Zonnestraal

Zonnestraal cushions itself into the sand dunes and thick fynbos veld of Paternoster’s shoreline, overlooking the beautiful blue waters of the West Coast. With its wide open living, dining and entertaining spaces, that close and open with ease, allowing the landscape to be an additional guest at every gathering. Moments around that gorgeous fireplace, cooking up a seafood storm in the open-plan kitchen, scattered on the sofas and cosy armchairs, or planted at the tables. Playing games and nibbling on freshly shucked oysters and buttery lobsters from the little harbour. Charcuterie boards with crispy bakes all sourced from the local deli. Slow afternoons on the loungers or in your own bed, listening to the plovers, the oystercatchers, the gulls and the Egyptian geese sing their coastal song. The waves rising and curling, the resident dogs playing fetch with their walkers along the beach. Nature – that additional guest – finding its way indoors, into your holiday, almost every hour of the day.

Family beach bonding at its best

Whichever way the wind blows, you’ll have your getaway goblets overflowing with holiday fun. If the coastal storms are brewing, then it’s to the fireplace you go. Deep sunken bathtubs. A TV room for some casual family viewing. Board Games and cooking lessons. If the sun’s out then it’s to the beach you go. Nurturing nature’s wonders. Long walks and swims. SUPing, surfing and seashell scouring. Into the village for a seafood feasting at The Noisy Oyster. A sneaky tipple at the Panty Bar. A fabulous fishermen-style lunch at Gaaitjie. Or if you can get a reservation in advance, dine at one of the best restaurants in the world – Wolfgat – for a full-foraging affair! Riding bikes around town or horses along the shoreline. Whatever tickles your fancy, Paternoster dishes it all up in abundance. For you to frolic around town barefoot, lapping up the West Coast vibes that have been cast around this town for hundreds of years, by the Fishermen, and their own family’s souvenirs.

What we love!

•  Early morning dolphin and whale watching from the upstairs or downstairs deck.
• Heading off to the local bakery – Die Winkel Op Paternoster, Dispens – as a daily ritual for delicious warm breads and bakes that will be munched on over the course of the day. Intermittent feasting is a mandatory holiday thing.
• Finding those special shells and nature’s treasures on the morning and evening beach walks.
• Spending hours picking mussels on the rocks. Then returning home to wash and prepare a delicious moules marinières, sailor-style.
• Warm evenings spent beside the fireplace. Those special family moments of connecting over board games and snacks. Regaling the day’s adventures.
• The property is beautifully furnished in soft, neutral tones and textures, with the occasional bold statements of colour displayed in the artworks and collectable ornaments. It’s really all about the landscape and not detracting from what’s going on around you. There’s also plenty of literature to dive deep into some juicy novels.

What you need to know…

• The front stoep is lovely for hanging out on, whatever the weather is doing, as it’s perfectly cocooned from the elements.
• For those that love an equestrian adventure, West Coast Beach Rides will have your horses delivered to you on the beach, and off you go for a canter through the shallow waves.
• Visit the Paternoster Market on Sundays – a fabulous food and craft market at the Paternoster Hotel, where you can source some of the locals’ creations on sea-inspired souvenirs.
• Bring your bikes and cycle around the village. You don’t need a car, you can go by foot or by bike to all of the local attractions. If you forgot your bikes, you can hire some from WOWeBIKES. Making that journey even easier…
• If Zonnestraal is not available on your dates, browse our full collection of exclusive-use holiday houses in Paternoster or on the West Coast.

Reviewed by Colleen Ogilvie