Betty’s Bay penguins on the way to Hermanus
Betty’s Bay is the stop for African penguins at Stony Point, a separate coastal reserve from Hermanus itself. A wooden boardwalk takes visitors through the colony, keeping people on a defined route while the birds occupy their own shoreline. It works as the focus of a visit or as part of a day travelling along the Overberg coast towards Walker Bay.
The useful booking distinction is what happens after the penguins. Some outings continue to the Cliff Path for observation from land; others offer a whale boat at an extra charge or include its ticket. Choose around that difference rather than treating every coastal excursion as the same experience. Our whale-watching guide explains the land and boat choices in more detail.
Trips to the penguin coast
For a coastal walk, choose the Cliff Path trip. The other options include penguin entry, and one also includes a whale boat ticket.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Stony Point and whale boat from Cape Town
- Whale watching boat trip entrance
- Stony Point Penguin Colony entrance
- Shared guide and vehicle
This shared day trip includes pickup and return to your Cape Town accommodation.
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Penguin colony and Cape Agulhas day trip
- Penguin colony entry fee
- Cape Agulhas entry fee
- Professional driver-guide
The optional whale boat ticket costs extra on the day. Confirm the pickup point.
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Hermanus and Stony Point from Cape Town
- Registered local guide
- Visit to Stony Point Penguin Colony
- Visit to Gearing's Point
The day includes the Cliff Path and an opportunity to watch whales from shore. Confirm your pickup address.
Check availability →Penguins and the Hermanus coast from Cape Town
These three Cape Town day trips visit Stony Point. Compare a coastal walk, a penguin entry package with an optional boat and a shared trip including both penguin and whale-boat admission.
Which coastal day trip fits?
| Plan | Included focus | Boat arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Eight-hour land-focused outing | Cape Town hotel pickup, local guide, Stony Point visit, Cliff Path and Gearing’s Point | Land-based whale observation |
| Eleven-hour coast and Cape Agulhas outing | Cape Town pickup and return, driver-guide, penguin colony and Cape Agulhas entry | Optional, paid separately |
| Nine-hour shared boat and penguin outing | Cape Town accommodation pickup and return, shared guide/driver, water and both admissions | Whale-watching boat ticket included |
The land-focused excursion includes a visit to Stony Point; allow separately for colony admission when considering that option. The Cape Agulhas itinerary includes penguin entry but leaves the optional boat cruise as an additional purchase. For a day built around going to sea, the shared boat-and-penguin package includes the whale boat and Stony Point entry together. Lunch remains a separate consideration rather than a reason to assume that all-day transport covers every expense.
All three excursions start in Cape Town. If you are already staying in Hermanus, plan your own journey to Betty’s Bay or consider the wider tour overview to separate local activities from trips departing Cape Town.
Stony Point visitor hours and payment
The visitor sheet dated 19 May 2026 gives gate hours of 08:00 to 16:30, with the final permits at 15:45. The boardwalk closes at 16:00. Plan backwards from the boardwalk closing time, especially if you want to continue towards Hermanus afterwards. Office hours serve a different purpose and should not shape a late arrival at the colony.
Stony Point has used cashless payment since 2 February 2026. Cards and digital payment are accepted, and permits can be obtained at the counter or online. Online purchase is an option rather than a universal requirement. Bring a suitable payment method even when making a spontaneous stop.
On 9 November 2026, the online display showed adult entry at 45 ZAR and children aged 4 to 17 at 30 ZAR. Those are displayed amounts for that date: the dated tariff sheet ended on 31 August 2026, so use them as a budgeting reference and check the current charge for your visit. Tour packages with entry included have their own package prices.
Coastal birds and considerate viewing
Watch from the boardwalk and designated coastal areas. Give penguins space, avoid feeding or touching them and keep cameras and selfie sticks inside the edge of the walkway. Do not climb fences for a closer photograph. Dogs, running and cycling are prohibited, and smoking is prohibited on the boardwalk. This is a wildlife visit shaped by the colony’s boundaries, rather than a close-contact animal encounter.
Keep the same patient approach to other coastal birds: watch what is present rather than expecting a fixed species list or a specialist bird guide on a general day trip. Swimming among the penguins is not part of the visit. For a separate beach stop, see the Hermanus beaches and walking options.
Alternative penguin plans
If your route centres on the Cape Peninsula instead of the Overberg coast, consider Penguins at Boulders Beach. Stony Point makes sense for a coastal journey towards Hermanus; choose the colony that fits the route rather than adding both simply to repeat the same theme. The Hermanus route guide covers the coastal alternative through Betty’s Bay.
Planning a penguin visit
Are the penguins in Hermanus town?
The colony is at Stony Point in Betty’s Bay. Treat it as a separate coastal stop, with travel time in your day rather than a walk from the Hermanus centre.
Which day trip includes a whale boat?
The shared nine-hour package includes a boat ticket. The Cape Agulhas outing offers it as an extra, while the land-focused trip visits the Cliff Path and Gearing’s Point.
Can I pay cash at Stony Point?
The reserve has been cashless since 2 February 2026. Use a card or digital payment, or buy the permit online.