Location: Hermanus
Top Things to do in Hermanus
What to do and see in Hermanus, Western Cape: The Best Nature & Parks
Beautiful Hermanus is a South African seaside town that’s a popular whale-watching site. An initial visit to the Old Harbour Museum will acquaint you with the area’s rich fishing history and impress you with a massive exhibit of a whale skeleton. With dozens of area vineyards, Hermanus is a great base for a guided wine tasting tour.
Restaurants in Hermanus
1. Grotto Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 909 reviews
Reviewed By JPandTracy - Clanwilliam, South Africa
Grotto beach provided the wife, the kids and I with hours of entertainment on our Hermanus breakaway. The beach is a beautiful walking beach. It feels like it stretches all the way to Gansbaai, and is certainly long enough to awaken your appetite for ice cream and to build a need for a swim. The life guards were on duty at all advertised times and were quite attentive to the crowds on busy days. There's lots of space to accommodate everyone, with umbrellas and sun-loungers available for hire, and let's not forget the on-site ice-cream guy: he's a hero of the beach too! Watch the tides. Our children are still young, so when we forgot to check what was happening and walked into the waves as high-tide was pushing in, we soon felt the power of the ocean as it rolled us, kicking and spluttering, back on to the beach... All around: five stars.
2. Voelklip Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 239 reviews
Reviewed By GeroleneS - Cape Town Central, South Africa
What a lovely little gem this is. A safe beach and excellent for families. It is lovely to spend the day here. Bring a picnic. There is a bit of grass.
3. Fernkloof Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 503 reviews
Reviewed By 968verad - Czech Republic, null
Very nice place to spend half day walking and enjoying the beautiful flora! There are more flowers than you could imagine. The walks/hikes are easy and very enjoyable.
4. Walker Bay Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By Christine029 - South West England, United Kingdom
Loved this area, even staying in De Keller’s, which doesn’t have a lot else to offer, but does have the most amazing views and direct access toThe Bay by walking along the cliff path. Beautiful area and well worth a visit, especially of heading back to Cape Town airport and wanting a shorter drive to get there after a Garden Route holiday. We stayed at. Cliff Lodge which has amazing views across the bay. It must be wonderful in the whale season, but even without this added excitement, we enjoyed our time here. It’s free to access if walking along the cliff too, it small fee if raring by road and parking at the over the bay.
5. Kwaaiwater
6. Cape Whale Coast
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 65 reviews
Cape Whale Coast stretches from Rooiels to Pearly Beach. It includes Hangklip, Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay, Kleinmond, Fisherhaven, Hawston, Hermanus, Stanford and Gansbaai.
Reviewed By robg959 - Bellville, South Africa
We stayed in Gansbaai to do a shark cage dive from Stilbaai. The walk along the beach fronting Walker Bay through to Gansbaai harbour is absolutely stunning. This is not a casual walk and does take some fitness to do.
7. Bosman Hermanus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Drive up the Hemel-en-Aarde Pass and turn left towards the De Bos dam & around a bend, a low slung building appears on the horizon, perched on a sweeping landscape and anchored under a large tree. This is the Frame House. A wood and canvas structure housing the wine tasting room and picnic service belonging to Bosman Family Vineyards on their farm in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus. The Frame House is a refreshment station from which you can explore both nature and your place within it trough primarily our wine range tasting experience, complemented with a picnic service that we offer. Nature trails are also available at Bosman Hermanus where you can soak up the views, absorb the stillness broken only by the rustling bushes or soft bird call. At the top enjoy a 360º view of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. From there you can see all the way across Walker Bay to Gansbaai in the South and Hangklip in the West. Delicious coffee is available from our in house barista.
Reviewed By bjuliek
We visit the Hemel en Aarde Valley quite often, but had never heard of this little gem before. It was SO worth the short detour off the main road through the valley. Some of our favorite wines we've tasted in the valley! An unpretentious estate, very friendly staff - Nigel and Watson both knowledgeable and friendly. Beautiful surrounds. Small menu of flat breads and cheese platters - delish. We'll be back!
8. Onrus Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By 307annv - Bruges, Belgium
Onrus beach is a lovely beach surrounded by beautifull nature. There is a small lagoon where children can play and swim. The ocean itself is not suitable to swim. Bar and restaurant next to the beach (The Milkwood) if you are thirsty or hungry.
9. Kammabaai Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By dewaldr - Cape Town Central, South Africa
If you are looking for a great spot to go swimming or just to have a relaxing day on the beach, then make a trip to Kammabaai. The beach cannot accommodate as many people as Grotto Beach (main beach in Hermanus) and it has cliffs on both sides, making it more private and the waters' a bit calmer. However it is a very popular spot during peak season so make sure you arrive early or else you won't find any parking available. It's great for the whole family as it's basically divided into two smaller bays with some rocks in between where the children like to climb around. It's relatively shallow closer to shore if you just want to wade around, but you can go deeper in if you want to swim - there are also some nice waves for surfers. During peak season there are also lifeguards on duty. This has become my favorite beach in the area and I am sure it will continue to be.
10. Sandbaai Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Cairokid - Maidenhead, United Kingdom
The beach at Sandbaai is lovely. Dramatic waves and awesome seas. This is a great place to stay at Hermanus.
