The 15 Best Day Trips from Pinetown
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 15 good day trips from Pinetown, South Africa, led by Pietermaritzburg, KwaDukuza, Mpumalanga. The closest is Folweni, about 30 min by car, and 6 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Pinetown
- 1
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car53 km north-west of PinetownKnown for Kwa-Zulu Natal National Botanical Gardens.
- 2
KwaDukuza, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car67 km north-east of Pinetown - 3
Mpumalanga, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car24 km west of Pinetown - 4
Tongaat, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car35 km north-east of Pinetown - 5
Port Shepstone, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car110 km south of Pinetown - 6
eSikhaleni, South Africa
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car144 km north-east of Pinetown - 7
Mandeni, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car91 km north-east of Pinetown - 8
Folweni, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car21 km south of Pinetown - 9
Margate, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car126 km south-west of Pinetown - 10
Wembesi, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car137 km north-west of Pinetown - 11
Howick, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car74 km north-west of Pinetown - 12
Richmond, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car60 km west of Pinetown - 13
Mpophomeni, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car73 km west of Pinetown - 14
Ballitoville, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 50 min by car45 km north-east of Pinetown - 15
Shakaskraal, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car52 km north-east of Pinetown
A sample day: Pinetown to Pietermaritzburg
- 08:30Leave Pinetown
- 09:30Arrive in Pietermaritzburg (1 hr drive)
- 09:45Kwa-Zulu Natal National Botanical Gardens
- 11:45Lunch
- 13:00Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Pietermaritzburg
- 15:30Head back to Pinetown
- 16:30Home in Pinetown
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Pinetown?
- The best day trips from Pinetown are Pietermaritzburg, KwaDukuza, Mpumalanga, Tongaat, Port Shepstone. The closest is Folweni, about 30 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Pinetown?
- Folweni is the closest, 21 km south of Pinetown, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Pinetown?
- 6 places are within about an hour's drive of Pinetown: Folweni (30 min), Mpumalanga (35 min), Tongaat (40 min), Ballitoville (50 min), Shakaskraal (1 hr), Pietermaritzburg (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Pinetown for a day out?
- Pietermaritzburg is the largest city in day-trip range, 53 km north-west of Pinetown and about 1 hr by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Pinetown?
- For a weekend away from Pinetown, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: eSikhaleni (144 km, 2 hr 15 min), Wembesi (137 km, 2 hr 10 min), Margate (126 km, 2 hr), Port Shepstone (110 km, 1 hr 45 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Pinetown?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is eSikhaleni at 144 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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