Gansbaai, Western Cape
A premium harbour-side home and guest guide for slow mornings, marine adventures, cliff walks, Stanford lunches, cool-climate wine, family pool time and firepit evenings on the Whale Coast.
Your stay rhythm
Settle in, then explore outward.Old Harbour Place is your calm base. Gansbaai, De Kelders, Kleinbaai, Stanford and the wine routes are your nearby chapters.
From your hosts
Old Harbour Place is set up for families, friends and slower coastal stays. Use the pool, cook together, light the braai, ask for help when needed, and use this guide to choose days that match the weather and the group.
We have included the practical house details first, then our favourite food, wine, marine and walking routes so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying Gansbaai.
Oaktree Estate hospitality base in Stanford.
Old Harbour Place is managed by Oaktree Estate, a family-owned hospitality group based in Stanford. We know both the harbour side of Gansbaai and the slower inland rhythm of Stanford, so this guide is written to help you experience the area with local confidence.
Firepit and outdoor living support.
For water, gas, electrical matters, firewood, firepit help or maintenance, Lawrence is the person to contact. He keeps the practical side of the stay simple, especially for families and groups.
Fresh bread up the road at Die Bakhuis.
Die Bakhuis is up the road at 16 Fabriek Street, while the home is at 3 Fabriek Street. Ask the team if you would like help arranging fresh bakes, or take the short walk to enjoy breakfast and fresh bread there.
Oaktree Estate connects the wider Stanford route.
Oaktree Estate is based in Stanford and connects naturally with Table 13 lunches, village browsing, wine farms and slower inland days from your Gansbaai base.
Guest essentials
Arrive gently, settle in, park safely, and let us know if you need anything during arrival.
Please leave keys as arranged, check for personal items, and leave used towels in the bathroom.
Password: 3fabriek. Use the copy button below for quick access on mobile.
Guests receive a complimentary coffee when visiting Table 13 in Stanford.
Use appliances as you would at home, and please switch off lights, heaters and unnecessary plugs when leaving for the day. The braai, pool and outdoor areas are there to be enjoyed, with care and common sense.
Accidents happen. Please tell us quickly if something breaks so we can help fairly and keep the home ready for the next guests. On checkout, collect personal items, leave used towels in the bathrooms and close windows before leaving.
Gansbaai can shift quickly between sun, wind and cool evenings. Pack layers, walking shoes, sunscreen, hats and something warm for firepit nights or early marine departures.
Marine activities are guided by sea conditions, wildlife movement and operator safety calls. Book early, follow the operator's messages, take motion-sickness tablets if needed, and never treat a specific sighting as guaranteed.
Children must be supervised around the pool, firepit and stairs. Some local walks include uneven paths, steps, cliffs or sand, so choose routes that match the group's mobility and energy.
The local route
Use the live guest orientation map for the full shape of the stay, then use the numbered legend links for precise turn-by-turn Google directions. The illustrated field-guide map now lives in the printable PDF.
Live guest orientation
Use this map to understand the full shape of your stay: harbour base, local food, De Kelders cliffs, Walker Bay heritage, Kleinbaai marine mornings, Stanford lunches and the wider Overberg wine route.
All 29 numbered stops are plotted here. Dense clusters are intentional, so use the legend links when you need precise turn-by-turn directions.Stay
Food
Nature
Heritage
History
Marine
Village
Wine
Explore from the harbour
Gansbaai rewards early starts and unhurried afternoons. Book marine trips ahead, check weather before cliff or cave walks, and keep some time open for the pool, garden and firepit.
Gansbaai is known for marine wildlife and shark cage diving. Operators depart from Kleinbaai, about five minutes from the house, and every trip depends on sea conditions and wildlife movement.
Book early, follow operator instructions, and pack warm layers for the boat.
In winter and spring, southern right whales move through Walker Bay. De Kelders cliffs offer some of the most rewarding land-based viewing when conditions are right.
Take binoculars, stay back from cliff edges, and leave room for the weather to change.
The Overberg wine route is ideal for a slower day out: Lomond close to Gansbaai, Stanford estates for village pacing, and Elim for a longer Cape Agulhas tasting day.
Choose one cluster instead of trying to cover every estate in a single day.
For land-based exploring, pair De Kelders viewpoints with Klipgat Cave, or head toward Danger Point Lighthouse and Die Plaat Beach for bigger coastal scale.
Wear real shoes, pack water, and treat wind, tides and uneven paths with respect.Marine adventure
Kleinbaai marine trips are close enough for an early departure without turning the day into a commute. After the boat, return for lunch, the pool, a nap, a braai or a firepit evening.
Map 13A well-established shark cage diving and marine eco-tour operator based in Kleinbaai. Good for guests who want a polished operator experience with strong conservation messaging.
Supplied Google Maps Marine Dynamics image
Map 14A long-running shark cage diving operator with education and conservation woven into the experience. Sightings depend on season, sea conditions and wildlife movement.
Supplied shark cage diving image
Map 15A smaller operator with a personal feel. A good choice if you prefer a more intimate guest experience and direct operator communication before the trip.
Supplied shark cage diving imageEat and drink
These are the practical places we would point guests toward first, from coffee and bread to relaxed dinners and post-boat lunches.
Map 18Our local favourite in Stanford for relaxed pub meals, burgers, pizza, beer and an easy village atmosphere. Old Harbour Place guests receive a complimentary coffee when visiting.
