Arniston Spa Hotel Review: Finding the Essence of a Small Town Seaside Holiday in Arniston
Think of an archetypal Western Cape seaside town. There is a good chance your mind will conjure up a holiday resort near the beach. Buckets and spades, fish and chips, granadilla ice lollies, grey and white gulls patrolling the shoreline. These images shape a unique cultural landscape for most South Africans whose childhoods consisted of holidays by the sea.
When I think of a seaside town, I think of Hermanus. Located in the Overberg region, Hermanus is one of the Western Cape’s most-visited seaside towns. I have enjoyed family holidays there for almost 30 years; as a child and now into my adult years. But it wasn’t until recently that I began to explore a little further beyond Hermanus to smaller neighbouring towns that haven’t mushroomed quite as much and are still clinging firmly to the idea of ‘small town charm’.
Hermanus might be the seaside town you think of first when it comes to exploring the Overberg region, but my heart belongs to Arniston. Quaint long before quaint was ‘the in thing’, this charming village gives you dramatic cliffs, sweet places to stay, and natural wonders to explore.
Just an hour away from the bustling town of Hermanus, the remote fishing village of Arniston (or Waenhuiskrans as it’s also known), is a quintessential seaside holiday town. It’s the only town in South Africa with two names but that’s not its only claim to fame. The village is most famous for its unspoiled, lime-washed and thatched fisherman’s cottages, a community named ‘Kassiesbaai’ which today has been declared a national monument in its entirety.
Arniston is a place with an eclectic mix of old and new, the town is split down the middle; with each side capturing a moment in time. On one side, Arniston’s coastline is populated with a low-slung scattering of well-preserved, rustic fisherman cottages serving as an ode to simpler seaside life enjoyed in years gone by. On the other, right-angled architectural passion projects and modern holiday homes line the streets before again giving way to an expansive nature reserve, where flora battles to colonise the dunes and jagged rocks line the shore.
Sandwiched in the middle of it all lies the town’s crown jewel, the Arniston Spa Hotel, a seaside resort-style hotel with ocean views and a focus on old-school hospitality. The 4-star Arniston Spa Hotel harks back to a time when family holidays were less about capturing Instagram-worthy snaps in exotic locations and more about enjoying the simple things in life, with no distractions.
Staying at Arniston Spa Hotel
Set in one of the Western Cape’s most exquisite locations, surrounded by pristine beaches and nature reserves, the Arniston Spa Hotel is the epitome of seaside nostalgia. The hotel has all the hallmarks of a classic 90s resort hotel, but with all the amenities the modern traveller comes to expect. With two ocean-view restaurants, a heated swimming pool, spa, and adventure activities at your fingertips, there’s always something low-key to do.
The main restaurant is well-known for its breakfast buffet, relaxed lunches, and elegant dinners. Breakfast offers a generous English Breakfast-style spread of traditional and healthy foods while lunch and dinner showcase a selection of fresh, local seafood. The adjacent Bistro Restaurant, with a cocktail bar, is the ideal place to grab a drink and a burger while the kids munch on delicious choices from the kiddie’s menu. Seafood lovers will adore the freshly caught daily options on the menu, just one of the many perks of holidaying in a fishing village.
If it’s dedicated ‘me time’ you’re after, then a trip to the hotel’s Ginkgo Spa is a must. Treatments at this boutique spa are based on traditional hands-on ‘touch therapy’ principles and are uniquely personal. My spa experience started with a 20-minute sauna to relax the muscles and mind, followed by a sleep-inducing back, neck, and shoulder massage. I felt rejuvenated and completely relaxed after this exquisite treatment and can’t recommend it enough for anyone who needs to press the reset button.
Spending time in your room is equally relaxing. The Arniston Spa Hotel features 60 elegantly decorated en-suite rooms with breathtaking sea or pool views. Some rooms have fireplaces, while the patio-facing rooms open onto the swimming pool and tranquil garden area. I spent two nights in a deluxe sea-facing room and spent much of my time soaking up the sea air on my private balcony with panoramic views of the ocean. The deluxe rooms are spacious, with additional indoor lounge seating, a minibar, and a luxurious king-sized bed.
A Cape Country Routes (CCR) South Africa member, Arniston Spa Hotel fits right in with a good bunch. Loved for its hand-picked group of owner-operated and managed accommodation and activity establishments, Cape Country Routes represents more than 20 privately owned hotels, lodges and guest houses — located on the scenic and historic routes in the Western and Eastern Cape. All carefully selected for their character, charm and romance, the CCR establishments offer the best accommodation and activity options to suit every taste and budget.
