Hermanus is located about 115km southeast of Cape Town and seems a world away. The mountains and hills above Hermanus and the cliffs and sea below give it a relaxed feel and a vibe that says, “chill out”. I had never heard of Hermanus until recently and was excited to go. Between the wine country surrounding it, the gorgeous beaches, walks and the amazing accommodation, I was not disappointed.
The drive from Cape Town took me out toward Hermanus through some of the most beautiful mountainside scenery in the world. The Western Cape really is Gods country. Before heading into town I stopped for a wine pairing and tasting at Creation Wines.
Creation is set on a beautiful piece of land about 10km or so away from Hermanus proper. There are several wine farms or vineyards in the area and Creation is amongst the most beautiful. I must’ve spent 3 hours tasting and pairing wines with delicious foods. I recommend the blends. I have done many tastings around the world and this was as informative as any I have done, especially with the expert guidance of owner Carolyn Martin.
Hermanus town is a seaside town of about 80,000 people and is known mainly for whale watching, beaches, retirement and a golf course. I didn’t get a chance to play golf nor am I retiring there but I did get to experience the rest of what Hermanus had to offer.
I stayed at Birkenhead House; which is right on the cliffs overlooking the sea below. The views are spectacular as you can see. The hotel itself is a boutique luxury masterpiece in a brilliant location.
Details inside the hotel and rooms are perfect and obviously no expense was spared in creating the relaxed atmosphere with a Mediterranean vibe. One of the rooms actually has a Roman bath as a shower.
From the hotel, it is easy access to the famous whale walk along the beach and cliffs. It lends excellent views of the mist from the sea and even better, the amazing sunsets that engulf Hermanus. I was blown away by how gorgeous the sunset was and couldn’t stop staring or taking photos. I have spared you my whole roll and only posted a few!
As I mentioned, Hermanus is amongst the best places to see whales from June to December. We didn’t see any, but the owner of the hotel did mention he saw some orcas in the sea recently and the whales will be coming.
The town of Hermanus has a nice little town center; which has everything you need. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and places to walk around to keep you busy for a few days. However, the scenery is why you go to Hermanus.
To paraphrase a quote from one of my favorite shows, Seinfeld, “It is real and it is spectacular”. I think that’s a great way to summarize Hermanus, South Africa!
Disclaimer: I was comped my stay at Birkenhead House and the wine pairing at Creation Wines. In no way has this influenced my opinion expressed in this article. I received no financial compensation from Birkenhead House or Creation Wines and I was not obligated to write this article or even mention them.
South African Wine and Surf in Hermanus
May 2, 2013 by 15 Comments
Great photos, Lee!
Thanks Michele!
Thanks for this post, very informative, and great photos. I’m a surfer and wine writer and I’ll be in Hermanus in May… think I’m going to same at the same spot. Cheers!
That bed looks incredible!
It was Pattie! Great place!
Amazing pictures! I want to go here immediately!
Go! Thanks Christine!
I have been to and love Hermanus. It was the highlight of our trip around the Western Cape. The wine lands and the sea are breathtaking and the people couldn’t be nicer. Thanks for writing about it and next time I am staying at that hotel because it looks incredible.
Hermanus is excellent as is the Western Cape. Also glad to hear you went there and yes Birkenhead House was awesome!
How did Hermanus compare to Stellenbosch or Franschhoek?
I prefer Hermanus because of the sea and the beach. All are gorgeous, really amazing scenery but the beach is a tie breaker for me personally!
I don’t think that you can compare this cities. Stellenbosch is a town of history of student life and university – studied there…franschhoek is more the place for tourism and to go for a glass of Champagner and Hermanus is a lovelly seaside town – to relax and have a platter of seafood and a glass of white or rose wine with a great view over the ocean…;-) xoxo Eva-Maria
Yes, Hermanus is an outstandig place. You will find some of the best seafood in Hermanus and there is a reason why it is the whale capital of RSA. Did you also go to DE Kelders – a small and quiet spot to relax and there is also an amazing resort the grootbos lodge – the view is just outstanding and amazing…check it out if you want…
http://www.grootbos.com/en/home
just love this place…;-) was there in november and will go there in the end of march again
South Africa and the Western Cape is just one of the most beautiful parts on this planet – at least for me…;-)
xoxo Eva-Maria
Wonderful that Hermanus is included in the places you chose to visit! And what stunning pics. I hope you get to visit the Cape Overberg again and take a road trip through the region. Each of the 24 odd towns is unique but the one thing they have in common is pristine nature.
Hermanus is my favorite spot in South Africa. I was there in 1982, 1988, and 1997. Hermanus is a place I could actually see myself retiring there (for the record, I’m nowhere near retirement yet-when I visited in 1982, I was only 8!). It just gives a welcoming, inviting, and warming presence (even when it’s quite chilly!), and holds a very special place in my heart. I didn’t stay at any of the hotels, as we (my family) stayed with friends. Thank you so much for highlighting this wonderful nook in the world!