Our family Garden Route holiday honeymoon

We are huge foodies and are partial to the odd bottle of wine (or three), but neither of us can sit beside a pool or under a beach umbrella for long. We wanted food, wine and a little luxury, but also enough adventure to make every day feel memorable. 

South Africa had always been on my list and, after plenty of research and ruling out several other options, the Garden Route became the obvious choice. It promised the rare combination we were looking for: grown-up experiences, extraordinary scenery and wildlife, and places where a small child would be genuinely welcome.

Getting to South Africa 

Travelling long-haul with a two-year-old can sound daunting, but the direct overnight Virgin flights immediately appealed to us. We then realised there was only a two-hour time difference—an enormous bonus when you want honeymoon magic without spending the first few days negotiating toddler jet lag. 

We chose Economy Delight, which included a separate premium check-in, speedy boarding and extra-legroom seats. Those small upgrades removed some of the stress of travelling with a little one and made the beginning of our honeymoon feel that bit more special.

When to travel to South Africa 

We married in June but waited until February for our honeymoon, hoping to make the most of the South African summer. For us, the weather was perfect: usually between 18 and 25 degrees, depending on where we were—warm enough for beach days and dips in the pool, but still comfortable for sightseeing with a toddler. 

February is a busy time to visit, but I’d happily travel any time from October to May. If seeing whales is high on your wish list, bear in mind that prime whale-watching season runs from June to November. That said, we were lucky enough to spot a Bryde’s whale on a boat trip in March!

Our Garden Route itinerary 

Our family Garden Route itinerary looked like this: 

• 3 nights in Cape Town 
• 2 nights in Franschhoek (Cape Winelands)
• 2 nights in Hermanus
• 2 nights in Oudtshoorn 
• 3 nights in Plettenberg Bay

We planned it this way so we could experience the best of this incredible country: Table Mountain, the magnificent wine region, dramatic coastal scenery, a safari and, finally, a sleepy surf town beside Tsitsikamma National Park, where lush forest meets the sea. It gave us variety without rushing, child-friendly stops without sacrificing romance, and exceptional food and wine wherever we went. It really was the perfect honeymoon-slash-family holiday!

Kicking off in Cape Town 

First, we spent three days in Cape Town, based in Camps Bay at the beautiful Camps Bay Retreat. This spa hotel felt wonderfully romantic, with gardens, several pools, and a fabulous restaurant view. However, it was also brilliantly placed for family life: just a few minutes’ walk from beachfront shops, restaurants and bars. The V&A Waterfront was only a ten-minute Uber ride away, with hundreds of places to eat and browse.

South Africa impressed us immediately with its welcoming approach to families — lots of restaurants have supervised play areas, and playgrounds seemed to keep magically appearing! I definitely urge all parents to book a queue-jumping pass for Table Mountain, as waits can reach up to two hours, which is no fun for a two-year-old.

Penguin parades and botanical gardens 

Garden lovers should also make time for Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town and the gardens of. Both offer peaceful, beautiful places to wander at a child’s pace without feeling that the adults are compromising. 

Boulders Beach is around 45 minutes from Cape Town and gives adults and children the same sense of wonder: watching the penguin parade together was one of those simple family moments that felt every bit as special as a honeymoon excursion. 

We also loved vibrant Kloof Street; restaurants often need to be booked in advance, but the atmosphere feels exciting and distinct from the rest of the city.

Driving into the Cape Winelands 

We collected our car in central Cape Town and began our Garden Route adventure, heading first to Franschhoek, via Babylonstoren Wine Estate for an unforgettable lunch. You can visit this exceptional Cape Dutch farm on the Wine Tram if you book early enough. 

We explored the gardens and sustainable farm at Babylonstoren before eating at one of its two farm-to-fork restaurants, Babel. It was beautiful and polished enough to feel like a honeymoon treat, yet open and interesting enough for our little one to enjoy too. There is also an on-site hotel if your budget can stretch to it. 

The drive from Cape Town to Franschhoek took around two hours and felt reassuringly easy. Driving on the left was familiar, the roads were wide and - at least on the main N roads - there wasn’t a pothole in sight. This made the self-drive adventure feel perfectly manageable with a small child.

Staying at Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa

Franschhoek, in South Africa’s Western Cape, is known for its historic vineyards and classic Cape Dutch architecture. Surrounded by mountains, it has the romance of a wine-country escape while remaining relaxed, compact and easy to explore as a family.

At Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa, our family room had a separate twin bedroom upstairs, with the main double room below. The layout gave everyone space, while our small balcony overlooking the mountains added a touch of honeymoon romance. 

The pool area was incredible, with a separate jacuzzi, and there were two restaurants—one casual and one fine-dining. Best of all, a complimentary shuttle ran into town, so we could enjoy an evening out without worrying about driving.

Riding the Franschhoek Wine Tram 

For our free day, we booked the hop-on, hop-off Franschhoek Wine Tram, whose routes zip between 27 vineyards across the Cape Winelands. You choose one of five lines and decide how many estates to visit.

I recommend the pink line for families: one stop has a pig-turned-artist, while several vineyards have jungle gyms and children’s juice pairings. Our toddler had things to discover, and we could linger over the views and some of the country’s best wines—a rare day that felt indulgent for us and exciting for her.

Heading to coastal Hermanus 

After filling the car with wine, we headed back to the coast for two nights in Hermanus. I still cannot stop thinking about the views whenever we drove: each journey seemed more beautiful than the last, with steep mountains, lush greenery, winding roads above deep ravines and then long, empty stretches disappearing towards the horizon.

Some practical driving tips for South Africa 

We used Waze to stay ahead of traffic and diversions and to find petrol stations. NOTE: attendants fill the car for you, so there is no need to disturb a sleeping toddler—or leave the comfort of your seat. 

The drive to the coast took around an hour and a half. Houw Hoek Farm Stall makes a lovely family-friendly break: stock up on snacks, stretch little legs, or set off on a scenic walk before continuing.

Staying at Harbour House Hotel

We headed straight to our hotel and parked up. Hermanus, in the Western Cape, is famous for whale watching and beautiful beaches, including Voëlklip and the wide sweep of Grotto Beach overlooking Walker Bay. It felt wild and restorative, yet everything we needed was still close by.

At Harbour House Hotel, our studio room had a handy little kitchenette—always a gift when travelling with a two-year-old. The infinity pool overlooked the ocean, and, at the right time of year, Southern right whales come close to shore. Few things could feel more romantic than that view, especially when you can experience it together as a family.

Don’t hurry out of Hermanus 

I would consider adding an extra night here, staying for a total of three nights. There is plenty to do, and the additional time gives you some flexibility if poor weather cancels a whale-watching cruise or shark-cage-diving trip. To give yourself the best chance, book an early morning boat trip for your first full day. The sea is usually calmer in the morning and, if your trip is cancelled, you still have time to rebook.

The coastal walks around Hermanus are incredibly picturesque, with rock rabbits, seals and a wonderful variety of marine birds to spot. There are tidal pools for a quick dip, while Fernkloof Gardens offers a beautiful place to take a breather. The restaurant scene ranges from sizzling steakhouses to sushi and fresh oysters prepared in all kinds of ways.

For kids, I recommend visiting the whale museum or booking a fascinating shark lab, where you’ll get a face-to-face experience with baby sharks and learn about local conservation. To me, Hermanus was a perfect example of South Africa’s appeal: proper grown-up food alongside experiences that captivated our little one.

On the road to Oudtshoorn 

Our next stop was Buffelsdrift Game Lodge, just outside Oudtshoorn. At around four and a half hours, this was one of our longest drives, but the changing landscape made it unforgettable. Suddenly, the empty straight roads became thrilling mountain bends with ravines only metres away. 

We broke the journey in Swellendam, South Africa’s third-oldest town, sitting beautifully at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains. The journeys all felt like part of the adventure rather than a means of getting from A to B.

Staying at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge 

When we arrived at the reserve, we were taken to our tent—but forget any image of a cramped festival tent. This was a romantic canvas bedroom with an en-suite, roll-top bath and views over the watering hole. Our Luxury Horizon Room even had an outdoor shower.

I recommend booking on a full-board basis, so that meals and core experiences are taken care of, then add extras if you wish. The lodge still has a romantic side, including a charming wedding chapel overlooking the natural waterhole. It is proof that family-friendly does not have to mean giving up adventure, luxury or that honeymoon feeling. 

In our free time, we relaxed beside the lovely pool or ate in the restaurant, where breakfast, lunch and dinner all came with views of the watering hole and its resident hippos. Occasionally we could hear them at night—a wonderfully wild soundtrack to our stay.

