Woodlands Travel & Accommodation Guide

Woodlands is a small locality in the Eastern Cape, positioned along the southern coastline not far from Humansdorp and the Tsitsikamma region. The area sits within easy reach of some of the Garden Route's most visited natural features, and its quiet character draws visitors who prefer a slower pace away from larger resort towns.

Woodlands sits in the Eastern Cape close to the coastline between Humansdorp and the Tsitsikamma National Park, placing it at the eastern edge of what most travellers consider the Garden Route corridor. The surrounding landscape is defined by coastal fynbos, indigenous forest patches, and river valleys that run down toward the Indian Ocean. Distances to key points are manageable: Jeffreys Bay is roughly 60 kilometres to the east, while the Storms River Mouth rest camp is accessible within about 40 kilometres to the west.

The Tsitsikamma National Park is the dominant natural attraction in this part of the Eastern Cape. The park covers a stretch of coastline and the forested ravines of the Storms River gorge, and it contains some of South Africa's most-walked hiking trails, including the famous Otter Trail. Day visitors can access the suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth without a permit, and the short hike down to the bridge passes through dense Afromontane forest.

For those interested in water activities, the rivers and coast near Woodlands offer options that include sea kayaking, bungee jumping at the Bloukrans Bridge (the highest commercial bungee jump in the world at 216 metres), and snorkelling in the rock pools along the shoreline. The Bloukrans Bridge is approximately 30 kilometres from the Woodlands area along the N2.

Woodlands accommodation tends to suit travellers who want a base for exploring the surrounding region rather than a destination with its own concentrated tourism infrastructure. Self-catering cottages and small guesthouses are the most common options, and many properties back onto forest or have views toward the coast. The area is quiet enough that wildlife sightings, including vervet monkeys, bushbuck, and various forest bird species, are a regular part of the experience.

Humansdorp, the nearest substantial town, provides practical amenities including supermarkets, fuel, and medical services. The town is about 25 kilometres from the Woodlands area along the N2. For a wider selection of restaurants and shops, travellers typically head to Jeffreys Bay or, in the other direction, to Plettenberg Bay, which is around 70 kilometres west.