The ‘Friendly N6' aptly describes the hospitality you will find on this less-travelled route to the south-eastern coast. Smithfield is a quaint, charming village with a golf course, historical buildings and heritage sites, a number of which offer super accommodation. At Rouxville, a worthwhile side-trip is to Zastron, 30km east along the R26 and close to the Lesotho border. With its dramatic backdrop of the Aasvoelberg mountains and the 9m hole in the sandstone, known as The Eye, the area is filled with San rock art.

Aliwal North is the first town you encounter in the Eastern Cape and its hot springs will refresh children and adults alike. A fabulous 55km detour to the east on the R58 takes you across spectacular Joubert's Pass (third-highest pass in the country) to Lady Grey, the birthplace of Olive Schreiner and home to the Dinosaur Project as the area is rich in fossil beds and rock art.

Back on the N6 the road travels through rugged, hilly country - on the verge of the Great Karoo - blanketed with fine sheep farms. Queenstown is noted for its original hexagonal layout to ensure its effective defence against attack. To the south is Cathcart followed by the town of Stutterheim, nestled on the slopes of the Kologha Mountains . Just before entering Stutterheim, near Dohne, look out for the Mgwali Cultural Village signs– this authentic, welcoming Xhosa village has a museum and always offers traditional garments for sale although traditional meals and cultural tours are available by arrangement.

A short 80km through coastal hills brings you to the harbour city of East London, gateway to both the Sunshine Coast and the Wild Coast. Although windy at times, East London has uncrowded lagoons, bays, rocky outcrops and golden beaches where swimming, surfing and angling are all excellent. The East London Museum houses the first discovered coelacanth and the only Dodo egg in existence among its fine natural history collections. The 1991 wreck of the Oceanos forms part of the maritime exhibition.

Suggested stop or stretch towns on the N6: Smithfield, Zastron 30km off N6, Aliwal North, Burgersdorp 55km off N6, Queenstown, Stutterheim and East London.

More Routes:

JOHANNESBURG - BLOEMFONTEIN - COLESBERG ON N1

COLESBERG - BEAUFORT WEST - CAPE TOWN ON N1

BLOEMFONTEIN - EAST LONDON ON N6

BLOEMFONTEIN – LESOTHO ON N8

JOHANNESBURG - KIMBERLEY - BEAUFORT WEST ON N12

CAPE TOWN - PORT ELIZABETH ON N2 : THE GARDEN ROUTE

PORT ELIZABETH – CRADOCK – COLESBERG ON N10 : THE KAROO

PORT ELIZABETH - EAST LONDON - WILD COAST - DURBAN ON N2

CAPE TOWN – SPRINGBOK ON N7: THE WEST COAST

JOHANNESBURG – DRAKENSBERG - DURBAN ON N3

JOHANNESBURG – SWAZILAND – NORTH COAST ON N17/N2

JOHANNESBURG – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – MOZAMBIQUE ON N4

JOHANNESBURG – MESSINA - ZIMBABWE ON N1

JOHANNESBURG/PRETORIA – MAGALIESBURG - BOTSWANA ON N4

JOHANNESBURG – UPINGTON – SPRINGBOK ON N14