Hermanus is a small picturesque town merely a two-hour drive away from the city of Cape Town.

Fishermen and farmers established the dorpie in the 1800s. Over the years, Hermanus has flourished and become a popular tourist destination for whale watching and coastal holidays.

There’s a lot to see and do in the seaside town, including plenty of outdoor activities.

Below are three escapades we recommend you try in Hermanus:

A Blue Flag beach day

Picture: I love Hermanus / Facebook

Visitors can soak up the sun at one of the pristine Blue Flag beaches dotted along the shoreline of Hermanus.

One choice is Pearly Beach, which is accessible by car in under an hour from the town centre.

Other beaches to visit include Grotto Beach, Rowweklip Beach, Kammabaai Beach, and Hawston Beach. Restaurants located next to some of the beaches allow visitors to sit and enjoy views of the ocean.

Booking a stay at one of the accommodation venues on the water’s edge and a short walk to the beach is a dream come true for those who anticipate spending more time at the beach.

Adventure biking

Picture: Getty Images

Hermanus is a popular destination for cyclists and has many options for exploring the town by bike.

The seaside town is home to the well-known Hermanus MTB Trail network, which includes different mountain biking routes that cater to families and serious riders too. If you’re looking for something a bit different, you can try quad biking on sand dunes.

Various local franchises offer bikes to rent and other enterprises go to the extent of offering guided tours.

Explore the Klipgat Caves

Picture: Getty Images

In 1968, archaeologists Jalmar and Ione Rudner stumbled upon these treasured caves of Hermanus, which are now under the careful management of Cape Nature Conservation to conserve and prevent the caves from further damage. The caves are of historical significance, encasing records of the Middle Stone Age dating back 65,000 to 85,000 years.

The climb up the stairs leading to the craven will give the visitors a bonus of high-intensity interval training from the steep hike on a staircase built to give access to and from the caves. A visit to the caves costs R60 per person.

Written for CapeEtc

Featured image: Getty