Some of my happiest childhood memories were made in the famous Garden Route town of Knysna. Lazy summer days were spent splashing in the shallow waters, trying to catch lightning-fast fish with a net. Taking a small sailboat out onto the smooth lagoon waters with my cousin, often getting stuck on a sandbank, was all part of the fun. Our humble abode was a ramshackle hut in a forest clearing near the water’s edge.
More recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying a luxurious stay at one of the best hotels in Knysna. Once housing a power station built in 1939 and 1940, the heritage site was painstakingly transformed into the unique and quirky 5-star The Turbine Boutique Hotel & Spa. With a rich history spanning sailing ships, timber extraction and gold discovery, discover my top 5 reasons to stay at this extraordinary, one-of-a-kind establishment.
- LOCATION
Located on Thesen Islands, The Turbine opened its doors to the public on 12 August 2010 after 3 arduous years of restoration and renovations. With a variety of restaurants, bars, cafes, designer clothing and home decor stores within walking distance of the hotel, the location is hard to beat and offers spellbinding canal and lagoon views.
The waterfront marina development features residential and commercial properties and has 19 individual islands separated by canals, with historically important buildings retained where possible. The Thesen Island Heritage Walk offers a fascinating insight into the maritime history of the island and the Thesen family who arrived from Norway in 1870, contributing to the area’s economic development.
2. WOW FACTORS!
I always experience a sense of anticipation and excitement when walking through the front door of a fabulous hotel for the first time. But before you do that, take some time to admire the hotel’s magnificent and intriguing architectural facade.
Stepping through the bright red front doors of this 5-star boutique hotel, the striking and chic interior that greets you is an exceptional blend of fully restored industrial elements and bold, vibrant furnishings and local artwork. The visual sensory feast will continue to delight you as you further explore the hotel’s unique decor and history.
Rooms
Choose from a range of luxury accommodation, comprising 26 individually decorated rooms that feature Standard Rooms, Luxury Rooms, a Honeymoon Suite and 2 self-contained suites adjacent to the hotel. My blissful haven for two nights, the Reeds Room, was spacious and comfortable with a balcony offering sweeping views of the hotel’s crystal-blue swimming pool and canal-side homes.
Located in the Lagoon Wing, the beautifully furnished room uses soft aquatic hues like turquoise, silver, and pale greens of the eelgrass and reeds that line the famous estuary. Featuring a host of creature comforts, the room provides you with everything you need for a most enjoyable stay. The amenities include, among others, an uber-comfortable extra-length king bed with high thread count linen, en suite bathroom, free high-speed WiFi, air-conditioning, iPod docking station, bathrobe, and slippers.
Eco-friendly Initiatives
We all know that water is one of our most precious resources. Due to severe drought conditions in Knysna and surrounds, The Turbine implements water conservation initiatives with a complete ban on non-essential water usage. The various energy and water-saving measures taken include the use of water shut off devices, rainwater harvesting and water-saving fittings. They have also recycled the entire power station building and its materials and make use of solar panels and heat pumps.
Supporting Local Talent
The Turbine is a proud supporter of local talent around Knysna, turning some of their light and airy spaces into an informal art gallery with the assistance of Knysna Fine Arts Gallery. Displaying a wonderful collection of works in the public areas and bedrooms, if you see something that you like, you can buy your favourite art piece and take it home with you.
The art gallery is a short walk away in Knysna’s historical Thesen House. Featuring exhibitions by the finest South African artists, along with some international artists, admire fine paintings, sculptures, mixed media, ceramics, and photography that are on display.
4. DINING & DRINKS
The Turbine’s two restaurants, The Island Café, and The Gastro Pub, each offers a unique dining experience.
Savour delicious a la carte cuisine throughout the day at the retro The Island Café. Your day simply cannot begin without a scrumptious breakfast – I’m quite partial to their superb Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny and steaming cappuccinos.
Meals can be served indoors amongst the restored original turbines or outdoors, where you can enjoy pool and canal views from the terrace, perfect for leisurely al fresco lunches and dinners. During the cooler months, well-positioned open fireplaces warm up the spacious interior. The upstairs dining area offers a secluded venue for more intimate dinners.
While alcohol may not be served during Lockdown Level 3, it would be remiss of me not to mention their extensive beverage list featuring a wide range of fabulous local wines, sparkling wines, spirits, beers and imported champagnes.
The service was friendly and efficient, and staff members went the extra mile when ordering items that weren’t necessarily on the menu. Despite being a 5-star hotel, the menu was reasonably priced, and in some cases, less than what you would pay in Cape Town.
