South African Airways

In the town itself, the gardens play an important part in conservation and in the study of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a rich, but threatened collection of flora. The gardens border the mountain forests and include two wetland areas filled with water-loving plants. In the middle is a Medicinal Mound, growing indigenous healing plants. Guided walks take in the history of the gardens, which date back to 1815. There’s a tea garden, too.

Wine farms within easy striking distance of George are Herold Wines, Jakkalsvlei Vineyards and Bramon Wine Estate. Herold covers higher altitude territory than other vineyards, giving it a more protracted growing season. Tasting takes place in the working cellar, where you can watch the wine-making at harvest time or the hand-labelling of bottles during quiet periods. Light lunches and teas are available and there’s two self-catering farm cottages. You reach it via the scenic Montagu Pass.

Sadly, you can no longer catch a steam train up the mountain, but this museum has a nice display of transport. There are 13 locomotives and a collection of carriages, including ones used by the British royal family in the 1940s. Other memorabilia includes crockery from the dining cars, photographs and even poetry relating to the pleasure of train travel. There’s a coffee shop, in case not everyone in your group is a rail fanatic.

About 125 food and craft stalls constitute the Saturday-only Outeniqua Farmer’s Market, with a heavy slant towards farm fresh produce, fruit and vegetables, cheese and biltong. Some stalls sell ready-made meals to eat there or take away. They boast that Outeniqua is the land where honey – and cheese, fish, chocolate, cakes, berries and other delicacies – comes from.

Outeniqua Nature Reserve runs across the mountains and the southern slopes that roll towards the coastline. There are 10 hiking trails offering incredible views over land and sea. Three involve camping overnight, including the arduous 35km Attakwaskloof Trail and the 117km Doring River Wilderness Trail, which is only for seasoned hikers and can take you up to a week.

What’s life without a little luxury? You get a lot of opulence at Fancourt, a golf estate hotel with lovely rooms or spacious self-catering chalets and a fabulous spa with a Roman bath, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and tepidarium. The Links Golf Course ranks as the best in the country, while its Montagu and Outeniqua siblings both rank in the Top 20. There’s a golf academy too, in case you’re not quite up to scratch.

Man up and drive this stunning but potentially treacherous pass over the Outeniquas, north of George. It’s steep and sometimes narrow, but at least you’ll be doing it in a car, not the ox-wagons that used to take three days to conquer the pass – If they survived. It’s the first of a dozen mountain routes surrounding George. Awesome views, but remember to keep your eyes on the road.