STAGE 1

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Oct 26

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Knysna to Avontuur

A taste of the stage

Stage 1 opens the inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn with a scenic yet challenging ride from the coastal town of Knysna, through lush indigenous forest and over the historic Prince Alfred’s pass, to the small farming community of Avontuur – your gateway to the Karoo.

<Stage> overview
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Highest Point

1,O38m

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Distance

84km

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Climb

2,O5Om+

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Descent

1,2OOm-

the peaks
and troughs

Nedbank Gravel Burn profile stage 1

Towns &
landmarks

Knysna
town

Knysna(NIZE-nuh)

western-cape

Knysna is the jewel of the Garden Route, set on a calm lagoon framed by The Heads and ancient forests. Founded in the early 1800s by George Rex—rumoured to be an exiled royal—it later saw South Africa’s first gold rush. Today, it’s a haven for nature lovers, with rare species like the Knysna seahorse and forests alive with the call of the Knysna turaco. Shipwrecks, legends, and the elusive forest elephant add mystery to a town where beauty, history, and wilderness meet.

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The Moorings
landmark

The Moorings

Knysna, Western Cape

Set on 4.5 hectares of woodland gardens along the Knysna Lagoon, Premier Resort The Moorings offers a tranquil escape near the Knysna Heads. Guests can enjoy private lagoon access with boat launch and docking facilities. 2-Bedroom waterfront suites feature balconies or patios with stunning views and fully equipped kitchens. Dine at the Salmon Restaurant or Tuscano Ristorante, or unwind at Orchid Day Spa, using organic products. Just 3km from Knysna town, the resort is a gateway to outdoor activities like boating, fishing, and golfing, and provides easy access to the Garden Route's attractions.

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Nedbank Gravel Burn towns avontuur
town

Avontuur(AH-von-toor)

western-cape

Avontuur sits in the Tsitsikamma foothills and was once the inland terminus of a forest railway that hauled timber to Knysna. Later, it became the end point of the Avontuur Railway, built to connect Langkloof orchards with the port at Port Elizabeth. In the 1960s, it turned into a tourist draw known as the Apple Express. Today, it’s still farming country — fruit, lucerne, sheep — and home to the Zondagh family, 10th-generation apple farmers and your hosts at the first Burn Camp.

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Knysna Heads
landmark

Knysna Heads

Knysna, Western Cape

The Knysna Heads are a pair of sandstone cliffs that separate the Knysna Lagoon from the sea beyond; a famous landmark along the renowned Garden Route. The eastern head is easily accessible by car and has many spectacular viewpoints overlooking the channel, Indian Ocean, the Knysna Lagoon and estuary, and the Outeniqua Mountains. In fact, it was because of its excellent lookout that the National Sea Rescue Institute (Station 12, Knysna) chose to build its observation room here.

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Millwood Goldfields
landmark

Millwood Forest

Knysna, Western Cape

Millwood Forest is a historic section of the Knysna Forest, located in the Garden Route National Park near Rheenendal, west of Knysna. It's known for its lush indigenous forest, deep gorges, and rich biodiversity, but also for its gold rush history in the 1880s.

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AvontuurBC
landmark

Avontuur Burn Camp

Avontuur, Western Cape

The first Burn Camp in the inaugural race, Avontuur Burn Camp was once a ...

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wildlife spotlight

Nedbank Gravel Burn wildlife Knysna_Turacos

Knysna Turaco

Also known as the Loerie, it's endemic to the coastal forests of the Garden Route. Easily recognised by its green plumage, red wing flashes, and hooting call. Often spotted in Knysna’s canopy — more often heard than seen.

the landscape

Stage 1 Landscape GB 1
Stage 1 Landscape GB 1
Stage 1 Landscape GB 2
Stage 1 Landscape GB 2
Stage 1 Landscape GB 3
Stage 1 Landscape GB 3

ready to ride?

Like what you see? Join us for Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026.