Bayhouse, Island Holiday Home - Knysna, WESTERN CAPE

Location:

Leisure Island is the most sought-after destination for holidaymakers in South Africa’s Favourite Town. A small island (just 4km in circumference) in the lagoon, it is linked to the mainland by a causeway and is secure, private and tranquil with many delightful beaches and panoramic views of Knysna, the famous Knysna Heads and Featherbed Nature Reserve across the estuary.

Bollard Bay is the main beach on the island and offers plenty to do for young and old. When the tide is high you can swim, fish, canoe or sail. At low tide, pump for prawns to use as bait or walk across the sand as far as The Heads.

The island becomes a hub of activity during school holidays and older children will revel in the vibrant social scene. The streets are quiet and safe for walking, jogging, skateboarding and cycling. And the buzzing cosmopolitan town of Knysna is just 10 minutes away.

Facilities:

• Barbecue Facilities
• Hair Dryers
• Inhouse Movies
• Lovely setting
• Non smoking establishment
• On-site undercover parking
• Onsite secure undercover parking
• Parking for Large Vehicles, Trailers and Boats
• Pets not allowed
• Queen Size Beds
• Refrigerator
• Satellite TV
• Secure off-street parking
• Self Catering Rooms
• Self-Contained Units
• TV Room
• Tennis court
• Wine tasting nearby

Six-bedroom Home on Leisure Isle, Knysna

Room Type:

Bayhouse Luxury Bedrooms

Room Information:

BEDROOMS All six bedrooms are bright, airy and simply furnished in keeping with a beach-house theme. Beds are beautifully dressed with crisp white 100% cotton percale linen, non-allergic pillows and electric blankets. Extra blankets are supplied as well as thick, luxurious white bath sheets, hand towels and facecloths. Downstairs: Two-bedroom family suite: This suite is ideal for two couples or a family of four. It consists of a double bedroom with en-suite bathroom with bath, a queen-size bed and double doors opening onto a private courtyard, a twin bedroom with separate entrance and adjacent bathroom with shower and a sunny, north-facing private lounge Upstairs: Main bedroom en-suite: The main bedroom upstairs is extremely spacious. The king-size bed faces large windows through which there are exquisite panoramic views of the Knysna Lagoon & Heads. The room is air-conditioned and the en-suite bathroom has a bath and shower Children’s bedroom: This spacious, air-conditioned prettily decorated room off the family lounge is ideal for children and has lagoon views, a queen-size bed and a chest of drawers stocked with toys and books. Loft suite: The loft suite sleeps four people and is suitable for a couple with two children, or four teenagers/children. It can be accessed from inside the house through the upstairs living room, but also has its own separate entrance from the garden. The mezzanine level has a double bed and is air-conditioned, while the lower level has a second bedroom with two single beds and an adjoining bathroom with a shower. ** Children of all ages are welcome! ** *** Children under 12 years of age pay 50% of the adult rate ***

Other Charges and Fees (Payable locally):

BAYHOUSE IS A SELF-CATERING HOLIDAY HOME AND IS PRICED PER PERSON (min 4 and max 10 guests). THE GUESTS WILL HAVE USE OF THE ENTIRE HOUSE TO ENSURE COMFORT AND PRIVACY AT ALL TIMES.

Room Facilities:

• Air conditioning
• Alarm clock
• Balcony
• Balcony / courtyard
• Bath
• Dry cleaning / laundry service
• Hairdryer
• Heating
• In-room heater
• King size bed
• Laundry facilities
• Non-smoking only
• Opening windows
• Private bath
• Private shower/Toilet
• Safe
• Self catering (full kitchen)
• Shower

Cancellations:

CANCELLATION POLICY: A Full refund of the deposit (less 10% cancellation fee) to the guest on written cancellation provided this is more than four (4) calendar months from the arrival date. A 50% refund (less 10% cancellation fee) to the guest on written cancellation, provided this is between three (3) and four (4) calendar months and not nearer than two (2) calendar months prior to date of arrival. No refund on cancellation two (2) calendar months or less prior to date of arrival. We will endeavor to do our best to re-let the Bayhouse but cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

The administration fee on refunds is US$5.00

Check-in Time:

14h00

Check-out Time:

10h00

Car Parking:

The Bayhouse has a double garage and secure off-street parking.

