Things To Do in Hermanus, Onrus and Sandbaai

The Greater Hermanus area offers excellent opportunities for guests to enjoy outdoor activities, marine life, wine and history under beautiful skies.

Activities and Surrounding Areas
Discover Hermanus and surroundings

More than 300 activities include whale watching, shark cage diving in Walker Bay, abseiling, treetop tours, quad biking and a 27 hole Hermanus golf course. Discover our wine route, art route, speciality shops and pamper boutiques. Escape to nature and breathe the champagne air along our spectacular cliff paths. Meet the world’s only Whale Crier as he alerts you to the whereabouts of the whales by blowing his kelp horn. Admire the diverse floral fynbos kingdom while hiking or biking in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve or laze on one of our pristine Blue Flag beaches.

Outdoor Activities and places to visit in Hermanus

Whale watching – All along the Cape Whale coastline from June to December


Whale walk tours - Hermanus is renowned for being one of the best land-based whale watching spots in the world and a guided tour by a man who is passionate about whales and photography will ensure you not only get to see these magnificent creatures, but learn about them too.


Boat based Whale watching (June to December) – There are currently 3 permit holding boats at the Hermanus harbour that has trips up to 3 times a day.


Whale Crier – Hermanus boasts the only whale crier in the World and during the whale season he can be found on the Cliff path, blowing on his Kelp horn to alert visitors to Hermanus as to where the whales are.


Cliff path – The most popular trail in Hermanus and stretches for 12km from the New Harbour to Grotto Beach.


Township Tours – Partnered with the Hermanus Rainbow Trust to introduce visitors to the vibrant life in Zwelihle


Sea Kayaking – Daily trips from the old harbour, extremely weather dependant


Surfing and body boarding – Onrus, Voelklip, Grotto all boast famous surfer waves!


Beaches – Swimming, Sun Bathing and or hiking – Hermanus boasts two Blue Flag Beaches at Grotto beach and Hawston beach, which is a sign that visitors can expect a clean and well cared for environment, changing facilities and lifeguards on the beach.


Mountain bike trails - Starting at the Hemel-en-Aarde Village, four different routes will take you deep into the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley where beautiful views are only a part of the enjoyment.


Hiking trails –The Fynbos Trail is a more unique nature experience in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom. Walking trips and trails in the beautiful Cape Whale Coast. Day walks in Fernkloof Reserve and the Kogelberg Biosphere.


Horse riding - Heaven & Earth Trails in Hermanus, offers stunning horseback riding, sunset rides.


Golf –The Hermanus Golf Club, this World Class Golf Course doesn’t only challenge however, you are rewarded, hole after hole, with panoramic views that overlook the sparkling ocean and adding to the charm of the course is the ability to see the seasonal whales splashing about as you go about your game.


Bird watching – A bird paradise for all bird lovers, Sea, Shore, Fynbos as well as garden birding.


Quad biking – Adventure trail through mountains and vineyards.


Scuba diving and snorkelling – A number of companies in Hermanus offer scuba diving trips. Learn to scuba dive in Hermanus or join the team for some great guided dives in the area!


Deep sea fishing – Fishing charters are available from Hermanus. With over 25 years of experience in fishing the reef waters in and around Hermanus as well as Yellowfin and Longfin (albacore) Tuna fishing for the more adventurous fisherman.


Indoor activities


Museums – Old Harbour Museum
The Museum in the Old Harbour contains several exhibits depicting the history of the fishing and whaling industry in the area.
Whale Museum
Daily at 10:00 and 15:00 an audio-visual presentation is given at the Whale Museum, where one is taken below the surface to a face-to-face encounter with the visiting Southern Right whales.
De Wet’s Photo Museum
This picturesque and historic cottage was once the school house situated near the Dutch Reformed church in Westcliff. It was dismantled brick by numbered brick and painstakingly re-erected on Lemm’s Corner in 1986. The sepia coloured photographic exhibition it houses takes one on a journey through time to when Hermanus was a quaint fishing village.


Arts & Crafts – Numerous art galleries covering a wide variety of subjects in Hermanus. First Friday art walks each month, an evening walk through the art galleries of Hermanus every First Friday of the month.


Bookshops – Hermanus is a bookworm mecca with numerous bookshops that offers a wide variety of fun books and has something for everyone. These are the kind of places where big debates can often be heard among the shelves.


