Voelklip, Hermanus

Voelklip at a glance

As one of the older suburbs of Hermanus, Voelklip holds an interesting and rich history. Starting its existence as a local farm, this suburb has consistently grown and now embraces modern change and development. Located in proximity to the renowned Fernkloof Estate and bordering the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean - Voelklip seamlessly blends the old with the new. Now a thriving holiday destination, due to its position between the Overberg Mountain and the ocean as well as its namesake beach, Voelklip provides both locals and visitors with an unmatched experience.

For approximately three centuries, the area now known as Voelklip was called Mosselrivier. Named after a river that opened up into a small bay, bountiful with mussels. It later gained the name Voelklip (Voëlklip = bird rock) due to a large rock on its beach, where hundreds (if not thousands) of birds slept.

As far back as 1724, this farm was used for many agricultural purposes - but it was not until 1897 when a portion of Mosselrivier was surveyed and sold to the Mossel River Estate Company - that the first portion of residential land was developed. This residential layout consisted of a grid-like system of roads and avenues that were not named. Instead, this township was one of the first to have numbered streets (First to Seventeenth Street and First to Eleventh Avenues) and individual plots were sold to various owners. Initially, the homes that were built here were regulated and consisted of coastal cottages.

Voëlklip Beach is a favourite among surfers, it offers spacious green lawns leading down to the beach with a few rocky coves nearby for a more private beach experience; very popular during peak season and summer holidays.