Hawston Beach

About Hawston Beach

Driving towards Hermanus, you may discover a little hamlet called Hawston. Then again, you may miss it if you don't know it's there. This hidden gem is the home of one of the most gorgeous beaches on the Cape coast, Hawston Beach. This was awarded a Blue Flag beach status in 2013, in recognition of its beauty, safety, and biodiversity.

Hawston Beach is absolutely immaculate. It is flanked by impressive dunes and the coastal mountains of the Western Cape on one side, and the clear blue of the ocean on the other. These waters are safe for swimming, surfing, stand-up paddling, and body-boarding. In the peak season, between December and March, lifeguards are permanently on duty.

The soft sand is irresistible for sun-bathers or those wanting to work up a sweat with a game of Frisbee or bat-and-ball. From these sands, the dolphins can often be seen playing in the waters or surfing the waves. Whales also come past here in the latter half of the year, and are very exciting to see as they glide gracefully or peep out of the water curiously.

Hawston Beach has an Olympic-sized swimming pool for visitors that want to do laps or play in the shallower areas. There are also picnic spots and braai (barbecue) facilities for tourists and locals that want to make a day of their trip to Hawston Beach, as well as a nearby restaurant. The birdlife here is nothing short of spectacular, so keen bird-watchers are reminded to bring their binoculars along to ensure that they don't miss out on some awesome sightings.

The beautiful dunes around the beach are protected areas. So, there are walkways and boardwalks on which visitors can walk, as no one is allowed to explore the sensitive dunes on foot or by vehicle.

Hawston is only 20 minutes away from Hermanus, and about 90 minutes from Cape Town and its international airport.