5 Best Sights in Hermanus, The Western Cape and Winelands

With only 44 acres under vine, Bouchard Finlayson nevertheless thrills critics and wine lovers year after year. Winemaker Peter Finlayson makes good use of the cool sea breeze and unique terroir of the estate to create some fantastic deep-south wines. They're particularly well known for excellent Pinot Noir. You might wish to lay down a few bottles of the much-lauded Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, a velvety and fruity wine. It's a particularly family-friendly winery, with a kids' juice pairing and plenty of games either to play at your table or on lovely lawns overlooking the valley.

About 17 km (11 miles) up Hemel-en-Aarde Road, Creation Wines is a little off the beaten track but well worth the drive. Like other wineries in this region, it is best known for its excellent Pinot Noir. Try the Art of Pinot Noir, with flavors of cherry and plum and a background earthiness. Open for lunch, the restaurant focuses on seasonal local produce and carefully thought-out wine pairings.

In a thatch building overlooking a small dam, Hamilton Russell Vineyards produces only two varietals: Chardonnay and the temperamental Pinot Noir. Their wines are regarded as some of the best in the world, regularly winning all manner of accolades and awards.

Hermanus was originally a simple fishing village. Its Old Harbour, the oldest surviving example in South Africa, has been declared a national monument. A ticket to the museum allows access to three small museums a short walk from each other. The Old Harbour Museum bears testimony to the town's maritime past. A small building at the old stone fishing basin displays a couple of the horrific harpoons used to lance whales and sharks, as well as some interesting whale bones. The white building next to the parking lot on Market Square houses the Old Harbour Museum Photographic Exhibition. Here are photos of old Hermanus and of many of the town's fishermen proudly displaying their catches of fish, sharks, and dolphins. The museum's third—and most interesting—component is the Whale House, with loads of information on whale behavior, a full-size skeleton, and some interactive exhibits.

On the outskirts of town, a pair of white gateposts set well back from the main road signal the start of Rotary Way. This scenic drive climbs along the spine of the mountains above Hermanus, offering incredible views of Walker Bay and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The entire mountainside is laced with wonderful walking trails, and there are a few scenic lookout points. It's a short drive, just 4 km (2½ miles) of tarred road. There is a short section of rough gravel road that continues up the mountain and leads to the border of the Hamilton Russell wine estate, but you can't access the winery from here. The start of the drive is about 2½ km (1½ miles) west of the Old Harbour.