Halcyon House

in Plettenberg Bay Garden Route

Description

SERENE. GRACIOUS. RELAXED ? That?s Halcyon. 4 Star (AA Superior) guesthouse accommodation situated within 3 minutes walking distance of magnificent Robberg beach ? a 4km stretch of white sand and surf. Halcyon offers en-suite bedrooms with sea-views, and living areas with bright, spacious interiors. A swimming-pool, pub with satellite television and pool table and a north-facing terrace are some of the features. Garage parking too.

We are close to most amenities and tourist attractions. Plettenberg Bay (for those not in the know) has a reputation for sunny weather. All in all, we offer a wonderful retreat for a beach holiday.

Both English and continental breakfasts are served on the patio beside the pool, and are included in the rates.

Accommodation

We offer specials for groups of 4+, and stays of 7days+. Regret no children under 12. And no self-catering facilities.

Halcyon offers 3 types of accommodation:

The Nautilus Rooms is a two-bedroom suite both with sea-views, and one with private balcony. There is a separate shower room and bathroom. The Nautilus Rooms provide en-suite accommodation for couples. It is also often used by groups of 3 or 4.

The Coral Room is a single room with queen-size bed and en-suite shower. The room looks into a pretty garden courtyard, (but does not have sea-views). When the house is at full occupancy, Coral Room guests have off-street parking, but not garage parking.

Our Accommodation Features:
~  Sea and mountain views
~ 3 minute stroll to Robberg Beach
~ Quiet Location
~ 5 minute drive to many excellent restaurants

The kingfisher suite

A spacious private suite: fold away doors from bedroom to private balcony reveal commanding views across bay to Tsitisikamma mountains. A separate dressing room in beech and cherry-wood leads into honeymoon bathroom with large spa-bath.

· King-Size Bed
· carpeted
· Fan
· Under-carpet heating
· Sea and mountain views
· Wrap around private balcony
· Television with DVD player
· Safe
· Garage parking

 Dressing Room:
· work-station with wireless internet capability
· Hair-dryer
· Massage table

Bathroom:
· Spa bath
· Double shower
· Under-floor heating
· His and her basins
· Electric shaver unit
· Bidet

Beach towels, umbrella and boogey boards provided

The nautilus rooms

A comfortable two bedroom unit with lovely sea and mountain views. The unit provides en-suite accommodation for a couple, (and the use of the 2nd bedroom as a dressing room). Alternatively, with separate bathroom and shower room, the unit is specifically geared towards accommodating a party of three or four.

Main bedroom: Kingsize bed (or twin beds)
· Private balcony
· TV and DVD player
· Undercarpet heating
· Fan
· Safe
· Hairdryer

Adjacent Room: Kingsize bed (or twin beds)
· TV and DVD player
· Heater
· Fan
· Safe
· Hairdryer

· Lobby area with tea tray
· Garage Parking

The unit has a modern bathroom and shower room.
One with shower / toilet and the other with bath / toilet.

The coral room

A fresh but small bedroom with shower and toilet en-suite.

· Courtyard view
· Queen Size Bed
· En suite shower
· French doors into courtyard
· Safe
· Hairdryer
· Fan
· Heater

Note - No sea view

Attractions

HALCYON'S living areas are bright and spacious, combining the light, airy feel of a beach house with the elegance of a permanent home.

The following list is not exhaustive. There are many other hikes, shopping experiences, outdoor experiences, surfing lessons. We will gladly help with bookings, giving suggestions and directions. Please note our picnic offer. In the lobby you will find an Activities File with many pamphlets

It is a strange statistic, but I am told many tourists enjoy staying at the sea, but not necessarily using it! Plett has 3 excellent beaches. Robberg beach is 5 km of rockless uncrowded beach. There are regularly dolphins and seals in the surf. From July – October whales are often sited, and at times are within 50m of the beach.

Lifesavers are present in season at the main beach which is about 300 metres towards the peninsula from the section of beach closest to the house. Central Beach (next to Beacon Isle Hotel) is the most enclosed, and therefore least dangerous beach. Large crowds gather in season. Lookout Beach - we’ll give directions - is lovely for bodysurfing, and is popular in season.
When swimming, watch the currents. Unless well acquainted with conditions, it is best to swim in sections where lifeguards are present.

At 216 metres it’s the world’s highest!

DRIVE UP PRINCE ALFRED PASS (WITH PICNIC)
Approximate time: ½ day (4 hours return)
Approximate distance from Halcyon: Starts 10 km from here. (140 km return)

The Prince Alfred Pass was built by South Africa’s most famous road-builder,Thomas Bain from 1864-1867 [see Pg 51 of Knysna and Plett – a travel through time in the lobby]. The dirt road meanders into the hilly terrain north from here, through farm land, forest, and ultimately into the low rainfall area of the little Karoo - landing up in Uniondale. En route there is some extraordinary scenery from some precarious heights, and a few deep valleys too. There is also a turn off to Knysna through forest, so one could incorporate an activity there too on the way back..

The Blaukrans pass winds its way lazily through indigenous forest, down into a beautiful gorge, from where you can see the new bridge which spans the gorge further towards the sea. The drive comes out at Natures Valley, a beautiful shaded resort with rugged stretch of beach. (Halcyon’s east view looks across the bay onto Nature’s Valley.)

