Die Blou Huis – Beach House in Stilbaai

Self-catering wooden double storey holiday accommodation for 12 right on the Son en See blue flag beach in Still Bay West. Die Blou Huis was built right on the edge of the water, way back in 1913, more than a century ago when Still Bay was still untouched by modern life. The house sits on stilts or poles lifting it up above water level and allowing the water to spill in under the house. Although this is not happening all the time, during extremely high tides the water sometimes reaches the house. How much nearer to the beach can you be?

Here you are constantly aware of the ever changing song of the sea. The whispering of waves running up the shore when the wind is down and the tide is low. Or the threatening thundering noise of crashing waves when the wind is high and the tide comes in. Always moving, to and fro, high and low, almost hypnotising, sometimes soothing, sometimes agitating the senses.

The house faces east, thus while sitting on the deck you can witness spectacular sunrises over the bay. You can enjoy the magnificent view while watching the holiday makers enjoy various water sports as far as the blue flag main beach on the eastern side of the bay. Take a leisurely stroll along the beach past the ancient fish traps and as far as the Stilbaai harbour. Laugh at the antics of the seagulls fighting for a morsel of food. Set your soul free…

Still Bay is a popular coastal holiday destination in the Hessequa area along the Garden Route in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Huddled around the Goukou River estuary and positively heaven for water sports lovers, fishermen, bird-watchers, etc.

Accommodation at Die Blou Huis

Bedrooms

This double storey beach house can sleep 12 guests in 6 bedrooms spread over both floors, 3 on each floor. All the rooms have double beds except for one room on the ground level which comes with 2 single beds. Each room has bed lamps, some form of a cupboard, wardrobe and/or drawer chest and dressing table. The bedroom next to the TV room on the ground floor has a door to the passage as well as to the TV room.

The two top level bedrooms situated at the front of the house have large glass doors opening onto the wooden front deck. Their occupants enjoy the most glorious and priceless view of the Bay. As well as the opportunity to witness an indescribable sunrise on clear mornings.

Bed linen as well as other bedding are provided. Guests should kindly bring along their own bath and beach towels, though.

The way to the top floor is by means of a narrow, steep wooden staircase with handrails as well as a safety gate at the top end of the staircase.

Bathrooms

There is a bathroom downstairs, painted blue with a bath, large basin as well as a toilet. In a corner of the back veranda/stoep is a shower with a gas geyser. Next to the entrance from the street to the right is a curious little stone building which upon nearer investigation happens to house a toilet.

The bathroom walls upstairs are painted white and sports a bath with a shower over the bath, complete with a glass splash panel, as well as a basin and large mirror. The toilet and small hand-wash basin is in a separate little room next to the bathroom.

Living areas in Die Blou Huis

Along the frontal side of the house is a spacious enclosed veranda functioning as a living room with ample comfortable seating. (Another guest or two can also sleep here.) Also a dining room with a splendid full view of the Son en See blue flag beach right in front of the house. There is a door on the side of the room allowing passage to the beach-front.

The lounge or TV room has comfortable lounge furniture as well as a TV with DStv Explora and a DVD player hidden in a cabinet. In addition there is a small bookcase offering a number of old classics published by Reader’s Digest as part of their Condensed Books series.

On the top level is a small living space between the rooms where more condensed books are on display. This area opens onto both back and front decks and all the walls on this floor are painted white.

Kitchen facilities

The kitchen is fully equipped for self-catering and offers facilities such as a gas stove with electric oven. Also a microwave oven, fridge, freezer, kettle, toaster, dishwasher as well as crockery, glasses, cutlery and pots and pans.

Laundry facilities

Die Blou Huis comes with a washing machine, outdoor washing line, iron as well as an ironing board.

Die Blou Huis Outside area

Entrance from the street is at the back side of the house where there is uncovered on-site parking. Stroll down the sloping back yard along a winding footpath towards the back door. The back yard is fenced off from the street as well as the beach making it pet friendly for small dogs and safe for small children. Also in the back yard is a covered built-in braai with electric lighting, braai facilities and seating.

