Bayhouse - leisure isle, knysna, garden route, western cape, family

Situated on a picturesque lagoon beach on Leisure Island in Knysna, Bayhouse is ideal for a family beach holiday. This six-bedroom family holiday home has nearly 50m of beach frontage and arguably one of the best views of the famous Knysna Heads.With accommodation for up to 10 people (minimum of 4), this large, up market, 4 Star, self catering home is superbly located and well-equipped to cater for families with children of all ages. The owners have spared no expense in making this home comfortable for their guests and creating a real home-away-from-home. Just pack your bags and we’ll provide the rest!

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.



*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.*

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...