Finding heaven and earth in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
This beautiful gem, a renowned wine and food destination, rises from behind the seaside town of Hermanus, an adventure lover’s paradise. Hemel-en-Aarde (meaning "Heaven and Earth" in Afrikaans, quite aptly too) is an area of 15 wineries in the Walker Bay Wine Region. Along this 20km-long rambling route (the R320) is an area rich with vineyards, wine estates, restaurants and without a doubt, one of the most picturesque areas in Hermanus.
If you’re planning a trip out this way with family or friends, here are our TOP SIX THINGS TO DO in the vicinity, before or after enjoying wine at one of the many fine wine farms in the area:
1. Fernkloof Nature Reserve
We do love ourselves a good hiking and walking experience in any area we visit. The Fernkloof Nature Reserve offers beginners and seasoned hikers a variety of trails, opportunities to enjoy the unique flora and fauna in the area. The reserve offers 60km of spectacular trails, catering to all ages and fitness levels – guided hikes are also available.
2. Hermanus Wine Hoppers
Of course, when in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, no visit is complete without sampling the great wines on offer. A unique South African way of doing so is to hop on a safari-style vehicle with the Hermanus Wine Hoppers and go from wine estate to cellar door tasting. A full day of wine estate hopping includes wine estates such as Ataraxia, Creation Wines, La Vierge and many more. Private safaris are also available for those wanting to spend time exploring the wine estates with family and friends.
To book, contact them here - https://winehoppers.co.za/tours
3. Art galleries
- For those who love taking their time viewing beautiful art and learning more about the history of the surrounding area. An attraction worth visiting is the Whale Museum at the Old Harbour where you will be taken on an audio-visual journey beneath the surface of the ocean. Hermanus is well known for being the heart of the Whale Route so this is a must do.
Celebrate everything from African art and artists, crafts from across the continent to carefully sourced African artefacts at the Lembu Gallery and Studio.
4. Whale watching - Hermanus Whale Festival held in September
Next month will see thousands of locals and tourists descend upon Hermanus to celebrate the migration of the majestic Southern Right Whales with ocean-themed activities and exhibitions at the Hermanus Whale festival from the 30th September to 2nd October. All activities are centred around creating awareness on how we can protect our whales and all marine wildlife.
For more information about this popular event, click here https://hermanuswhalefestival.co.za/
5. Kayaking
In keeping with the marine themed activities… Why not explore the coastline while getting up close to the marine life safely from a kayak? Walker Bay Adventures offers safe, guided experiences where you can enjoy the beauty of the ocean as well as marvel at the mountain views and sea cliffs.
For more information, get in touch with them here https://walkerbayadventures.co.za/sea-kayaking/
They also offer Shark Cage Diving for the very adventurous!
6. Hermanus Country Market
This cute and bustling market is open every Saturday and offers visitors a variety of organic produce, herbs, pickles, jams, deli-treats and home-grown goods, as well as several stalls for wines, of course. Get there early with the family as this market is quite a popular spot.
After all the activity, be sure to make time to visit these wonderful wine farms:
Creation Wines, Bouchard Finlayson, Sumaridge Estate Wines, Newton Johnson, Hermanuspietersfontein Wines, Whalehaven, La Vierge Wines, to name but a few.
The Hemel-en-Aarde region is an unique experience, good for the soul and the tastebuds, and definitely one to add to your bucket list.
- Blog by Letishia Charles