Gordons Bay, Helderberg, Western Cape

Gordon’s Bay, a breathtaking coastal village, lies in a corner of False Bay where the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountain dips it’s toes in the ocean.

Only 45 minutes drive from Cape Town and adjacent to Somerset West and Strand, this popular vacation destination is the only town in South Africa boasting with 2 fully operational Harbours, namely the Old Harbour where you will find the Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club and Harbour Island a marina development with mooring for yachts  and home of the Gordon’s Bay Boat Angling Club.

The History of Gordon’s Bay

Gordon’s Bay has had a few name changes over the the last 350 years. In 1672 Gordon’s Bay was called Vischers Baaij. Later variations were Vischbaai, Visch Hoek and then Fish Hoek.  Gordon’s Bay grew from a fishing village to a holiday resort in the late 1800′s.

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Where to stay in Gordon’s Bay

Accommodation in Gordon’s Bay caters for every taste and budget. Accommodation options available include camping, back packers lodges, self catering accommodation, bed & breakfast accommodation, guest houses and a hotel.

Various beach front establishments are available along the Main Beach and Bikini Beach, just a stone’s throw from the ocean.

Visit our Accommodation Page..

Where to eat in Gordon’s Bay

No matter what your taste, Gordon’s Bay will have a restaurant that suit you, from Fine Dining to Italian, Chinese, Seafood, Burgers and Tappas. Most of the restaurants are somewhere close to the ocean and the favourite eating spots are in the Old Harbour, along the main beach front and Harbour Island where you will find various restaurants overlooking the luxurious yachts moored in the marina.

The best “Fish & Chips”  spots are Ooskus Fisheries, The Tavern, Trawlers, Berties Mooring and Ocean Basket

Visit our Restaurant Guide..

Night Life in Gordon’s Bay

If you are looking for something to do at night, no need to travel very far.  Gordon’s Bay has various establishments offering live entertainment and big screen TV’s for those games.

The favourite spots are The Tavern, Melt’s Tavern, Berties Mooring..

The Gordon’s Bay Reviews

If you would like some “inside info” on our Village, make sure to pick up a copy of our local news publication the Gordon’s Bay Reviews which is available at most major retail outlets in Gordon’s Bay e.g. BP Garage, Spar etc..

Visit their page for more information..

Gordon’s Bay Annual Events

Gordon’s Bay has a couple of annual events that will have you coming back for more..  even in Winter.

• Winter Wonderland Festival  - Last weekend in June
• The Leapfrog 21km Western Province Championship Race – April
• The Wine on Water Show by Peter Venter at the Villa Via Hotel – November
• The NSRI Link Festival – November

Things to do in Gordon’s Bay

Sport / Adrenalin

• Surf at Bikini Beach  or Koeel Bay
• Play a round of Golf at Strand Golf Club, Somerset West, or Erinvale Golf Course or have your game organized by our local bespoke golf services company Golf 4 U
• Kayak from Harbour to Harbour
• Go on an Adrenalin Boat Ride
• Go Deep Sea Fishing
• Hike the Danie Miller Hiking Trail
• Rent a bicycle
• Go Scuba Diving

Sight Seeing / Other

• Browse for some reading at Bikini  Beach Books
• Treat yourself at one of our Spa’s
• Visit an Art Exhibitions by our local artists
• Take a scenic drive up to the Steenbras Water Treatment Plant
• Visit an Art Exhibitions by our local artists
• Do some Xmas shopping at our Indoor Craft Market at Harbour Island

Family Activities

• Spend the day at Gordon’s Bay Beach of Bikini Beach
• Have a picnic under the Milkwood trees

Things to do surrounding Gordon’s Bay (5 – 30km radius)

Sport / Adrenalin

• Hike up to Crystal Pools (permits required)
• Go Horse Riding at Journey’s End
• Rent a Harley Davidson and take a scenic drive
• Go HIking at the Helderberg Nature Reserve
• Paraglide from Sir Lowry’s Pass Lookout Point (seasonal)
• Spend the day at Blue Rock where you can Cable Water Ski, Wake Board, Fufi Slide, Play Paint Ball, swim in the Badi or have a picnic
• Play a round of Golf at Strand Golf Club, Somerset West, or Erinvale Golf Course or have your game organized by our local bespoke golf services company Golf 4 U
• Hit a couple of balls at the Vodacom Golf Driving range
• Go Mountain Biking at Schapenberg
• Spend the day at Helderberg Farm where you can Mountain Bike, Hike one of their Trails, try the 4×4 Route, play Laser Games or go Gravel Carting
• Go on a quad biking adventure in Grabouw
• Go on a Segway Adventure in Grabouw or at Spier
• Rent a surfboard at Strand Beach & learn to Surf

Sight Seeing / Other

• Tour the Helderberg Wine Route
• Visit the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum
• Visit our famous Bird Watching spots
• Go shopping at Somerset Mall
• Visit one of our local Craft Markets

Family Activities

• Have a picnic at the Helderberg Nature Reserve
• Go to a Summer Sunset Concert at Helderberg Nature Reserve (seasonal)
• Visit Monkey Town
• Visit the Cheetah Outreach Centre in Somerset West where you can now Take a Cheetah for a walk on the Beach
• Spend the day at Strand Waterworld with water slides and putt-putt
• Spend the day on Strand’s 5km beach
• Spend the day at Helderberg Farm’s picnic spots, petting zoo or go strawberry picking

Daytrips from Gordon’s Bay (30km + radius)

Sport / Adrenalin

• Go Shark Cage Diving in Gans Baai
• Go Sand boarding in Betties Bay

Sight Seeing / Other

• Take a scenic drive along Clarence Drive to Hermanus
• Visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens in Betty’s Bay
• Go whale watching in Hermanus (seasonal)

Family Activities

• Visit Butterfly World at Klapmuts | Paarl
• The Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront
• Visit the Stony Point Penguin Colony in Betty’s Bay

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