The Overberg is beautiful so make sure you plan some day trips from Hermanus. Go exploring - on foot, by car or even by bike and you won't be disappointed.

Fernkloof nature reserve

Within Hermanus there’s the Fernkloof nature reserve where you can hike till you drop (or not, as you prefer). Walking through glorious fynbos with the sea at your back and Walker Bay spread out before you is a fantastic day’s outing.

Go prepared – sunscreen and hats are essential all year round and wet weather gear in winter. Even in summer a windproof warm layer is a good idea because the coastal weather can be very changeable up on the mountains.

Ask at village information for maps and details.

Hermanus Wine Route

Click on the link and I'll tell you all about it! Hermanus Wine Route

Stanford

Home and inspiration of the glossy magazine Village Life and also the Birkenhead Brewery, Stanford is 30km along the R43 at the head of the Hermanus lagoon.

It’s a quaint village with a population made up of transplanted creative peeps from the city and local folks who’ve been around for years. It has some decent eateries and a crop of antique and crafty shops. You can go quad biking, horse riding, do the heritage ‘thing’ – lots of options for a day there.

Gans Baai

Great White Capital and we’re not talking safari hunters either! Gansbaai is 50km from Hermanus along the R43.

This is known as THE place to do your shark cage diving. It’s not a particularly attractive little town and parts of it stink of fish from the processing plant but hey, you can’t win ’em all.

Bredasdorp

About a 90km dive – if you like shipwrecks you may want to head here. The Southern Cape is a treacherous stretch of coastline and has claimed many a good ship – you’ll find lots of details at Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum.

En route you could stop at Elim, the small Moravian mission village.

L’Agulhas

The true southern-most tip of Africa (Cape Point is the most worth westerly point!), this windswept cape boast a large lighthouse which we have enjoyed visiting before now.

Betty’s Bay

Backtracking towards Cape Town now, you pass Kleinmond and come to the village of Betty’s Bay. The Botanical Gardens there are worth a visit if you are a fynbos lover – or even if you are not!

There is also a small African penguin colony there, the only land-based colony apart from Boulders Beach near Simonstown. Also worth stopping for!

I hope you enjoy your day trips from Hermanus! Drop me a line if you come up with one I have left out.

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