Your Knysna Weekend Itinerary: From Check-In To Check-Out

Posted on October 27, 2023November 14, 2023

From sunning yourself on blue-flag beaches and hiking through indigenous forests to exploring coffee-haunts and taking in art, Knysna offers something to every kind of holiday-goer.

The Turbine Hotel & Spa is ideally situated on the trendy canals of Thesen Island, giving you access to Knysna’s splendours, but still enabling you to retreat from the bustle to your very own oasis along the waterways.

Here’s our take on the ideal weekend itinerary with us!

Day 1

Morning: Getting Here

Depending on where you’re travelling from, embrace the journey to Thesen Island and make an adventure of it! The Garden Route is so-called for its lush natural beauty, and much of it can be taken in from the roads that bring you to Knysna.

The Outeniqua Pass (coming from Cape Town) provides stunning views over the ocean as it drops down to sea level (watch those speeding cameras), setting the tone for your weekend in this stunning part of South Africa.

If you’re approaching Knysna from the Storms River side, take a look at the suspension bridge and make a mental note to visit it later on.

For a detailed description on how to get to The Turbine Hotel & Spa, click here.

Mid-Morning: Arrival

After being checked in by our friendly front desk team, you will be shown to your room. Gawk at the lovingly restored machinery from our hotel’s history as a power plant.

Enjoy settling into your accommodations and revel in the elegant décor and views over the canals. Unpack your belongings and enjoy a leisurely Nespresso as you rest after your journey.

Lunch

Head down to the Island Café, our hotel’s in-house eatery for a wonderful dining experience.. The menu is extensive and caters to all tastes in a relaxed setting – outdoor seating options are either on the pool deck overlooking the canals, or on the other side of the building where a walkway lines another channel of water. Either way – the views are beautiful; enough to flip the switch to immediate ‘holiday mode’.

Afternoon: Post-Lunch

You get two types of people after lunch: The ones who enjoy a little nap, and the ones who like to expel their sleepiness with physical activity, like a walk. The best part is that there are no rules on vacation, so do whatever your heart desires.

For those who do want to stretch their legs, the walkways along the canal are cobbled and well-maintained. Walking (or cycling) is a wonderful way to get a sense of the island itself.

For those who haven’t packed their bikes, the activities centre across the road from our hotel has bikes and kayaks for hire. Our fabulous activity centre also offers various packages based in and around Knysna, both on water and on land. Pop in here to book an excursion for tomorrow – something like a hike or a sunset cruise.

Evening

Depending on how you occupied yourself after lunch, you might be the one heading indoors for a nap now!

But for those whose energy cylinders are still firing, late afternoon is a beautiful time of day in Knysna.

Go for a stroll along the Knysna Lagoon, enjoy sundowners from The Gastro Pub, our character-filled pub boasting wonderful specials and live music, or traverse the many bridges on the waterways of Thesen Island as you explore this safe and beautiful area. For those interested in history, our hotel has a fascinating heritage.

After dinner, either in-house or at a restaurant of your choice, it’s time to head to bed and enjoy falling asleep to the lapping sound of the water.

Day 2:

Morning

If you booked an adventure activity, like a hike, kayak, SUP or alternative tour, through the activity centre yesterday, this morning will be spent outdoors enjoying the sea, sun and pristine landscape surrounding Knysna – enjoy!

If you’re venturing further afield, remember that Knysna has incredible adventure activities like zip-lining, bungee-jumping and white-water rafting (all based around the Storms River). Enquire at our front desk and we’d be happy to help you arrange any outing you wish.

For those travelling with kids, there are also sanctuaries nearby like the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary (55 km) , which the little ones – and grown-ups – absolutely love!