Around Hermanus

Culture

The Old Harbour museum is another fantastic attraction in Hermanus. The museum showcases the history of the Hermanus fishermen, and it also allows you to see and hear the whales (transmitted by special kinds of microphones).

The museum is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, and on Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

Wine

The wines and also wine farms of the Western Cape in South Africa are world famous and they have a superb reputation to boot.

By visiting Hermanus you are in close proximity to some of the most exquisite wine farms. The most elebrated wine areas include Paarl, Stellenbosch and also Franschhoek.

Hemel en Aarde Valley Wine Route - The cool maritime climate and the right soil composition combine to make the Hemel-en-Aarde valley the ideal location for the fussy Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vines. In this picturesque valley wine lovers can treat themselves to a unique wine tour among the southernmost vineyards in Africa.

Bouchard Finlayson, Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Whalehaven Wines
Cape Bay Wines, Sumaridge, Merwenstein Guest Farm, Spookfontein

Bartho Eksteen tasting room in the center of Hermanus. All the wines from the valley are available at the Wine Village.

The majority of the wineries offer wine tasting. Touring through the wineries and tasting the different blends of wines in a stylish ambience is one of the most enjoyable outings you’ll experience.

Golf

The Hermanus Golf Club and the Arabella Golf Estate are two of the most sort after golf courses in the Overberg region.
The Hermanus Golf Club is situated in the heart of Hermanus. It is a fairly flat course which allows for even the most novice of golfers to enjoy a round. Another benefit is that you do not need to be a member to play, guests are welcome too.

The Arabella Golf Estate is a more exclusive and challenging course with plenty of bunkers and also beautiful lagoons. It is situated outside of Hermanus at the Arabella Country Estate near Kleinmond. This golf course was designed by Peter Matkovich and ranks among one of the most beautiful golf courses in the country.

Aquatics

If you love aquatics, you’ll love Hermanus with the swimming pools and magnificent beaches inviting you for swim. Each beach like Grotto & Hawston, which are Blue Status beaches are unique in some way, but you’ll have to pay us a visit to discover each ones speciality sport.

Some of the activities include diving, surfing, kite-boarding, wind surfing, snorkeling, paddle skiing, fishing, kayaking and sailing.

Relaxing

If getting away from it all and letting your hair down at sea side town is your idea of a perfect vacation, here are few enjoyable experiences.

Visit the nearby Fernkloof nature reserve with the mountains behind it to enjoy the unique nature and landscape of Hermanus. The majority of places offer a beautiful view of the mountains, the ocean and the beaches. There are plenty of paths to enjoy a walk or a short hike and there are plenty of lookout spots to enjoy the beauty of the area.

Shopping

Hermanus offers only two small malls, but there are many boutique shops scattered around the town and Hermanus is noted for its exceptional arts and crafts which makes it a shoppers paradise.

Whale watching

Probably the most well-known and the most popular attraction in Hermanus are the whales. The whales can be enjoyed and inhabit Walker Bay from July until December. These exquisite and interesting creatures make Hermanus world famous and the experience of viewing the whales can be matched nowhere else in the world. That is why Hermanus is called the "world’s whale capital".

The whales come into Walker Bay to mate and calf. Therefore, the whales come so near to the coast that they are extremely easy to view.

There is also a not-to-be-missed festival (or better: festi-whale) dedicated to the whales, which takes place every year at the end of September.

Miscellaneous

There are plenty of other activities to do in Hermanus too. Popular activities include cycling, hiking, rock climbing and fishing. The beautiful mountains (the Fernkloof Nature Reserve) around Hermanus are inviting you to explore them.

If you prefer ball games, there are plenty of quality tennis and squash courts at the Hermanus Tennis Cub. Other sports you can enjoy are horse riding (along the beaches), paragliding, parasailing, soccer, sand boarding and jogging.