Illustrative pub meal mood image
Map 03Refined local restaurant for seafood, steaks and South African flavours. A strong dinner choice when you want something considered but still relaxed.
Illustrative refined dining mood image
Map 12Casual, practical and close to the marine operators. Ideal after a shark or whale trip when everyone is hungry and still sandy from the morning.
Illustrative post-trip lunch mood image
Map 04A cliff-side coffee and breakfast stop with wide ocean views. Best paired with De Kelders viewpoints or a Klipgat Cave outing.
Illustrative coffee-and-beans mood imageMap 02Die Bakhuis is a short walk from the home at 3 Fabriek Street. Ask the team if you would like help arranging fresh sourdough, or walk up the road for breakfast and bread.
Illustrative fresh sourdough mood imageMap 26If you find an Overberg wine you love, Wine Village stocks a broad regional selection and can help with national shipping.
Illustrative wine-shop mood imageWine routes
Lomond is the strongest nearby recommendation. Stanford is relaxed and village-led. Elim and Cape Agulhas are better for a longer road-trip day.
Map 21Stunning setting between mountains and ocean. Known for sauvignon blanc, syrah and lagoon-side views. This is our strongest close-by wine recommendation.
Illustrative wine-estate mood image
Map 22Family-owned estate on the Klein River with award-winning red blends and a relaxed tasting-room feel. Excellent with a Stanford lunch route.
Supplied Google Maps Raka Wine image
Map 23Tiny family-run estate producing wild, natural wines, including a memorable straw wine. Tastings are informal and personal when available.
Illustrative craft wine mood image
Map 24More than wine. Expect deli-style food, farm atmosphere, live music on selected days, kids' play space and generous cheese boards.
Supplied Google Maps Searles Stanford imageMap 28A brilliant day-trip estate near Elim. Their sauvignon blanc and sauvignon blanc blends are excellent reasons to make the longer drive.
Illustrative Cape wine mood image
Map 29Small production, strong reputation, and a tasting room overlooking the vineyard. Book a food and wine pairing if you want a fuller experience.
Supplied Google Maps Black Oystercatcher image
Map 27Charming farm estate between Stanford and Cape Agulhas with a small tasting room. Try the Chenin Blanc if available.
Supplied Google Maps Zoetendal image
Map 25An award-winning estate on the R43 between De Kelders and Hermanus. Book ahead for experiences such as cellar tours, pairings or a pontoon cruise.
Supplied Google Maps Benguela Cove imageExplore
The best land-based days are close, scenic and flexible. Choose the outing that suits the group's energy and the weather.
Map 05The easiest way to feel Walker Bay's scale. In whale season, take binoculars, keep your distance from cliff edges and move slowly between viewpoints.
Supplied De Kelders Cliff Path imageMap 06A coastal limestone cave walk inside Walker Bay Nature Reserve with deep archaeological history. Wear proper shoes, check weather and reserve access, and avoid rushing the descent or climb.
Illustrative limestone cave-coast image
Map 09A coastal history chapter tied to the HMS Birkenhead story. Pair it with Kleinbaai or a longer Danger Point loop.
Supplied Danger Point Lighthouse image
Map 10You cannot visit inside, but the outside story is fascinating: a highly secure aquaculture site raising premium abalone in pristine seawater systems.
Supplied Danger Point Abalone Farm image
Map 07Fynbos trails, coastal views, birding and seasonal wildflowers. Choose the route that matches your group's fitness and the day’s weather.
Illustrative coastal reserve mood image
Map 08A long white-sand stretch between Hermanus and De Kelders. Good for walking, picnics and quiet beach time when wind and tide are kind.
Supplied Die Plaat Beach image
Map 20A Stanford spring-season highlight for garden lovers. Best paired with a Table 13 meal or a Stanford wine route day.
Supplied Chelsea Flowers Open Garden image
Map 16A family-friendly conservation stop focused on African penguins and seabirds. Feeding is usually at 15:00, with daily opening hours from 09:00 to 16:00.
Supplied African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary imageSuggested itineraries
Settle in
Kleinbaai
De Kelders
Stanford and wine
Low effort
Family, comfort and slower moments
Some of the best moments will happen without driving anywhere: coffee outside, kids in the pool, shared dinners, late afternoon reading, sunset light and a slow firepit evening.
House rules
No smoking anywhere on the property.
No pets can be accommodated.
Please keep noise low from 23:00 onwards and respect our neighbours.
No parties, gatherings or social functions.
The garage and upstairs room are not for guest use.
Children must be supervised around the pool, and no glass is allowed in or around the pool area.
Download the field-guide PDF with the illustrated Whale Coast route map, cleaned 29-stop index, WiFi, house rules, host contacts and emergency numbers.
Download PDF Book your next stayThis mobile guide gives guests fast access to map links, phone numbers, WhatsApp contacts and practical guidance while they move around Gansbaai, Kleinbaai, De Kelders and Stanford.
Message the right person early so we can help quickly. For life-threatening emergencies, use the emergency numbers below first.
Bookings, check-in, checkout, reservations and general queries
Water, gas, electrical, firewood, firepit and maintenance support
From all of us
We hope Old Harbour Place offers you a space to slow down, reconnect, and experience the quiet beauty of Gansbaai.