The setting could hardly be more bucolic: a group of low buildings festooned in greenery, wrapped in a huge stand of ancient blue gum trees, looking over a small lake to the leafy banks of the Klein river. Arriving at this small country hotel you instinctively slow down a pace or two and the ethos is to make sure that each guest has a peaceful, utterly relaxing stay.
Blue Gum could hardly be more Cape: a low cream and white gabled farmstead with neat lawns and flower beds, and a predominantly English-country-style interior of stripes, checks and floral prints. Sitting in the cosy carpeted and panelled bar, looking out through curtained windows to the starkly beautiful foothills of the Overberg, you could be in Scotland – if it wasn’t for the weather, of course. The 12 guest bedrooms are deeply comfortable, and the food is delightful. Families will love the facilities, which include games room and outdoor play area. And you're perfectly positioned for discovering the myriad treasures of the Cape's 'Whale Coast'.
Highs
- A quiet, rural setting with 130 acres of estate cushioning you from the outside world
- Head chef Isaac has a wealth of experience and his cooking is superb, plus there’s a wine list to match the food
- Relaxed, happy, easy-mannered staff who really help you get into that ‘I’m on holiday’ mood
- Masses of activities at the farm as well as an amazing range of excursions
- Just 20km from Hermanus, and 2 hours from Cape Town and the Winelands
Lows
- There’s a distinctly ‘hotelly’ feel to the dining room/lounge/bar area, which has been expanded to accommodate wedding parties
- You can sometimes hear noise from the road
- Restaurant not open for dinner, you can arrange for an early supper or light snack, and evening meals can be taken in your room
Best time to go
To get the most out of Blue Gum, avoid the wetter winter months (June-September), when outdoor activities are less fun and it is too cold to swim. That said, the best months for whale-watching are July to November (you can also glimpse them during June-August). At any other time of year this is a great choice of holiday destination; for swimming come between December and February, and fynbos flowers are at their spectacular best in the South African spring, between September and November.
Our top tips
With so many other places to visit in this amazing country, younger travellers without kids might find that couple of nights at Blue Gum is about right. Families could safely book 4 or 5 nights thanks to the abundance of in-house entertaiment on offer - pool, tennis, walks, boules, biking.
- Boutique Hotel
- 12 rooms
- Restaurant (breakfast and lunch only) and bar
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Tennis Court
- Bicycles Available
- Conservatory
- Quad bikes
Rooms
Blue Gum has just 12 guest bedrooms: 5 spacious suites in the Manor House, 5 mountain facing cottages and 2 smaller Blue Gum Cottages, the latter are found to the side of the Manor House. Beds are big, with percale linen, duvets and a double bank of pillows.
The Manor House Suites (both Junior and Deluxe) are enormous, decorated in an Afro-colonial style with dark wooden furniture - including many family heirlooms - and ethnic prints, figurines, pots and cushions. All open onto decked verandas with long views across the valley, and the Honeymoon Suites have a private garden.
The 5 adjacent Mountain View Cottages are also cheery, light-filled spaces but here the decorative cue is more English country, with a cream and white colour scheme, pine floors and a mix of stripey and floral prints. They all have private verandas, wraparound views of the rocky Klein river range and armchairs and cosy fireplaces inside. For more space, choose the Mountain View Family Cottage which has an additional twin room.
With the exception of the Blue Gum Cottages, all bathrooms have both a bathtub and a shower - some of the bathtubs in the Manor House suites are within the main bedroom itself - and grab views out to the valley. You are treated to a full range of Earth shampoos, creams and soaps, as well as scented candles and bath salts.
There's always a vase of freshly cut fynbos flowers waiting after your day’s excursion, plus a glass of local wine and a selection of local cheeses.
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
It is the food that lifts Blue Gum high into the ‘special’ category; its restaurant opens to hotel guests daily for breakfast and lunch, you will often be joined by devoted local foodies Tuesday to Sunday. Head chef Isaac has many years of creative culinary experience, and resolutely sticks to a ‘keep it fresh and local’ formula when sourcing his ingredients.
His breakfasts are huge buffets, laid out in Blue Gum’s light-filled restaurant. Ours included fresh muffins, cereals and yoghurts, a whole range of delicious Cape cheeses, as well as a huge fruit salad, stewed and candied fruit, juices and a big cooked breakfast to follow. Lunch is served in the restaurant from Tuesday to Sunday, but afternoon tea is always served in the conservatory - make sure you try the homemade scones and jams.
Sundowners and nibbles are served on the garden-facing deck. Although there's no dinner on offer you can order light snacks and suppers to have in your room; there's a limited room service menu.
The wine recommendations are spot on. We followed their advice and couldn’t fault the Beaumont Chenin Blanc, nor the Raka Shiraz. Guests at Blue Gum can also try the estate’s own Cold Mountain red.
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
Activities
- Play a round of golf; there are 7 courses within easy driving distance
- Hike out or horse ride into the surrounding mountains. Routes for suggested walks are available
- Visit local wineries and maybe drive north to the Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
- Take a day-trip to Africa's southernmost point at Cape Agulhas, with its wave-lashed lighthouse. There is also the fishing village of Waenhuiskrans (aka Arniston) with its wonderful dunes; both are about 100km away
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Surfing
- Wildlife
- Windsurfing
- Wine tasting
Kids
We felt Blue Gum would be a perfect place for a family holiday, the owners have 2 kids of their own and have travelled extensively with them in South Africa and Europe so they know what is required from an establishment. It's pretty easy terrain for a pushchair. There are 6 extra beds available to add to suites and cottages. All suites and cottages have bathtubs. Usefully, there's a mobile phone signal everywhere in property.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
The Villa sleeps up to 10 in four bedrooms, ideal for large families or two families travelling together. There are two Mountain View Family Cottages; each has a double room and a twin room plus space for a rollaway bed and a baby cot. Adjacent, the Mountain View Cottages can accommodate an extra bed and a baby cot.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available by arrangement, the sitter will be English speaking.
Baby listening:
Baby monitors available to borrow
Baby equipment:
Baby cots are available on request - there are 4 available. High chair, pram or pushchair to borrow, children's backpack (to carry a toddler in), baby bedding, potty, baby bath.
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
Food is available only at breakfast and lunch. They can serve half portions of adult mains for children. There's also a microwave available for guests to use for bottle warming.
Kids Activities on site:
There's an on-site outdoor children's play area. Bike hire is available, with smaller bikes for kids. Kids will also love the pool which has a shallow end. There are games consoles to borrow, plus children's DVDs and a playroom with toys and books.
Kids Activities nearby:
Farm animals can be seen at the local cheese farm which has a petting zoo. Horse riding also nearby.
Families Should Know:
The pool is unfenced. The nearest doctor is about 10 minutes away.
Distances:
- Airport: 120 minutes
- Hospital: 30 minutes
- Nearest shop: 10 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Blue Gum Country Estate is outside the pretty village of Stanford, 25km east of Hermanus, on the Garden Route of South Africa.
By Air
Cape Town International (141km) is the nearest airport. Click on the links below for a list of airlines.
From the Airport
It takes about 2 hours to get to Blue Gum by car from the airport. Blue Gum can arrange transfers on request.
By Car
Most visitors hire a car to explore the area and get to Blue Gum - see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to South Africa and getting around.
Airports:
- Cape Town International 141.0 km CPT
Other:
- Beach 30.0 km
- Shops 8.0 km
- Restaurant 8.0 km