Where can you have it all? Walk hand-in-hand on a beautiful beach; enjoy brunch overlooking a sparkling lagoon with mountains in the distance; clink champagne glasses on a sunset cruise; savour candlelit dinners in a Harbour Town …
Maybe your idea of romance is less charming and more exciting. For partners in crime there’s the adrenaline rush of mountain biking through the forest; taking a fast boat through the heads; snorkelling in a secluded cove.
But where will you stay?
Stay close
Knysna is perfect for all budgets, from backpackers to 5-star hotels. You’ll find it difficult to choose between dozens of 4- and 5-star hotels, luxury guesthouses, and cosy b&bs. Choose a hotel with a spa and golf course with top notch service and amenities, or opt for something more personalised where the owners are on site to attend to your every need.
Indulge in local delights
A day of exploring should always start with a great breakfast or brunch. You are spoilt for choice as Knysna boasts a wide variety of restaurants with exquisite views. Or you can head to the Wild Oats Community Farmer’s Market in Sedgefield. Open early on Saturday mornings only, you can enjoy a healthy, homemade, freshly cooked breakfast. You might even fill your basket with delicious cheese, jam, bread and sweet things perfect for a picnic at a forest table at Jubilee Creek.
Go on an adventure
Take yourselves off to one of the 11 beautiful beaches in the greater Knysna area. Swim at Buffalo Bay, Swartvlei or Myoli beaches, or snorkel Gericke’s Point.
If you are golfers, book a round at any of Knysna’s three signature courses – Pezula Championship Course, Simola Golf Course and the Knysna Golf Course. Alternatively, you could play 9 holes at Blackwaters River Lodge’s par three mashie course or the Sedgefield Links course.
Stroll through the small town bustle
On the off-chance that it isn’t picnicking or playing weather, you could while some time away browsing the many speciality shops on Thesen Harbour Town, at the Knysna Waterfront Quays or in Gray Street at The Rex Hotel complex. Pick up souvenirs and keepsakes from one of Knysna’s boutique stores.
Art lovers will appreciate the beautiful galleries in town, the largest and best known being Knysna Fine Art which showcases contemporary works by top South African and local artists in a variety of media.
Take time together
Indulge in some couple’s pampering. Book time in a local spa and surrender yourself to the hands of the experienced, qualified therapists you will find at Pezula and Simola Spas, Le Spa Tranquille, The Turbine Spa and Zen Sense Day Spa.
Make treasured memories
A fitting end to your stay would be a sunset yacht trip on the Knysna lagoon. Book a cruise or charter a yacht and crew for your own private cruise and watch the sun go down while you sip on a glass of bubbly and toast to your next weekend in Knysna!
What more do you need to make your romantic weekend one to remember? Whether you spend your time together on top of the world with the lagoon at your feet, or cushioned in a forest hideaway, Knysna lives up to its promise of romance. You’ll love it.
