Activities in the Area

Several operators provide boat-based whale-watching experiences, with whale specialist guides, in Hermanus; these include Hermanus Whale Watchers, Hermanus Whale Cruises, and Southern Right Charters. Wendy’s is ideally positioned to book these excursions for you in advance of your trip to Hermanus to avoid the disappointment of “non-availability” on short notice.

Southern right and humpback whales are spotted around Hermanus from June until December, along with year-round sightings of Bryde’s whales and dolphins.

Tour duration is typically 2 hours, leaving from the Hermanus New Harbour.  Light refreshments are provided onboard.

What to wear:

• Weather-appropriate clothing and a windbreaker
• Sensible footwear (flat shoes are recommended)

What to bring:

• Sea sickness tablets should be taken in advance as per packet instructions if necessary
• Camera (tripods and binoculars are not advised)

Children Policy:

• All ages are welcome. All children under 12 must wear life jackets for the entire duration on board and be under adult supervision at all times.
• The life jacket condition also applies to infants; these could be uncomfortable for children under two years old. Motion sickness syrup is strongly advised for infants.
• No prams are allowed on board.

Marine Dynamics’ Blue and Mako Shark Scuba Diving experience is a bonus to all shark lovers. This pelagic shark tour will transport you to the clear blue offshore waters off the coast of Gansbaai. Join our knowledgeable and experienced team as we set out to scuba dive with the pelagic sharks of the deep blue. You might also be lucky enough to experience the Marine Big 5 on the way to the pelagic diving site.
What you can expect
This exhilarating scuba diving experience offers divers a glimpse into the world of these pelagic sharks. Blue and Mako Sharks are quite inquisitive and naturally interact with divers. Along with the Blue and Mako Sharks, divers will also see various fish, jellyfish and other bioluminescent creatures of the deep. During the trip to the dive location, we will be on the lookout for various pelagic birds and, of course, the Marine Big 5 - Southern Right Whales, Great White Sharks, African Penguins, Cape Fur Seals, and different dolphin species.
The dive happens off the Dyer Island Eco-system, approximately 50 - 70 km out to sea. The dive is a relaxed viewing experience and great for beginners.
Here is what to expect on the trip
·    On the cruise out to sea, guests will observe many pelagic bird species and possibly the Marine Big 5. Your friendly and knowledgeable crew will tell you more about the spotted species.
·    A dedicated safety briefing video will be shown to divers before launching, and life jackets will be dressed while still on land. Once we reach the diving site, complete kits will be handed out, and kit-up will commence.
·    Duration to diving site: 2 hours into the deep sea, where the water starts warming up. Temperatures are ideally anything over 16 degrees.
·    A certified diving instructor will guide the dive to ensure guests get to enjoy the open water and fantastic interaction with the Sharks
·    Warm soup and bread rolls will be available during de-briefing once we are back on land.
Here are some details about the trip
Rate:                                      R3000 p/p 
A minimum of 4 divers is required per trip
Bookings done at:                [email protected] or +27(0) 799 309 694
Meeting Point:                      Great White House in Kleinbaai, Gansbaai
Dive Location:                       Pelagic waters 50 - 70km off the Gansbaai coast
Dive Depth:                           5 to 10m
Chumming:                            Yes
Full duration:                         6 – 8 hours
The Boat:                               Show Time is an 11m catamaran that caters for eight divers and three crew members.
Certification:                          Open Water (Proof Required with booking)
Tour includes:
·    Safety Briefing
·    Guided Scuba Dive
·    Snacks Provided on Boat
·    Full Scuba Gear Provided

Exit Boutique Ocean View's front gate and step onto the Hermanus cliff path, one of the town’s most beautiful features. It meanders for 11 km along the rugged coastline, between the New Harbour to the west, and Piet-se-Bos, just beyond Grotto Beach, to the east. The entire strip of coast is protected within the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, proclaimed in 2000 to protect the fragile ecosystem alongside Walker Bay. Pick up a map of the cliff path at Boutique Ocean View's reception.

Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3h43 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, running, and walking, but you can still enjoy solitude during quieter times. The best times to visit this trail are June through December. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.

On the Hermanus cliff path, some of the world’s best land-based whale watching occurs (from August to September). Set at regular intervals on rocks and cliffs that overlook the sea are a series of wooden benches for that very purpose.

Initially built by the Hermanus Botanical Society, today the cliff path is looked after by a voluntary group of residents known as the CPMG (Cliff Path Management Group), who recently oversaw a complete resurface of the path through private donations and money from the Overstrand Municipality.

There are many ways to enjoy the cliff path. One option is to walk three odd kilometres from Wendy’s to New Harbour parallel with Westcliff Road, past Fick’s Pool and Tamatiebank. Alternatively, head in the opposite direction to Gearing’s Point and the Old Harbour - the centre of the village of Hermanus.

After lunch and a good wander around Hermanus, you can either continue along the cliff path to spot whales from Kraal Rock or Siever’s Punt, in which case your walk is longer, or walk back to Boutique Ocean Views again.

Highlights: 

• Fick’s pool, where you may also spot the dassies and have something to drink and a bite to eat, the Old Harbour, public art at Gearing’s Point, and Grotto Beach.

Best places to spot whales: 

• Between Gearings Point and Roman Rock; Mickey to Kraal Rock; Sievers Punt and Kwaaiwater.

Hermanus Activities and Walkerbay Adventures offer loads of action-packed activities, including:

• Kayaking with the Whales, seals, penguins, and, if you are lucky, pods of DolphiQuad Biking - throw dirt up into the faces of the “slow snails” behind you, fab fun
• Tree Top canopy rope slides to play Tarzan in the trees
• White Water Rafting - (winter months only - May to Sept)
• Paintball - splat everyone, great for groups of 10 persons or more
• Scuba diving to explore the underwater world
• Surfing and Kite-Surfing to zip above the waves
• Sandboarding - down the giant dunes for 3 to 5 hrs (Nov to March)
• Mountain Biking trails through’ incredible mountain scenery
• Paragliding to jump off a high mountain and fly like a bird
• Amazing Races, Team Building, Corporate Events, Stag days .... Hermanus Activities custom-build your entire day’s action

Some Activities can be bolted together so that you do 2 or 3 Activities in one day - for example - Great White Shark cage diving in the morning and Whale watching boat trip in the afternoon - or - Kayaking, then Tree Top canopy rope slides or Quad Biking and then an afternoon of Wine Tasting on our Wine Tours.

Located in the quaint coastal town of Betty’s Bay in the Overberg, the Stony Point Nature Reserve is home to a unique colony of African Penguins. Stony Point offers the public the chance to see these wonderful flightless birds up close via the boardwalk through the colony, which allows the public to observe the penguins go about their daily activities in their natural habitat without disturbing or disrupting them.

Also present in the colony are three species of cormorant; the Crowned cormorant, Cape cormorant and Bank cormorant, all of which breed on the outer rocks. There are also Hartlaub’s Gulls and Kelp Gulls, which forage in the colony, while the Rock Hyrax, more commonly known as the Dassie, can be seen on the surrounding rocks.
The colony lies on the old Waaygat Whaling Station site, which was used to harvest and process whale meat in the early to mid-1900s. Remnants of the infrastructure for this long-defunct industry can still be found at the site.
There is also a community restaurant adjacent to Stony Point, which sells refreshments and food during the day.

Operating hours: 08h00 - 16h30 (last permits issued at 16h00, gates close at 16h30 sharp)
Reserve office number: 087 087 3001
Emergency number: 082 453 0835
Cellphone reception: Yes