Beaches in Hermanus
Hermanus, situated on Walker Bay, has several beautiful sandy beaches, each offering a unique experience. Some are more sheltered on windy days, others better suited to swimming, surfing or building sandcastles. All are a five to ten minute walk from Cape Coral. These are some of the beaches close by:
Grotto Beach
Grotto is the largest and most popular beach in the area, stretching over 18km. It has consistently held a Blue Flag rating, ensuring clean facilities and lifeguards from 9:00 to 18:00 during peak season. Dog walkers favor the beach at low tide, but dogs restricted to the eastern side. Loungers and umbrellas are available for rent, Dutchies Restaurant and a seasonal cocktail and sushi bar enhance the beach experience. Ample parking provides easy access to the beach via designated pathways, and the Hermanus Cliff Path begins here, extending over 12km to the New Harbour.
Voelklip Beach
The afrikaans name "Voelklip" or "Bird Rock" in english refers to the large white rock where oystercatchers, cormorants and gulls roost and seals can often be spotted. This beach has grass embankments for picnicking, and a tarmac car park. It becomes very small at high tide, but is popular among surfers and young people. There are changing rooms, toilets and lifeguards in season. There is a trailer that sells snack, drinks and soft-serve ice cream all year round.
Kammabaai
Next along from Voelklip is another beach, where safe paddling and swimming makes it particularly popular among families with young children. The rocky outcrops also provide shelter from winds, depending on their direction. Kammabaai has toilets and lifeguards in the summer. It has a large car park, but even that becomes full during the very high season around Christmas and New Year. There is a coffee cart and ice cream and fast food trucks in season.
Langbaai
This beach is a favorite among locals and tends to become quite busy during the season. Access is via steps leading down from a small parking area. Surrounded by cliffs on three sides, it offers shelter from the wind, making it a popular spot for families and groups of friends enjoying evening sundowners The waves can be large and forceful, particularly at high tide, due the beach's steep incline and the narrow channel between the rocks.
Mussel River and Kwaaiwater
Where the Mussel River flows into the sea and the waves crash on the rocks making for a dramatic coastal stretch aptly named "Kwaaiwater" or "Angry Water". The beach is rocky and not particularly good for swimming, but provide an excellent and very popular spot for sundowners with waves crashing dramatically on the rocks and pebbly beaches. Be sure to bring beach chairs as well as snacks and drinks. The river water is clean in spite of its dark colour which is caused by tannins in the roots of plants higher up the river.