While The Gastro Pub is currently closed due to COVID restrictions until 15 February 2021, I must tell you about this cool, quirky pub built around the hotel’s fifth turbine. It’s the place to be for a fun time with friends and family while enjoying exquisite lagoon views from the outdoor deck. The laid-back vibe, utterly delicious gourmet finger food menu and possibly THE best gin cocktails will make you want to linger longer. Their signature gin cocktails are fantastic!
The interior is warm and cosy with comfortable armchairs and banquet seating. These, along with high ceilings, stone walls and a beautiful mahogany bar create a welcoming ambience. A massive lifting hook and chains dating from the power plant days takes centre stage. Let’s hope that they can reopen in mid-February 2021.
Word has it that time spent in Knysna would be incomplete without a stop at popular île de pain, with their pastéis de nata achieving legendary status. The Turbine kindly sponsored breakfast at île de pain prior to our drive back to Cape Town.
The vibey café-style restaurant is a short walk from The Turbine and offers a sumptuous feast for all senses. Their breakfast menu is jam-packed with healthy, hearty breakfasts that awaken your tastebuds in record time.
Expect beautifully presented dishes packed with vibrant colours and fresh flavours and a delicious variety of coffee, tea, drinking chocolate and smoothies. Be sure to stock up on gorgeous deli fare, pastries, breads, and food on the go before you leave.
4. FIND ME AT THE SPA!
The Turbine Spa may be small, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t indulge in some relaxing head-to-toe treatments with their skilled therapists. Offering a tranquil oasis in the heart of the hotel, prepare to get your bliss on with a revitalising pamper session or two.
This well-known Spa features single and double treatment rooms and the extensive Spa Treatment menu offers something for everyone, including body, facial and beauty treatments for women and men. The exotic mosaic tiled Rasul Steam Room and exclusive Spa Massage Pedi Chair are some of the Spa’s distinctive features.
Choose from a wide range of indulgent Pamper Packages and Signature Treatments. Joyce had me floating on air after a heavenly massage. She was able to ease the tension in my back, shoulders, and legs almost immediately. I enjoyed it so much that I went back the next day for a blissful facial that left my skin hydrated and glowing.
Don’t miss out on enjoying an indulgent pampering treatment when you stay at The Turbine. Take advantage of their amazing 50% off special deals. Click here for all the details.
5. ACTIVITIES
With beaches a no-go zone, for the time being, the Turbine Water Club is your go-to adventure centre for leisure activities. They offer a variety of water sports and land-based activities. Enjoy lagoon sunset cruises, bicycle rides around Thesen Islands, canoeing on the calm lagoon waters, guided forest walks and FREE Knysna Seahorse tours.
The Sunset Lagoon Cruise was the perfect start to our stay. Gliding out on to the lagoon waters with barely a breeze, Keith, our witty and knowledgeable boat captain, expertly guided the Pontoon barge towards the world-famous Knysna Heads. The ever-changing lagoon and sky hues were mesmerising.
Sipping on crisp sparkling wine (permitted at the time), we made our way past the scenic Featherbed restaurant on the Western Head before spending a bit of time near the Knysna Heads, watching catamarans and fishing boats cruising by. Before heading back to shore, we cruised slowly along the fascinating channels of Thesen Islands.
The Circles in the Forest hike makes for a memorable experience. Situated in the Goldfield (“Goudveld”) forest in Knysna, you are surrounded by nature’s abundant beauty in every direction you look.
Breathe in the fresh forest air and marvel at the large trees, the lush density of ferns and the forest floor while walking the short 3km or 9km circle routes. This is pure soul food and simply magical!
Our itinerary included an adrenaline-filled Knysna Ziplining experience courtesy of SA Forest Adventures, but it was unfortunately cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions. As disappointing as this was, the expert team at SA Forest Adventures place the safety of their team members and public first. Hopefully, I will get to experience this activity in the future.
Would I return to The Turbine? Absolutely YES! They tick all the right boxes and are truly one-of-a-kind. Please support the local travel, tourism, hospitality and wine industries as much as you can. They need your support now more than ever. Each staff member that I encountered offered exceptional service and warm, genuine hospitality that one doesn’t find in every 5-star establishment. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and right at home.
Contact Details
Reservations Tel: +27 44 302 5746
Email: reservations@turbinehotel.co.za
Connect on Social Media
www.turbinehotel.co.za
https://www.facebook.com/turbinehotel/
https://www.instagram.com/turbinehotel/
Disclosure: I was invited to stay at The Turbine Boutique Hotel & Spa as part of a media tour arranged by Theresa Gibbon. All views and images are my own unless stated otherwise (feature image courtesy of The Turbine). The Ford Everest we travelled in was kindly sponsored by Ford South Africa >> www.ford.co.za
I would like to thank each and every person I met during my stay for their genuine warmth and hospitality. All Covid-19 safety and hygiene protocols are in place for your peace of mind.
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Yours in Travel, Food & Wine.
xoxo
