Things to do Gordon’s Bay

Long before it took its current name, Gordon’s Bay was called Fish Hoek, evidence of which is still visible on the outside wall of the local post office, decades before the better-known Fish Hoek on the other side of False Bay existed. Its modern name comes from Colonel Robert Jacob Gordon, a Scottish-born officer in Dutch East India Company service, who charted the bay in 1773 while on a botanical expedition and reportedly had to be talked into leaving.

Today it’s the smallest of the three Helderberg towns, tucked at the foot of the Hottentots Holland mountains on False Bay’s northeastern corner, built around the old harbour and Bikini Beach.

Outdoor Adventures

Bikini Beach holds Blue Flag status, one of only four in the Western Cape, and the old harbour is worth a wander in its own right. The Hottentots Holland mountains rise almost directly behind the town for anyone after a proper hike, and the Helderberg wine route and brewery are ten minutes away.

Food and Dining

The Old Village near the main beach carries most of the dining, restaurants, pubs and small shops built into a genuine old fishing-hamlet setting. Strand and Somerset West are minutes away for a wider range.

Family Friendly Activities

Gordon’s Bay is small, three shopping centres and two primary schools, no high school, so older children typically commute to Strand or Somerset West. It suits families who want a quiet, close-knit coastal setting over a full range of local amenities.

Nightlife and Culture

Life here runs at a small-town pace, restaurants and pubs in the Old Village rather than a nightlife scene. Strand and Somerset West pick up anything more active.

Gordon’s Bay by the Numbers

The Short Version

Gordon’s Bay trades size for character, a small, scenic harbour town with a name and history borrowed from an 18th-century Scottish explorer.