BIRKENHEAD HOUSE: a member of The Royal Portfolio FACT SHEET
Birkenhead House: Luxury Seaside Destination Hotel
From its exhilarating cliff-•‐top position overlooking the whale-•‐watching haven of Walker Bay, Birkenhead House offers the perfect Hermanus luxury accommodation for those seeking a private and superior seaside experience.
A stay at Birkenhead House is a perfect choice for discerning travellers, honeymooners and guests who enjoy the comforts of plush accommodation accompanied by superb cuisine and bespoke service.
An artful mix of classic beach house style and quirky opulence evokes Birkenhead House’s contemporary feel; its furnishings and artwork are both arresting and eclectic.
Its superior vantage point allows guests to observe calving Southern Right Whales in the sheltered waters of Walker Bay each year.
The picturesque seaside town of Hermanus is said to have the best land based whale watching in the world and can be reached after a leisurely 90-•‐minute drive from Cape Town.
Accommodation:
• 11 x Luxury Rooms; and • 1 x Villa of 5 Rooms (Birkenhead Villa).
Birkenhead House can accommodate up to 22 people.
-•‐ 3 x Standard Double Rooms – on average 35 m2 in size. (Rooms 4, 10 and 11.) -•‐ 3 x Luxury Double Rooms -•‐ on average 35 m2 in size. (Room 2, 3 , and 9.) -•‐ 1 x Luxury Twin Room -•‐ on average 35 m2 in size. (Room 7.) -•‐ 4 x Superior Double Rooms – on average 42 m2 in size. (Rooms 1, 5, 6 and 8.)
All Rooms have:
- Air conditioners; - Tea and coffee making facilities; - Fully stocked mini bars; - In-•‐room safes; - Telephones; - Digital televisions and DVD players; - WiFi; and - International adapters and hairdryers.
-•‐ All rooms have en suite bathrooms, each distinctively fitted and decorated. -•‐ Birkenhead House’s suites offer vistas of either Walker Bay or the towering Kleinrivier mountain range. -•‐ Room 5 has its own private plunge pool.
Birkenhead Villa can lodge up to 12 guests.
Wonderful objects d’art and a selection of artworks can be seen throughout Birkenhead Villa, including those by of well-•‐known local artist Beezy Bailey.
The Villa has a lounge and dining area that connects to an open-•‐plan kitchen. Sliding doors from the kitchen and main lounge flow through to the pool area and private garden with semi-•‐sea views.
Guests can relax and take meals in the outdoor lounge and dining area. Children can play outdoors, in a Wendy house and on a jungle gym.
The Villa also enjoys direct access down to the beach.
-•‐ 6 Rooms in total: -•‐ 1 x Superior Room; -•‐ 1 x Superior / Family Room; -•‐ 2 x Luxury Room; and -•‐ 1 x Standard Room.
-•‐ Birkenhead Villa rooms have:
- Under floor heating; - Tea and coffee making facilities - In-•‐room safes (except 2a and 2b); - Fully stocked mini bars; - Televisions and DVD players; - Telephones; and - International adapters and hairdryers.
-•‐ All Birkenhead Villa rooms have twin beds that can be made into King beds. -•‐ All rooms have en suite bathrooms, each distinctively fitted and decorated. -•‐ Guests will have their own private chef if the entire Villa was booked.
Property and Policy Details:
1. No children under 12 years of age are allowed in Birkenhead House, unless the entire hotel is booked on an exclusive basis. However, in Birkenhead Villa, children of all ages are accepted. 2. Qualified baby-•‐sitting services can be arranged at an additional cost of R100.00 per hour – Please contact Reception directly in this regard. 3. Weddings can also arranged at Birkenhead House – Please contact Reception directly for further information on our wedding package. 4. We accept MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and American Express credit cards. 5. Triple policy: no triple suites. However, can be arranged on request only and if occupancy allows.
