A blissful beach escape on a fynbos estate
Found in the Overberg, just beyond the picturesque, quirky village of Stanford, the immediate drawcard of Azure Beach House is the wraparound views over Grecian-blue bays. Sweeping across the entire Walker Bay coastline, along to Hermanus, Hangklip and even as far as Cape Point lighthouse, this hideaway, settled in the Romansbaai Beach and Fynbos Estate is a real find, and a stone’s throw from the shark diving destination of Gansbaai .
Unbelievably, it combines these jaw-dropping views and some of the best whale watching in season with a glorious private beach that is miraculously protected from the south-easter, the wind every Capetonian loves to escape. Jutting out on a fynbos-covered peninsula, with sensitively placed beach houses, Romansbaai is a delightful mix of nature reserve and beach escape… and with eland and zebra pathways criss-crossing the gentle slopes above the sea and abundant birdlife, it’s a haven for nature lovers.
Living the slow life
‘We spend hours on the beach looking for shells, exploring the beautiful tidal pools at low tide, snorkelling the kelp forest, boogie boarding or stand-up paddle boarding. It’s one of the most pristine beaches that we’ve seen in South Africa,’ say the owners. ‘If you’re cold-dippers like us, we swim all year round and each season provides a different dynamic. In summer we do ocean swims and then hang out in the pool, but in winter we have a sauna and then go down on the sandy beach trail to the beach before returning to a cosy fireplace or braai and watching the long sunsets.’
Winters are beautiful here: the fynbos is in bloom and you sit in the sauna in August and watch the whales go by! ‘For us it feels like paradise!’ say the owners. But there’s one constant that never changes, no matter the time of year: as soon as you arrive, the unmistakable smell of Cape fynbos fills the air, lifting the soul and signalling the start to your holiday. Equally unforgettable are the 12m-wide living room windows looking directly out onto the ocean and, at night, you can see the moon and stars through the skylight. What’s not to love?
What we love!
- That the estate is protected from the south easterly wind as it faces Hermanus, in the same direction as Clifton.
- That you can take a walk or mountain bike the 6km Meander, a beautiful 6km path that runs through the fynbos estate. You can also ride up towards Grootbos Reserve to get an amazing view of Walker Bay and the mountains. You can rent fat bikes in De Kelders and do a tour into the Walker Bay dunes – pristine, wild coastline.
- That Madré’s restaurant in Stanford is so close by: food lovers should book far ahead – hands down the best in the area. The Manor House at Stanford Valley, up on the hills outside Stanford in the Klein River Valley, is also very good or the Schneider’s Cape Floral Kitchen and the Trattoria in Stanford.
- That you can buy fresh fish at Boetie Otto’s Fish Shop every morning from the night’s catch of Cape Agullhas or Cape Point.
- Prolific birdlife in the fynbos, and you’ll spot the endangered oystercatchers on the beach as well as catcher, the comorants and even the hamerkop. Also spot wildlife such as zebra, bontebok and eland.
What you need to know…
- The closest vibey coffee spot is Gansbaai Coffee and the Bakhuis, a bakery. Try the kelp ciabatta for lunch or ask for their sourdough. There’s a small food market in Gansbaai, but the Farmer’s Market, on a Saturday in Hermanus, is worth driving to.
- There’s superb wine tasting in the area: the closest is Lomond Wine Estate but Giant Periwinkle is at Baardskeerdersbos, at the start of the Elim wine route. There are also wine farms near Stanford, and between Napier and Cape Agulhas, or you can take a day trip up the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on the Hermanus Wine Route.
- The Whale Coast brewery in Pearly Beach has a festive restaurant for beers and pizza, but they serve steaks too.
- Dyer Island day trips leave just five minutes away from Romansbaai. See the penguins and the seal colony, with whale watching in season. There’s a restaurant at the harbour for dinner.
- There is also a 4×4 trail from the lighthouse to Kleinbaai.
- Horseriding along the beach with Pearly Beach Horse Trails is amazing, ending with a swim in the waves with your horse.
- Spa or massage treatments can be booked and a therapist will come to the house.
- Romansbaai is a secure estate with excellent security.
Recommended reading:
The most beautiful book to be published on the botanical heritage and fynbos species recorded in the area is the The Grootbos Florilegium: Celebrating 25 Years of Conservation in Fynbos From Cape Floristic Kingdom, South Africa, by Quivertree Publications. It includes the botanical art of 44 artists and their artworks are on display at the Grootbos Florilegium nearby.
Reviewed by Michelle Snaddon