Top 5 beach holiday destinations to drive to

In need of vitamin Sea? These five popular holiday destinations will offer some rest and relaxation if you plan ahead. 

Learn how to work out your car's fuel consumption.

Our top 5 beach holiday destinations are...

 

1. Cape Town

The Mother City has much to offer with regards to beautiful beaches. The only downside is that it can get a little too busy, which adds to the already-insane traffic situation.

Cape Town is on every foreigner's must-see list, so if you want to avoid the crowds, a visit to Cape Town should happen in February to March or September to late November. Our favourite beaches include Noordhoek Beach, Bloubergstrand, Llandudno, Clifton, and (freezing cold) Camps Bay. If you need some peace and quiet, Scarborough is a charming and tranquil little seaside village where you can enjoy some alone time if needed.

Looking for things to do and see in Cape Town and its surroundings? Cape Town Mag can help. Also, visit Cape Town Etc. and  DrinksFeed.

Related: Savings at the pump: Team AutoTrader's favourite fuel-efficient cars

 

Getting there

Just follow the N1! A good 1430 km awaits if you travel from O.R. Tambo. We suggest a Karoo stop-over in Nieu-Bethesda near Graaff-Reinet on the N9, if you'd like to avoid the N1 which has many, many large trucks and inconsiderate drivers that don't always adhere to the rules of the road or drive recklessly in general. In fact, avoiding the N1 altogether would be the best; alternative routes are a little longer but a lot less stressful and much safer! 

Related: Top road safety tips for the festive season

 

Car of choice:  If you're going to be cruising along the Camps Bay strip, you need something that will make you stand out, but since it's Cape Town and parking is at a premium, a small or mid-size SUV or crossover like the Lexus UX would work well, or if you need more space, the bigger Lexus RX.(Both links go to our launch reports on location in Cape Town!)

 

2. Hermanus

Famous for playing host to a variety of whales every year, Hermanus is known as the "jewel of the Overberg". Hermanus is a great base from which to explore the rest of the beautiful Overberg region and it offers something for everyone. Hermanus's beaches are quite safe, especially Grotto Beach, but if you have little ones, Kammabaai (also known as Nanny's Beach) offers the best backdrop for building sandcastles. And if you absolutely hate sand, Voelklip Beach offers green lawns on which to lay your beach towel. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer season.

Other highlights include the outstanding wine farms of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley or a book and a table at Bientang's Cave, which is quite literally on the rocks.

Getting there

From Cape Town, it's an easy 120-kilometer drive along the N2 and the R43, which should take 90 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the traffic. When leaving Cape Town for Hermanus, we suggest not leaving between 3.30 pm and 7 pm, where you'll spend a fair amount just sitting in your car.

Car of choice: Any car will do, but smaller may be better as parking is hard to find over December. Too small won't fit your luggage, so the Tucson is ideal. Or the Kia Sportage!

 

3. Jeffrey's Bay

This surfer's paradise boasts some of SA's safest and longest beaches, while air and water temperatures are lovely and mild until the end of March or beginning of April. The endless beaches are considered very safe for swimming. If J-Bay's main beach and surrounding areas get too much, we can highly recommend Aston Bay or Paradise beach, which is about 10–15 minutes away by car. Cape St. Francis/St Francis Bay is another option if you prefer not to be part of J-Bay's hustle and bustle.

Getting there

From Jo'burg it's 1147 km along the N1 and the N9, until you hit St. Francis Street.

Car of choice: We used the Hyundai Staria 2.2D Multicab, which is frugal and spacious enough to fit your surfboards, with a built-in "cubicle" where you can change into your wetsuit. 

 

4. Sodwana Bay

This diving mecca is known for its abundance of colourful bird and marine life, coral reefs, thick, lush vegetation, and beautiful hiking trails, and there's ample accommodation for every budget, including clean and well-appointed camp sites. If you are an avid scuba diver, you are in for a treat! We recommend Coral Divers, an established 5-star PADi IDC Centre with a wide range of accommodation options in various price ranges.

Not a die-hard diver? Cape Vidal (also KZN) is 2.5-hour drive to the south and offers snorkelling, bird-watching, hiking, spearfishing and beaches fit for a king.

Getting there

SodwanaBay.com tells you how: "From Jo'burg, take the N17 East which goes past Springs and then goes through Bethal, until you reach Ermelo. From Ermelo, the N17 becomes the N2 South which goes through the towns of Piet Retief and Pongola before you get to the Hluhluwe turn-off. The distance between Johannesburg and Sodwana Bay is approximately 700km in total and takes about 8 hours at a leisurely pace. For a more scenic route, you can go through Swaziland, just remember your passports."

Car of choice: The Land Rover Defender 130. It's huge, built for poor roads, and very luxurious, with space for all your friends and their diving gear.

 

5. Plettenberg Bay

Whether you're a foodie or a beach bum, Plett is always a pleasure. Plett has six premier “Blue Flag” beaches, including Robberg beach, Lookout Beach, Keurboomstrand, The Dunes, The Singing Kettle and Nature’s Valley. And if you're done working on that tan for a bit, there are a multitude of other visit-worthy places, such as the Knysna Elephant Park, the Birds of Eden Free Flight Sanctuary, and Monkeyland, to name but a few. Plett tourism has all the info of events.

Getting there

From Johannesburg, it's 1140 km to Plett along the N1 and N9, and it should take you approximately 11.5 hours if you don't drive too fast.

Car of choice: Kia Seltos (read our roadtrip review) 1.5CRDi. This Kia is so light on diesel, you'll actually have enough money left for your vacation.