Birkenhead House Spa and Gym
Birkenhead House has two treatment rooms and a comprehensive menu with a medley of massage, aromatherapy and reflexology treatments to choose from.
What better way to relax and round off a leisurely day?
For those keen on more strenuous activity than our spa treatments, we also offer a fully equipped gym.
Activities:
Whale watching and the Marine Big Five:
From June to December the Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena Australis) graces Walker Bay with its massive presence to calve. During this period many calves and their mothers can be seen from the wonderful vantage points at Birkenhead House. The resident species of whale that is often spotted in Walker Bay, is the Bryde’s Whale. These inquisitive animals swim in a style similar to dolphins and porpoises when feeding, and are known to suddenly change direction.
Guests will also have the opportunity to spot the Marine Big Five: the Great White Shark, the Southern Right Whale, the Bottlenose Dolphin, the Cape Fur Seal and the African Penguin.
Beaches
Looking out from our terrace, the beach on the left is called Voëlklip, (translated from Afrikaans means bird stone) and lends itself to great bathing. The beach on the right is called Nanny’s or Kamma Bay Beach.
We can pack a picnic basket to accompany you with a couple of beach bats and balls if you are feeling energetic.
Grotto beach, the largest and longest beach in Hermanus, is to the left of Birkenhead House and can be reached after a ten-•‐minute walk. This beach has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Status.
Walks
Fernkloof Nature Reserve boasts unrivalled birds-•‐eye views of Walker Bay for those with high energy levels.
For a more sedate walk, the relatively flat cliff paths that trace the coastline of Hermanus from one end to the other afford enjoyment of rugged scenery and some excellent whale watching. An 8km walk from Birkenhead House into the centre of town is a perfect afternoon stroll. We can arrange for you to be picked up after a refreshing drink in one of the cafés overlooking the sea. This walk will take you an hour and a half.
Wine tasting on the Overberg Wine Route
The Hemel en Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley is one of South Africa’s best-•‐kept secrets. This valley, which runs 50km from the coast at Hermanus to the famous wheat growing town of Caledon, is home to one of the worlds top ten Chardonnay’s, and also boasts the cultivation of award-•‐winning Pinot Noir varietals.
You can visit the famous Hamilton–Russell vineyard, Bouchard Finlayson, Newton Johnson, Hermanus Pietersfontein, Sumaridge & La Vierge wine farms.
Other activities:
Sea cruises around Dyer Island; Sea Kayaking Shark cage diving; Deep-•‐sea fishing; Scuba diving; Horse riding; Golf’; Township tours; Bird watching; and Quad biking.
Cuisine:
In true fusion fashion, the cuisine at Birkenhead House is a subtle mixture of modern African Cuisine, Cape Seafood, and traditional French techniques with strong Asian and Italian influences.
On offer are homemade breads, ice creams and sorbets, as well as delicacies such as tempura strawberries and fresh local fish and Cape seafood ranging from Marlin, Red Roman and Kabeljou to crayfish, mussels and oysters.
Only the freshest ingredients are used for lavish meals served in your choice of setting: overlooking the ocean; next to our dual level pool; in our glass fronted dining area; or simply enjoy dining in the privacy of your suite.
Menus and meals can be designed to meet guests’ individual palates and dietary requirements, including that of kosher food.
What to bring?
• Comfortable walking shoes • Sun hat • Sunscreen • Sunglasses • Binoculars • Camera • Summer months: lightweight clothing and a swimsuit.
How to get there?
Please contact Reception for directions from Cape Town International Airport.
Social Projects:
Birkenhead House feels strongly about playing an active part in the local community. Our particular focus in terms of community upliftment, is children and education.
As such, Birkenhead House has been intimately involved in improving the lives of Lukhanyo Primary School learners from the local informal settlement of Zwelihle.
From feeding schemes to environmental awareness to activity-•‐based educational projects, Birkenhead House has fostered a vibrant and engaged relationship with its local community that it strives to sustain by means of continual and compassionate involvement.