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Evergreen days in Hermanus with outings and fun for everyone. A haven for sea- and land-lovers alike, and a particularly well-suited place for sport enthusiasts, Hermanus offers many outdoor experiences.
With beautiful stretches of beaches (a few with Blue Flag Status) and two harbours, which is unusual for such a small town, Hermanus is an ocean heaven. The Old Harbour is situated in central Hermanus, close to the promenade, and is a historical site complete with a museum where one can learn more about the history. The New Harbour is an active fishing harbour, where boats are launched. For those who enjoy the magic of sunsets and sundowners, take a sunset catamaran cruise with Neptune's Divers and Cruises and experience the magnificence of Hermanus and Walker Bay. For whale watching, catch a boat with Southern Right Charters. Dolphins, seals, penguins and other marine birdlife can be seen up close and personal.
If you don't want to get your feet wet at the New Harbour, enjoy a few land-based late afternoon drinks and seafood or pizza at Harbour Rock or Quayside Cabin. Perhaps make a day of it and arrange a tour of the local abalone farm for starters with Heart of Abalone. They serve tastings of this local delicacy - just remember to book in advance.
If you'd love to braai something self-caught, fishing in Hermanus can be enjoyed from the shoreline, rocks or out on the water on either a guided boat trip or your very own vessel. For a guided experience, book with Majestic Cruising or Blade Charters. Majestic Cruising offers fishing from a kitted-out Catamaran with a cabin and snorkelling equipment, and Blade Charters offers a braai out on the ocean and seasonal crayfishing.
From the Old Harbour in central Hermanus, Walker Bay Adventures launches kayaks for whale watching. As this is an inactive harbour, snorkelling is permitted - just remember to always take a buddy. Even better, arrange a shark snorkelling experience with Walker Bay Adventures that start at the Shark Lab at the Old Harbour with an informative session and a guided and photographed kelp forest adventure.
Cliff paths flow from the Old Harbour with magnificent views and past the Waterfront with vibey stalls and eateries, all the way to the Voëlklip beaches, including Blue Flag status Grotto Beach. Cliff paths can be found near every suburb in Hermanus that lines the ocean, including Sandbaai, Onrus and Vermont.
If you'd prefer being in the water, try your fins at scuba diving with Neptune's Divers and Cruises. If a board is more your style, surfing with Hermanus Surf School and Kite surfing with Kitesurf Hermanus is bound to satiate your hunger for the surf.
Maybe you're more into activities on the turf or slightly raised off the ground. Go mountain-biking in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley through the wine lands, with colour-coded trails that indicate varying levels of difficulty. Permits are a must and can be purchased at the Wine Village for a day, or you can buy an annual permit.
Another way to experience the valley is on horseback with Heaven and Earth Horse Trails. They offer trails for all levels of experience as well as wine tastings at Bosman's Family Vineyards. A picnic or braai can also be arranged, or just a meander through the fynbos with breath-taking mountain views. To add to the magic, why not arrange a sunset-into-moonlight stroll? Or get a taste of ranch-life moving cattle on horseback.
What about an even more elevated experience? Glide like a bird through the forest with treetop zipline tours. SA Forest Adventures has platforms ranging from 20 to 200 meters, and you control the breaks, so you decide on the pace. They also offer quadbike trails through the forest and valley, and white river rafting in nearby Kogelberg Nature Reserve, just outside Kleinmond.
Get an even more elevated experience with paragliding - views packed with adrenalin. Parapax Tandem Paragliding Company launches from Rotary Drive, with breath-taking views of Hermanus and the bay, where in spring you can watch the whales play.
From Rotary Drive, as well as parking in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, take a hiking trail all along the mountain with incredible ocean views of the Overberg. Experience many species of fynbos and indigenous critters, as well as the splendour of a few waterfalls and tranquil streams. Within the Reserve you can purchase a map or download it from their website where you can also learn about the local flora and fauna that you may encounter.
If walking after a ball is more your thing, then the Hermanus Golf Club is waiting for you. Here you'll find lush greens with a backdrop of statuesque mountains and wetlands that are home to an abundance of life; including insects, amphibians, birds, otters and small buck.
If you like walking - minus the following a ball bit - Hermanus offers many opportunities for bird-spotting walks, as well as whale-watching tours along the coastal cliff paths. In addition, Hermanus historic walks through the town are on offer. Pop into the Hermanus Tourism Bureau for more information on these walks.
Maybe many of these activities peak your sense of adventure? Wouldn't it be lovely to have time to enjoy them all? Contact Seeff Hermanus to buy your dream home in this dream destination and have all the time in the world...
Photograph: Courtesy Erlo Brown Photography
Author: Ruche Ten Have
