Fish Hoek

Fish Hoek lies long the False Bay coast road from Simons Town

Fish Hoek lies long the False Bay coast road from Simon’s Town. Fish Hoek is a placid town with lots of tourism oppertunities. Most of the Fish Hoek residents are retired but it still has a busy main street with market stalls competing with shoppers on the pavements. The long sandy beach is one of the safest in the Cape for bathing and body boarding and when the wind picks up, hobie-cats and windsurfers take to the waves. From July to October whales come into Fish Hoek bay and loll around just 50 metres from the shore in preparation for mating and giving birth. Huge schools of dolphins are also sometimes seen.

To prohibit the raucous thirsty sailors stopping here for a drink on their way to Simon’s Town navy base, the original 1818 farm was only granted on the condition that there was no public wine house. One hundred and eighty years on, there is still no liquor store and any pub that opens up seems to go out of business very quickly due to lack of customers.

The name Fish Hoek is the anglicized version of Vishoek (‘Fish Glen’) and is surrounded by rugged mountains. The valley, in which the village of Fish Hoek lies, runs directly east to west across the Cape Peninsula. The valley ends on it’s western side at Chapman’s Bay – at certain times of the year the favourite playground for whales visiting from the south Atlantic.

HISTORICAL VIEW

Peer’s Cave

Located in the mountains above Fish Hoek, a rock-shelter used by prehistoric man over 15 000 years ago. The cave, also known as Schildergat (‘painters cave’) because of the rock paintings on the walls, was named for Victor Peers who discovered the first of the skeletons of the Fish Hoek Man in 1927. The cave is now a National Monument.

Fish Hoek Valley Museum

Run by the community and depicting the area’s history.

ACTIVITIES

Paddleski and Surfing

Head of Muizenberg. Fish Hoek or Kommetjie

Sailing

Fish Hoek Beach. Fish Hoek Beach Sailing Club

Underwater Diving

The Fish Hoek waters offer various opportunities for underwater diving. The area from Jager’s Walk to Glencairn has been declared a marine reserve. Diving spots include Sunny Cove, located on the south side of Fish Hoek Bay and the Quarry, 2 km south of Fish Hoek. An interactive CD-ROM with 48 drive sites is available from the info offices in the Southern Peninsula.

Walks

Walk up Elsies Peak from the Ravine Steps and enjoy spectacular views of the Fish Hoek Valley and False Bay. Walks to Peers Cave are arranged by the Fish Hoek Valley Museum.

Sport

Athletics

Fish Hoek Athletics Club

Biking

Rent a bicycle from Regal Cycles

Bowls

Fish Hoek Bowling Club

Cricket & Hockey

Fish Hoek Cricket and Hockey Club

Soccer

Fish Hoek Amateur Foothall Association

Squash

Fish Hoek Squash Club

WHERE TO STAY

Calders Kings Hotels

Tudor House By The Sea

Luxury waterfront self catering apartments. Exclusive small establishment, owner managed, finalist last six consecutive years – Best Small Seaside Self catering in South Africa. Excellent whale watching from apartments, close to Cape Point, local vineyards. Train service on doorstep. Cape Town 35 km, area very scenic.

Accommodation in and around Western Cape