Between Heidelberg just 100 km from Cape Town and Storms River 180 km west of Port Elizabeth, the Garden Route runs parallel to a coastline featuring lakes, mountains, tall indigenous forests, amber-coloured rivers and golden beaches. Meandering trails are followed by hikers, the forests invite long, leisurely drives, and the lakes and rivers lend themselves to swimming boating and fishing.

The most popular places on the route are Knysna, George and Oudtshoorn.