Outeniqua Hop Route

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The OUTENIQUA HOP ROUTE was formed in 2000 by local tourism businesses who got together to form a route from the ocean at Herold’s Bay in the south, via the farmlands of Geelhoutboom and Blanco and then over the Montagu Pass to Herold and Waboomskraal in the Mountains to the north. The route has been modelled on other successful routes such as the Wine Routes and the Midlands Meander in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The Hop route has since grown to include other parts of George and Herold as well as Wilderness and Mossel Bay and is still expanding.

The name of the route is a play on words:

OUTENIQUA (the majestic mountain range that can always be seen along the route)

COUNTRY (most establishments are situated in the country or open areas)

HOP (inspired from the abundance of ‘hops’ grown in the nearby mountains and the area around George being the only place in South Africa where ‘hops’ grow plus tourists can ‘hop’ from place to place enjoying all the route offers)

Waboomskraal, Herold, as well as parts of Blanco, are home to hops growing. They are a unique attraction to the route and cones are harvested in February and March.

The route inspires something in everyone and is magnificently scenic. It offers accommodation, Wedding & Function venues, Restaurants, Tea Gardens, Spa Treatments, Golf courses, Activities include: strawberry picking, miniature steam train experience, cheese & wine tasting, horse-riding, putt-putt, game viewing, canoeing, kloofing, abseiling, guided forest, beach and bird walks, shark cage diving, browsing through art galleries, nurseries and even an orchid hot house. Discover marine life in tidal pools under a full moon…..