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Schoone Oordt Country House
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This elegant Victorian manor house has been lovingly restored to create a sophisticated boutique hotel that oozes warmth and hospitality. Luxurious guest rooms with exquisite décor are matched by the fantastic facilities on offer; the lush gardens boast a sparkling saltwater pool, fragrant rose garden and an intimate conservatory restaurant passionate about producing good food and wine.
Located in the historic Swellendam on the doorstep of the fabulous Garden Route, this is the perfect choice as a stopover or for those seeking some rest and relaxation away from the city.
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Facilities & Activities
The stunning Schoone Oordt Country House sits amidst an oasis of tranquil fountains, fragrant rose gardens and beautifully landscaped grounds. If you’re looking for somewhere to relax, the fabulous saltwater pool has plenty of sunbeds and parasols for lounging. Within the manor house itself, you can sit with a good book by the fire or enjoy a DVD on a cleverly disguised flat screen TV in the stylish but cosy bar and lounge. For the ultimate indulgence spa treatments can be arranged at the nearby Rain Forest Day Spa (additional charges apply).
The area around Schoone Oordt offers a huge range of activities including hiking, golf, river trips, mountain biking, and horse-trails, as well as visits to the nearby Nature Reserves. Canoeing, paddling, ziplining, microlighting and barging are all available at the nearby Bufflejags Dam and a trip to De Hoop Nature Reserve for seasonal whale watching is a must. Just a short walk from the hotel you’ll find an iconic church, famous Drostdy Museum, lovely art galleries, pottery studio, and delightful gift shops. The staff at Schoone Oordt will be very happy to help you make any arrangements so you can enjoy everything the area has to offer.
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Dining
Schoone Oordt is passionate about food and their menu reflects this with delicious dishes using fresh produce from their own gardens and only the best quality organic and ethical food from small local suppliers and farm markets.
Breakfast is a gourmet affair, beginning with a continental buffet, then the Chef’s choice of starter – usually a unique poached or sautéed fruit, followed by a main breakfast dish. Traditional bacon and eggs are always available for those that prefer.
During the sunny summer months a complimentary afternoon tea with home-baked sweet and savoury goods is served overlooking the garden. In the cooler winter months complimentary snack platters and a warming welcome drink are offered on arrival.
Intimate dinners can be taken in the delightful Conservatory Restaurant or in the manor house’s cosy dining room. The sophisticated South African menu is inspired by the wide choice of seasonal local produce and complemented by locally sourced vintage wines from the celebrated verdant regions surrounding Swellendam; Robertson and Hermanus. Of course, you can always venture out of the hotel and experience the great restaurants on offer in Swellendam; the staff will be very happy to provide you with their local recommendations.
Rooms
Set in a pretty garden with fragrant roses and fountains, the 10 guest rooms are elegantly decorated with muted, earthy tones and are complemented by beautiful antique furniture and fireplaces. Each room comes with air conditioning, a private balcony or patio, a mini bar with complimentary bottled water, satellite TV and a DVD player. The luxurious en-suite bathrooms are complete with reconditioned Victorian baths, twin basins, oversized showers, and underfloor heating. There are plenty of extra touches that make your stay just that little bit more comfortable; bath robes, slippers and an ‘in case you forgot’ box offering a range of useful holiday must-haves including organic mosquito repellent and headache tablets!
The 2 Standard Rooms are located on the first floor with a balcony while the Luxury Rooms are found on the ground floor and have private patios. Spacious and modern, they still manage to retain the Victorian feel of the manor house.
Tucked away on the edge of a small lush and shady forest, sitting alongside the Koornlands River, is the romantic Honeymoon Suite with an exquisitely carved four-poster bed, over-sized bathroom and large hearth.
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Family
Schoone Oordt love having families to stay and will do everything they can to make your visit as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. Kids will enjoy the saltwater pool and there are plenty of family-friendly activities on offer nearby including a petting farm, horse-riding, tractor rides, paint-balling, and canoeing, paddling, zip-lining and barging at Umshanti at the Bufflegags Dam. If you let the hotel know what kind of activities you’re interested in, they will advise and assist you to ensure that you make the most of your stay.
There is a lovely Family Cottage which is the restored Coach House and ideal for a family of 4. Set away from the other rooms, it boasts a mezzanine loft area with two extended-length single beds and an extended-length king bed for parents downstairs. There is also a small kitchenette which is great for preparing snacks or warming bottles, should you need to. For larger families there is the option of interlinking Standard Rooms (connected via a balcony) which would suit those with older children.
Additionally, there is a Family Suite which is perfect for larger families, comfortably sleeping two adults and four children in the bunk beds, with loads of space for a cot (or two) in the main bedroom area. We love the separate children’s room in this suite and can just imagine the laughs and delightful stories that’ll be shared between those bunk beds long after bedtime. There are some genuinely thoughtful touches too, such as the extra child-height basin in the bathroom. During the day parents can watch over the children playing on the circular lawn from the room’s large terrace, while enjoying afternoon tea.
The restaurant welcomes children and if you have a specific meal request, you just need to let the hotel know when you make your reservation. Cots and highchairs are available, and if you fancy a night out or ‘dinner a deux’ the hotel can arrange a babysitter (fee applicable). Children 6 & under stay free when sharing with their parents.
Sustainability
Schoone Oordt ensure no food waste by giving all usual leftovers to staff, leftovers from functions to a local feeding project, and any scrapings and unusable leftovers go to a local pig farm. They donate used slippers to neighbouring old age homes and reuse leftover soap by boiling them down and remaking them into larger bars for staff. Additionally, they support ‘Huis Adaliah’, a local safe haven for orphaned or abandoned babies and for mothers and their babies that are to be given up for adoption.
Location
Schoone Oordt is located in the historic town of Swellendam, which sits at the foot of the beautiful Langeberg Mountains. It is approx 240km from Cape Town and connects the Southern Overberg with the Garden Route.
It is just over a 2 hour drive to Cape Town International Airport and a 4 hour drive to Plettenberg Bay.