It’s no wonder Arniston Spa Hotel was selected to be a part of the Cape Country Routes family, the service at this little hotel is excellent and everywhere you go you encounter joyful staff with a warm and welcoming attitude. It’s the sort of place where regular guests become family, and it’s easy to see why the hotel has so many returning visitors.
Things to do in Arniston
There’s a phrase in Italian; ‘Dolce far Niente’, that translates to “the sweetness of doing nothing”. A visit to Arniston is all about savouring ‘Dolce far Niente’. If slow holidays spent soaking up quality time with your loved ones are your thing then you’ll adore this little village and the Arniston Spa Hotel. There’s no pressure here to visit the chic, pretentious hot spots to see or be seen. Apart from two informal village eateries peddling fish cakes, the hotel’s two restaurants are the only places to dine out in Arniston.
When you’re not enjoying a meal at the hotel or relaxing by the pool, there are, of course, a number of ‘go-slow’ activities to occupy your time. These include waiting for high tide to pass and Hotel Beach to be revealed. Found right in front of the Arniston Spa Hotel, the beach is an excellent spot for low-tide frolicking and building sand castles. This is also an excellent time for a dip in the ocean, with its warm Mozambique current, Arniston is blessed with considerably warmer waters than nearby Hermanus.
If the tides aren’t in your favour, and you’re hell-bent on feeling the sand between your toes, then take a stroll to Roman Beach. Arniston’s main swimming beach, Roman Beach, offers calm, shallow waters that are ideal for children.
If you’re a keen walker, then you can also take a short stroll to the local harbour where you can watch the fishing boats come in. The harbour is a charming sight, especially in the sunshine. For a longer walk, continue through Kassiesbaai, which welcomes strollers and photographers.
A must at low tide is the walk to the spectacular Waenhuiskrans Cave. It’s an easy 20-minute walk to this incredible natural feature that is only accessible at low tide. The enormous sea cave is well worth a visit and offers an opportunity to snap some incredible photos and take in a natural wonder. Make sure you wear sturdy, non-slip shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and pack a snack if you’d like to spend a moment inside the cave to take it all in.
Getting there
Arniston is a leisurely two-hour drive from Cape Town on a road that meanders through the hills of the Overberg region. It’s a wonderfully scenic drive with plenty of farm stalls and interesting pitstops along the way if you’re looking to stretch your legs and explore a little before arriving in Arniston.
Our journey to Arniston saw us enjoying an adventure-packed pitstop at Cape Canopy Tour in Grabouw in the Elgin Valley. Another member of Cape Country Routes, this exhilarating activity is just an hour’s drive from Cape Town and is a must-try for both adults and children alike (provided they meet the height requirement). It’s an activity the whole family can enjoy and is sure to offer a great way to build lasting memories.
Established in 2014, the Grabouw Cape Canopy Tour takes thrill-seekers through breathtaking mountainscapes using a system of cables and platforms high up in the mountains over 1,000m above sea level. The tour offers nature lovers, keen hikers, and adrenalin junkies the chance to explore their limits and enjoy the breathtaking views of previously inaccessible and pristine parts of this amazing World Heritage Site.
Zipping past waterfalls and soaring through the air, you’ll experience the Cape’s most epic mountain-top zipline experience. The half-day Adventure in Africa/Zipline plus 4×4 Adventure offers a fun adventure for anyone willing to take on the challenge. The journey starts with an exhilarating 4 x 4 journey through the nature reserve and the next minute you’re soaring through the air on 11 thrilling slides (some over 300 m long!) with ziplines ending on a platform on the cliffs of the fynbos-covered mountain slopes above the Riviersonderend Gorge.
While you’re up there, don’t forget to look down because the view below is staggering! One of the unforgettable highlights of the tour is a unique suspension bridge constructed between a narrow sandstone ravine above a spectacular double waterfall. It’s a sight you certainly don’t want to miss.
The tours are between 4 to 5 hours in duration and are priced at R1,095 per person. The price includes all equipment and training, the return 4×4 experience from base up into the mountains, the zipline adventure along 13 elevated platforms, two fully trained Cape Canopy Tour Guides and the CapeNature Conservation levy.
For more must-try activities and accommodation options along the scenic and historic routes in the Western and Eastern Cape be sure to visit the Cape Country Routes website. It’s an incredible resource for keen travellers to plan routes, where to stay, and what to do along the way.
