Whale Rock Luxury Lodge & Villa

Set at the Westcliff end of Hermanus, WhaleRock Luxury Lodge stands about 200 metres from the New Harbour, where the Cliff Path begins its run along the coast to Grotto Beach. The original lodge buildings wear thick thatch roofs above whitewashed walls, a style carried through to a villa added in 2017. Seventeen en suite rooms and suites spread across the two buildings, each with a king bed or twins, a bath and separate shower. The villa contributes six of these: three Walker Bay Suites with balconies, two Patio Deluxe Rooms and a Pool Suite built over two floors around its own plunge pool. It can also be booked as a single unit for up to 14 guests. One Sea View Suite, on the first floor, looks out toward the water in the distance. From the terrace, guests can watch for the southern right whales that pass through Walker Bay in season, land-based sightings that give Hermanus its name as a whale-watching town. Solar panels and battery back-up keep lights, fridges and Wi-Fi running through power cuts. A short walk covers the harbour restaurants at Quayside Cabin and The Rock; the Hemel-en-Aarde wine route lies a drive away. Check-in runs from 2pm.