This hike takes you through indigenous forest onto the rugged beachline at Kranshoek. There is also a picnic site with lovely sea views. For more info. see book in the lobby, On foot in the Garden Route (pg81) and map (pg 76) .

HIKE - ROBBERG PENINSULA
Approximate cost: R.15
Approximate time: 45 minutes, 1½ hours or 4 hours (open form sunrise to sunset)
Approximate distance from Halcyon: 5km

The Robberg Nature and Marine Reserve on The Robberg peninsula is the rocky whale like outcrop forming the western break of the bay. It is an area of both geological and archeological significance. There are a number of information boards on the trail giving insight into the area’s history, and also a cave of interest. The 45 minute walk is relatively easy, although still has steep parts. The longer walks are quite tough, and require a degree of fitness, and a lack of vertigo. The views are spectacular. [See Pg 87 On Foot in the Garden Route in the lobby and map on Pg 86]. The longest of these walks is best done early in the day, after which one can feel quite justified in relaxing back at Halcyon with a beer and book for the rest of the day.

The forest at Harkerville is part of the greater Knysna Forest. (See Pg 81-84 of On Foot in the Garden Route for more on the topography of the area) . Different marked trails take you on routes of varying degrees of difficulty along narrow forest paths and easier logging roads. Maps are available at the permit office in Harkerville.

 HARKERVILLE SATURDAY MARKET
Approximate cost: Up to you
Approximate time: 7:30 -11:30 am on Saturdays
Approximate distance from Halcyon: 15Km

The Harkerville market attracts locals and visitors alike. Different Art, crafts, plants, and food stalls can be browsed outdoors. It’s a low-key morning in the sun.

KAYAK
Approximate time: 1½ hours and longer.
Approximate distance from Halcyon: 10km to Keurbooms River

Halcyon’s kayak named Hoegie (after the great Dutch swimmer) is on offer, as are three life jackets. It is a stable kayak, and suitable for 1, 2 or 3 people – ideal number being 2. We particularly recommend paddling up the Keurbooms river with its extraordinary birdlife and indigenous forest. The river has lovely beaches, and swimming is made simpler by the absence of sharks, crocodiles and hippo.

Many people also paddle in the bay, but only when the weather is fine. Paddling on the bay is recommended only for those proficient in the use of a kayak on the sea.

Please note that we cannot take any responsibility for you whilst using the kayak.

 KNYSNA ELEPHANT PARK (CLOSE TO PLETT!)
Approximate cost: R.100
Approximate time: ½ hour tours every half hour from 8:30am – 4:30pm
Approximate distance from Halcyon: 20km
Contact Number: 044 532 7732

Feed the elephants. This concept may not appeal to those who like their wild animals wild, but the animals in the park were moved there as a form of rescue. The tour is informative, and getting close to these extraordinary animals is quite something. Watching the quantity of milk the baby elephants consume, another.

Popular activity!There are a whole host of options here. Boat trips, paddle driven ferry trips, catamaran trips on the spectacular Knysna Lagoon - all heading out to the Knysna Heads (where many an incoming boat sunk in days of yore trying to enter from the ocean).

Most trips come with bar service, and some with excellent dining facilities. One tour takes you across the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature reserve, where one is taken to the top of the Heads. There one can walk along the cliffs overlooking the ocean back to a restaurant on the edge of the lagoon. For more info: see Halcyon Activities File in the lobby area.

A relaxed and informative sojourn up the Keurbooms River estuary – excellent birdwatching. As they put it: “Experience the majesty of the Keurbooms River Estuary, as the ferry glides over shimmering waters, through soaring gorges of the unspoilt Keurbooms nature Reserve”. Halfway, everyone stops and has a picnic on a river beach. See Picnics below.

 MASSAGE
Read about the HALCYON massage under specialities.

 MONKEYLAND
Approximate cost: R.90
Approximate time: 1 hour
Approximate distance from Halcyon: 20 km
Contact Number: 044 533-8906

Monkeyland is fun and interesting. An hour guided tour through a huge forest enclosed in a net, so the myriad marsupials from the world over don’t escape. When I went, one monkey followed us the entire way. Darwin might have said it was a family outing.

 PICNIC
cost: R.100 per person (incl. drinks)
PLEASE INFORM US THE DAY BEFORE.

Our picnic basket contains a collection of cheeses, bread/rolls, salmon, and other goodies that make for a simple but tasty lunch. 

 TREE-TOP CANOPY TOUR
Approximate cost:R.395
Approximate time: 3 hours
Approximate distance from Halcyon: 50km
Contact Number:042 261 1836 (Booking essential)

I haven’t yet done this, but I gather it is one of those special – near unique – experiences. At R.395 it should be. Run by Stormsriver Adventures, a company with a good record, you find yourself harnessed 30 metres above the ground gliding along on steel cables through indigenous forest of the Tsitsikamma. (This is where the “company with a good record” becomes important; they list safety as being paramount). It is like Monkeyland, except here you are the monkey!

 WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING CRUISE
Approximate cost: R.500
Approximate time: 2 hours
Approximate distance from Halcyon: 2km
Contact Number: (044) 533-4963 (Ocean Safaris) – booking essential
Tours: 9:30am, 12pm and 2:30 pm

Whale-watching, dolphin observing and seal inspecting – this is a tremendous chance to see these creatures at close range lead by a group of well-informed guides. Because this group is official, Ocean Safaris can come within 50 metres of whales, which arrive from July through September to give birth,

TGCSA Star Grading

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