Local Attractions:

Knysna Knysna is the centre of the Garden Route, an area known for its beautiful scenery, floral fynbos landscapes, indigenous forests, lakes, rivers and mountains.

Leisure Island is just 10 minute’s drive from the centre of Knysna, which provides a wealth of amenities for holidaymakers, from shopping malls and excellent restaurants and coffee shops, to a theatre, movie house, art galleries and museums.

Knysna has always been popular with nature lovers and there are many walks, hiking trails and mountain bike tracks in the indigenous forests, which are also great for birding.

Activities for children

There are an endless number of activities for children in the area, including water slides, mini golf, sailing, canoeing, horse riding, fishing, snorkeling and surfing.

Adventure sports

For the more adventurous there is abseiling, quad biking, kite surfing, scuba diving, zip line tours, paragliding, heli flips and bungy jumping (the highest commercially operating bungy jump in the world is at Tsitsikamma from the Bloukrans Bridge, not far from Knysna).

Golfers’ paradise

The Garden Route is a golfer's paradise, with many world-class golf courses between Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay, including Goose Valley, Plettenberg Bay Golf Course, Knysna Golf Course, Simola Golf & Country Estate, Pezula Championship Course, Oubaai, and Fancourt in George. Golf clubs can be hired at most of these courses.

Food & craft markets

The area supports excellent markets including the Friday Market at Knysna Montessori in Welbedacht (4pm-8pm during summer) where visitors gather to drink wine and eat dinner from one of the many food stalls. On Saturday mornings the Wild Oats Farmers Market at Sedgefield (7.30am-11.30am) and the Harvest Time Farmers Market (8am-12pm) provide an excellent opportunity to stock up on local farmers’ produce. The Scarab Craft Market in Sedgefield is open from 8am-12.30pm and there is a Sunday craft market on Thesen Islands during the summer months.

Featherbed Nature Reserve

Featherbed Nature Reserve, a South African Heritage Site, provides for a wonderful family outing. Cross the lagoon on a ferry, climb to the top of the Western Head on a 4x4 unimog vehicle, then take a guided trail down again. Finish your excursion with lunch under the milkwoods.

Animal sanctuaries

The area between Knysna and Keurbooms is home to a number of wildlife sanctuaries including the Knysna Elephant Park, the Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and the Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre.

Annual festivals

Don’t forget the popular festivals celebrated every year: the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras in May, the Knysna Oyster Festival in July and Gastronomica in September.

Knysna... Spring is soft and silky. Autumn tingles on the skin like champagne. Winter is crisp as an apple. And our African summer bronzes the soul with its pure sunlight. Whatever the season, Knysna stays green. It's warm, temperate climate makes it the perfect all-year round destination. A place where days are packed with promise...

Getting There:

If you are visiting South Africa from abroad, you will probably fly to either Cape Town or Johannesburg. From these airports you can take a domestic flight to George. There are several budget airlines that fly between Johannesburg and George. George is less than one hour’s drive from Knysna and offers a wide range of car hire companies.

Alternatively, you can drive directly from Cape Town to Knysna in around 5 hours on the N2. The route takes you across some amazing countryside. The R62 is an alternative scenic route, particularly if you are planning to visit Montague and/or Oudtshoorn.

From George airport, follow the N2 to Knysna, passing Wilderness and Sedgefield. On entering Knysna, continue along Main Street, passing through town until you reach the turn-off into George Rex Drive. Turn right here and follow the signs to Leisure Isle. You will pass the Knysna Golf Course on your left. At the causeway, turn right onto Armstrong Drive to Leisure Isle. Continue on the causeway until you reach a stop sign and the guard hut, where you will turn left. This road, Cearn Drive, will take you along the Knysna Lagoon waterfront which becomes Bayswater Drive, until you reach Bollard Beach. Just past Bollard Beach, on Bayswater Drive, is Bollard Road and we are on this corner! 105 Bayswater Drive…..