Located about an hour north of Cape Town on South Africa’s west coast, Yzerfontein is a laid-back harbor town whose streets are lined with beach bungalows and mom and pop restaurants where you can nosh on fresh fish and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Yzerfontein’s biggest draw is Sixteen Mile Beach, which stretches all the way to West Coast National Park, home to some impressive hiking and biking trails through lush fynbos shrubland, including scenic Postberg Trail. Once in town, explore Yzerfontein’s original buildings that were used to ship salt to Cape Town at the start of the 20th century — specifically, the town’s oldest building, distinguished by its whitewashed walls and thatched roof.

Summer in the southern hemisphere runs from December to March while winter is from June to August. If you want to take advantage of the town's proximity to Sixteen Mile Beach, book your Yzerfontein accommodation for the summer, when the days are long and sunny. Alternatively, the shoulder seasons are also wonderful times to explore the region. During spring, the surrounding fields explode in a sea of yellow and white flowers, and in the fall, the warm ocean water is still perfect for an afternoon swim after a morning hike on one of the many nearby trails. It stays relatively mild in winter, though it can get chilly enough for a jacket. This is a great time of year to check out some of the town's inviting restaurants and cozy cafes.

Sixteen Mile Beach

Sixteen Mile Beach is the longest continuous beach in South Africa. The powdery white sand borders glistening blue water and is perfect for spending a day basking in the sun, going for a sunset horseback ride, or trying your hand at windsurfing. The beach also offers a prime vantage point for spotting whales from September through November.

Dassen Island

As South Africa's second largest island, Dassen Island is home to the region's native seabirds, including nearly 70,000 African penguins. Since the island is now a nature reserve, it is not open to the public, but you can take a boat tour that gets you close enough to see the penguins and tortoises that live there.

West Coast National Park

Wrapped around the azure Langebaan lagoon, this oceanfront park is full of hiking and biking trails, including the 20-mile Eve’s Trail that follows the footsteps of a woman who is believed to have lived 117,000 years ago. Aside from hiking, try kayaking the lagoon or bird watching at one of the park's four bird hides, where you can spot little stints, curlew sandpipers, and cape weavers.