Hermanus is about 120 km from Cape Town, on the Indian Ocean at the start of the Garden Route. It is recognized as the best land based whale watching site in the world - between 60 and 100 Southern Right Whales visit Walker Bay from July through December every year and often come within five to ten metres of the coast. The area around Hermanus has wonderful beaches - Grotto, Voelklip, Kammabaai, Sandbaai and Onrus beaches all offer either swimming, surfing, snorkelling or beautiful little rock pools.

The mountains surrounding Hermanus are home to the Fernkloof Nature Reserve with some 40 km of graded footpaths and beautiful examples of fynbos. Avid golfers will enjoy the Hermanus Golf Club, the world class Arabella golf course and the courses available in Kleinmond and Kleinbaai. Hermanus has attracted a number of established artists and local galleries are well worth a visit and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (heaven and earth valley), nestling just behind the mountains framing the town, is home to some of the fastest growing young wine farms in South Africa.