The ultimate family-friendly safari 

We chose Buffelsdrift because it is a malaria-free reserve and particularly well suited to a two-year-old. Not every reserve allows very young children on open-vehicle safaris, especially where large cats roam. Here, families can choose from elephant feeding or walking experiences, a free-roaming cheetah experience and a lion experience for ages 4 and over, a meerkat safari, a bush safari, and a night safari.

Our safari experience at Buffelsdrift 

Within hours of our arrival, we set off on a night safari with our little one in tow. Extra layers are essential because the open vehicles become cold after dark. We saw two white rhinos almost immediately—more than enough to hold a toddler’s attention. Night drives also offer the chance to spot ‘The Shy Five ’- aardvark, meerkat, porcupine, aardwolf and bat-eared fox. We added springbok and fascinating birds to the evening’s sightings.

After fitting as much as we could into two nights, we made a last-minute decision to squeeze in one final early-morning safari before getting back on the road. We were rewarded with giraffes, zebras, water buffalo, wildebeest, kudu and springbok, to name only a few. Watching our child take it all in made the early start completely worthwhile.

Exploring the Cango Caves 

Our next stop was the dreamiest of surf towns, Plettenberg Bay. The drive took around three hours, but first we made a short detour to the Cango Caves, only 15 minutes from the lodge. Hourly shared tours offer either an easy walk through the first six chambers or a more adventurous route through narrow passages and tunnels. 

Whichever route you choose, the limestone formations are extraordinary, while ancient paintings and artefacts reveal that people lived here across both the Middle and Later Stone Ages. It was an easy way to add a sense of discovery to another travel day.

Slowing down in Plettenberg Bay 

Robberg Beach Lodge, just across from Robberg Beach, was the perfect final base. Our room was bright and airy, with its own balcony, while the restaurant looked out over the sand. We were only five minutes from town by taxi, and the hotel put us in touch with a driver that we could message on WhatsApp whenever we wanted to go out. Perfect! 

After a busy adventure, Plettenberg Bay gave us permission to slow down. We swam with our little one in the much warmer Indian Ocean, took a whale-watching trip and saw whales, thousands of seals and a few dolphins, enjoyed lazy family mornings, and browsed stylish boutiques.

After a busy adventure, Plettenberg Bay gave us permission to slow down. We swam with our little one in the much warmer Indian Ocean, took a whale-watching trip and saw whales, thousands of seals and a few dolphins, enjoyed lazy family mornings and browsed stylish boutiques.

Plettenberg Bay has a huge choice of restaurants, and once again, some include a children’s area with a resident nanny. Being able to enjoy a glass of wine and an uninterrupted adult conversation—if we wanted one—made family travel feel unexpectedly romantic rather than restrictive.

Our family trip to Monkeyland 

Half an hour away from Plettenberg, we visited Monkeyland, which became another family highlight. We took a child-friendly walk among monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs in the world’s first free-roaming primate sanctuary.

Exploring Tsitsikamma National Park 

Known as ‘The Garden of the Garden Route’, Tsitsikamma National Park is just down the road from Plettenberg. It is perfect for outdoor lovers, with hiking, marine life, and adventurous activities such as ziplining, rafting, climbing, biking, and bungee jumping. We chose a gentler ending to suit our young family, but travellers with older children—or couples wanting a final burst of adrenaline—could add a night here before flying home from Port Elizabeth.

Flying home from Port Elizabeth 

We flew from Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg to London Heathrow. With a five-hour connection, we booked lounge access, which I highly recommend. There was unlimited food and wine for us, space to reset as a family, and even a hot shower before the long-haul flight home.

My thoughts about our family Garden Route holiday 

Our Garden Route holiday became the perfect blend of romance, adventure and family fun. South Africa gave us honeymoon moments—mountain views, beautiful hotels, excellent wine and unforgettable meals—without making our two-year-old feel like an afterthought. Instead, seeing the country through her eyes made the journey even more magical. 

If you are travelling with a small child, celebrating your honeymoon or—like us—doing both, this itinerary offers a beautiful balance of scenery, wildlife, beaches, food and wine. It is an unforgettable journey, and one I would recommend to any family that wants a holiday that feels practical and easy yet is still completely extraordinary.

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