Harbour House Hotel Overberg

Attractions in Hermanus

Museums / Art Galleries

The Old Harbour Museum includes an open-air museum which is open 24 hours a day with boats, old sea wall, brine tanks and "bokkom" stands as well as an indoor museum. This houses exhibitions on natural history with whales as the most prominent feature as well as aquariums with fishes and inter-tidal creatures and on the cultural history of Hermanus, including angling and fishing papaphernalia.

Markets

Hermanus Village boasts many craft, organic and gourmet markets which celebrate local crafters and produce from the rural farming areas surrounding the town.

The abundant valley boasts farms that produce everything from proteas and lavendar to award winning dairy produce and Veritas award winning wines. The Fernkloof Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday and specialises in wholesome organic produce.

The Hermanuspietersfontein Market, also held every Saturday, offers visitors a selection of delightful home produce and wines from the region.

The ever popular Saturday Craft Market is only a few steps from the Harbour House Hotel and is on every Saturday. Visitors can enjoy browsing an array of goods, from crafts and artworks to clothes and food.

Beaches

Hermanus is a beautiful coastal town, boasting equally as gorgeous beaches and a lagoon which is a safe option for children to enjoy swimming in.

Visitors can hire kayaks at many places in the village and spend time exploring the vast lagoon which eventually becomes the ‘Klein Rivier’ in Stanford.

Grotto beach seems to stretch on as far as the eye can see. Beach activities enjoyed by visitors include sun-bathing and walking on the beach, as well as horseback riding, which is a wonderful way to explore the landscape.

Nature Reserve / Hiking Trails

There are wonderful walks in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, ranging from short walks to all day hikes. Maps of the reserve are available at their information office.

Wines produced in Hermanus and the greater Overberg region, have garnered international acclaim. Tastings at any of the fifteen strong destinations on the wine route through Hermanus will attest to the wonderful wines produced in the region.

Apart from producing beautiful and elegant wines, the vineyards are also a feast for the eyes. Explore the Hemel & Aarde Valley for an unforgettable wine tasting experience, making sure to schedule a lunch stop at one of the renowned wineries.

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

Bouchard Finlayson has taken quality wine making into a new era. Just a stones throw from the sea with frost free, soft, beneficial weather and the most rugged vineyard soils, Peter Finlayson makes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines of great complexity and finesse. The estate is situated in the Hemel en Aarde valley 6km from the intersection of the R43 and R320 roads.

The tasting room at Hamilton Russell Vineyards, the oldest winery in the valley, is open to the public daily. 

Whalehaven Wines is situated only 150 metres from the intersection of the R43 and the R320 on the Caledon road. Visit this impressive winery and view the ocean, the mountains, the maturation and the production cellar while sampling the wines.  Winemaker Storm Kreusch has produced six wines comprising the Whalehaven range - Sauvignon Blanc; a fruity Beaujolais style blend aptly named Baleine Noir; Chardonnay; Pinot Noir; Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Cape Bay wines is also situated in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Sumaridge, the Hemel en Aarde Valley's newest winery produces a range of premium quality wines exclusively from the farm's own vineyards. 

The tasting room of Bartho Eksteen, producer of some outstanding quality wines, is in the center of Hermanus. Open daily during business hours for tasting.

All the wines from the valley are available at the Wine Village in Hermanus. The Wine Village has the most comprehensive collection of internationally acclaimed white and red South African wines in the largest wine shop in South Africa. The elegant displays boast wines from more than 310 estates and cellars. A selection of wine is opened daily for tasting

Beaumont Wines features unique handcrafted wines in historic wine cellar. 25km from Hermanus, follow R43 to Bot River, take the N2 into Bot River.