunately our time table meant we didn’t have long here but we made the most of it and zoomed around checking out all the huge steam locomotives, the huge selection of vintage cars and other vehicles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outeniqua_Transport_Museum
Leaving from the Outeniqua Transport Museum is the Powervan, one of the most popular attractions in town. This is a unique eco experience that takes you up into the Outeniqua Mountains on one of the most scenic railway passes in the country.
Experience the forest and four passes, waterfalls and six tunnels, fynbos and proteas, bird and animal life and a panoramic picnic area. Departs on daily trips between 07:00 and 21:00. A minimum of 20 passengers are required and booking is essential. A picnic is included.
When researching things to do in the area, my husband, a wine lover, discovered there was a winery in the area (well, over the mountain, but within 50km!) There was no way he was going to miss out on a visit so we headed off over the beautiful Montagu pass to discover Herold Winery.
Located well off the road, this was a little gem of a discovery… We arrived to discover the owner and winemaker himself setting up for the day and got chatting. A roaring fire, a tour of the private underground wine cellar and a spot of wine tasting made for a memorable morning, well worth the drive!
One of the things to do in the George area that we still need to do is drive the Seven Passes from George to Knysna. We tried on this visit as I’d read about how beautiful the drive is and I was keen to get to the Map of Africa view point but unfortunately we got so far and then came to a road block while roadworks were taking place on this road that connect George in the West with Knysna in the East.
The Seven Passes Road was built between 1867 and 1882 under the guidance of Thomas Bain (one of South Africa’s most famous roads engineers) This scenic old road used to be the Garden Route’s main highway – but today it’s just a quiet country lane that offers some of the most exhilarating driving in the country. Next time we’re in the Garden Route area we’re definitely planning to do this!
To find the start of the road in George head to Saasveld.
One of the premier surfing beaches in South Africa, a visit to Vic Bay is always a lovely way to spend an afternoon in the area.
Buy a soft serve ice cream and take a stroll along the pier or pack the buckets and spades for some sand castle building… and if you’re from a family of surfers be sure to pack the surf boards and wetsuits to take advantage of the swell!
Another beautiful beach in the George area that’s worth an afternoon is Wilderness. This expansive stretch of sand is just a 20 min drive from George and it feels like another world. We headed here late one afternoon when the kids had been in the car for too long (our failed attempt at the Seven Passes) and needed to stretch their legs. Which they did indeed…
Our visit saw vast swathes of storm clouds gathering in the sky and beautiful low light as the sun sank behind the mountains, but this would be equally wonderful for an early morning walk to watch the sunrise over the sea!
The Garden Route Botanical Gardens are a tranquil oasis in the heart of George. Offering geo-caching adventures, mountain biking, hiking trails and gentle garden walks, there’s something for everyone.
A firm favourite with families visiting the George area is the Red Berry Farm. There is a multitude of fun activities on offer at this strawberry farm including picking your own strawberries, taking a ride on a miniature train, cruising around in bubble balls, pedal go-karts, bumper cars, pony rides and the biggest maze in the Southern Hemisphere.
There’s also a great restaurant, a playground area and plenty of space for the kids to run, plus there’s usually some form of live entertainment on offer on weekends too.
My kids love coming here and each time we try to do something different (as doing it ALL can add up as you pay for each activity separately!) On our most recent visit we enjoyed the maze as a family which kept us all stumped for over an hour but proved to be a lot of fun. And we couldn’t resist a trip to the strawberry fields for a stash of strawberries to take home… although they didn’t last longer than the walk to the car to be honest!
Open Monday – Saturday from 9am – 4pm. Please note they are closed on Sundays (as are many of the tourist attractions in the George area as we found out!)
Red Berry Farm is located on the Geelhoutboom Road (off the R404), Blanco
And one more just in case you happen to be in town over a Saturday morning be sure to visit the Outeniqua Market for all manner of country fare to take home as a reminder of your visit to George and the Outenique area.
Have you visited George or spent time here on holiday? If you’ve got any suggestions to add to this list please leave a comment on this blog post!