Wine tasting - The Hermanus Wine Route can be found along the Walker Bay Wine District's ... of premium quality wine in carefully and sustainably managed vineyards. Hermanus Wine Hoppers ... "Relax, discover award-winning wine in your own time". toast ... Join us on our unique HOP-ON HOP-OFF safari-style wine tours and discover the boutique wineries of the stunning Hemel & Aarde Valley in a truly unforgettable way.


Restaurants, Coffee shops and Deli’s – Hermanus boasts a plethora of eateries where you can gaze at whales while enjoying breakfast or dinner, something for every palate.


Day trips from Hermanus


Betty’s bay - Although less developed than her neighbour, Hermanus, the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens and the resident penguin colony at Stony Point alone make a visit to Bettys Bay worth it.


Kleinmond - small coastal town in the Overberg region, situated inside a UNESCO-declared biosphere between Betty's Bay and Hermanus. Eco-scape to the majestic Hangklip-Kleinmond coast and fynbos covered mountains. A herd of wild horses is known to roam free in the marshlands at the Bot River lagoon area.


Botriver –Honingklip Brewery & restaurant, micro-brewery, brewing a range of Belgian inspired ales. A visit to the old mill or the mountain on the Beaumont Wine Farm offers amazing hiking trails in the overberg.


Caledon - The Caledon district is primarily an agricultural region with a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. A visit to the social history museum displaying and collecting around the themes The Victorian Period in Caledon and The History of People Living in Caledon. The Caledon Casino, Hotel & Spa offers a range of exciting gaming experiences including easy playing Slot machines. The Hotel offers accommodation options as well as casual dining to al a carte dining and breakfast and buffet dinners.


Stanford - With the Kleinrivier running through it, mountain views, and just 30minutes from the sea-side town of Hermanus, Stanford is ideally positioned for couples and families looking for a laid-back getaway in a quaint and historic village that remains true to its entrepreneurial roots – pop into one of the antique stores, restaurants, vineyards or coffee shops.  Just outside of Stanford, you will find Walkerbay vineyard & Birkenhead brewery, the first wine and brewing estate in the Southern Hemisphere. Panthera Africa, a non-profit company and environmentally friendly sanctuary for any captive bred big cats, where they will be protected and prosper for the rest of their lives, as well as the Kleinriver Cheese farm, renowned for their cheeses and picnics.


Gansbaai - Known for its dense population of great white sharks and as a whale-watching location. Considered the great white shark capital of the world. Klipgat Cave is located in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, next to De Kelders. Home to the annual Reforest Fest in Platbos Forest. The lighthouse at Danger Point in Gansbaai is open to visitors. Plaques of the Birkenhead shipwreck depict the rock where it foundered. African Penguin and seabird Sanctuary, a rehabilitation centre for injured seabird in Kleinbaai.


Cape L’Agulhas - It is the geographic southern tip of the African continent and the beginning of the dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The Agulhas lighthouse was the third lighthouse to be built in South Africa, and the second-oldest still operating, after Green Point. It is located on the southern edge of the village of L'Agulhas, in the Agulhas National Park, the light is operated by Transnet National Ports Authority.

Wine

  • Visit the Hamilton Russel
  • Sumaridge Wine Estate
  • Bouchar Finlayson
  • Hemel and Aarde Valley
  • Bouchard Finlayson Winery
  • Colmant
  • Whale Haven
  • Newton Johnson
  • Ataraxia

Marine life

  • Sandbaai offers great Crayfish diving
  • Whale watching in Hermanus
  • See dolphins at Walker Bay
  • Aerial Whale viewing
  • Shark Cage Driving

History

  • Old Harbour Museum
  • De Wet’s Photo Museum
  • Hermanus Story Walk

Events

  • Hermanus FynArts
  • Carols by Candlelight
  • Fish Bash
  • Kalfie Festival
  • Whale Festival
  • Wine & Food Festival
  • Craft Markets
  • Hermanus Pietersfontein Food and Wine Market
  • Farmer's market every Saturday

Leisure

  • Hermanus Cycling Club
  • Golfing at Hermanus Golf Course
  • Surfing at Onrus Beach and Kammabaa
  • Grotto Beach
  • Birding 
  • Photography Walks

 

Riverboat trips

The Riverboat in Stanford: minimum is 4 people

 There are 3 trips daily. 

9 am:              breakfast trip

12 am:            Lunch trip

4 pm:              Sundown trip  

Normal trip takes 2-3 hours

Braai trips take 3-4 hours.  There is a braai on the river boat, you can take your own meat and drinks along