Things to do
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Fernkloof Nature Reserve
Mountain fynbos covers the slopes directly behind the town, with a network of marked trails climbing from a visitor centre into the Kleinrivier range. Something is in flower here in every month of the year. Paths gain height quickly and the upper routes are exposed, so wind and water matter more than the short distances suggest.
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Gansbaai
Shark cage diving works out of this fishing harbour along the coast, in the channel between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock known as Shark Alley. White shark sightings have fallen sharply since orcas moved in, and operators now show bronze whalers and copper sharks on many trips. Boats leave early and the crossing is rough, so seasickness tablets earn their place.
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Grotto Beach
Blue Flag sand runs for several kilometres east of the town towards the Klein River lagoon, backed by dunes and patrolled by lifeguards in season. Facilities sit at the western end. Southeasterly wind scours the beach through summer afternoons, which is why mornings are the swimming hours here.
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Hermanus Cliff Path
Twelve kilometres of path run along the edge of the cliffs from the New Harbour to Grotto Beach, never far from the water and free to walk. Benches mark the better whale viewing points above Sievers Punt and the old harbour. Whales come close enough in season that binoculars are optional, and the surface is rough underfoot in places.
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Other
Walker Bay
Sheltered water between Hermanus and Danger Point draws southern right whales in to calve each winter, close enough to the shore that the cliffs work as a viewing gallery. Boat trips run under permit from the New Harbour and from Gansbaai. Seas are often rough by midday, which makes morning sailings the steadier option.