There is a large wooden deck along the front of the top floor with a portable braai, table and chairs and an absolutely astounding view of the Indian ocean. There is also a wooden deck along the back side of the top floor with a view of the back yard and the street.

Facilities at Die Blou Huis

• Bed linen as well as other bedding provided
• Towels are not provided – please bring own bath and beach towels
• Hair dryer in some of the rooms
• Child friendly
• Pet friendly for small dogs
• Fully equipped kitchen for self-catering
• A number of movable/portable heaters on both floors
• Fire extinguisher on both floors
• Laundry facilities
• No smoking indoors
• Outdoor built-in barbecue facilities
• Payment by cash or EFT only
• Two wooden decks – top front and back with portable braai facilities
• Portable gas light
• Off-street parking uncovered
• TV with DStv Explora and DVD player
• Cleaning service can be arranged for the account of the guests

Activities and Attractions in Stilbaai and Surrounds

• Blue Flag beaches for swimming and sun bathing, surfing in the breakers, scuba diving, as well as windsurfing and body boarding and more. The Goukou River for canoeing, water skiing, fishing, paddling as well as boating.
• Nature lovers can enjoy bird-watching, hiking, mountain biking, game drives in the area, as well as whale watching in the winter.
• For the curious there are various places to visit such as the ancient fish traps and the shell middens of the ancient people. Also the Blombos Caves, the indigenous garden ‘Tuin op die Brak’ as well as the feeding of the eels. Visit the cheese-producing farm, Kasselshoop or also the local gin distillery, Inverroche for a taste of their gin.
• Still Bay also boasts a lovely golf course, bowling green, tennis courts, squash courts as well as jukskei, chess and miniature golf (Putt-Putt).
• Various gift shops, clothing stores, grocery stores, flea markets as well as side-walk fruit and vegetable stalls. Still Bay also offers various restaurants, real estate agents as well as night life and events organised with holiday makers in mind. There are three banks as well as various ATM’s and one petrol station in town as well as one a few kilometres outside town on the way to Riversdale.
• Still Bay has available all the necessary emergency services such as doctors, pharmacies, dentists as well as vets. Also an efficient and competent S A Police Station and a highly responsive and capable NSRI Station. (National Sea Rescue Institute)

Die Blou Huis Strandhuis in Stilbaai

Selfsorg dubbelverdieping houtvakansiehuis vir 12 op die Son en See blouvlagstrand in Stilbaai-Wes. Gebou meer as ‘n eeu gelede in 1913 reg op die strand toe Stilbaai nog ongerep was. Die huis is gebou op stelte om dit op te lig  bokant die watervlak wat soms tot onder die huis in beweeg.

Hier is jy gedurig bewus van die immer veranderende lied van die see. Die sagte fluister van die branders as die wind stil is en die gety laag. Of so ook die dreigende gedreun as die wind loei en die gety inbeweeg en die branders flenters gegooi word op die strand. Altyd aan die beweeg, in en uit, hoog en laag, amper hipnoties. By tye so strelend, om net so weer om te swaai en die gemoed deurmekaar te woel.

Die huis kyk oos, so jy kan op die dek sit en die onbeskryflikste sonsopkomste beleef. Of jy kan die ander vakansiegangers se watermanewales gade slaan. Slenter langs die strand af verby die eeue oue visvywers tot by die Stilbaaihawe. Lag vir die kaperjolle en geraas van die seemeeue as hulle so begeesterd baklei vir ‘n stukkie kos. Laat jou gees vry…

Akkommodasie

Slaapkamers

Die dubbelverdieping strandhuis kan 12 gaste huisves verspreid oor albei vloere – 3 slaapvertrekke op elke vlak. Al die kamers het dubbelbeddens behalwe een kamer op die onderste vloer wat twee enkelbeddens het. Daar is bedlampies in elke kamer en so ook een of ander vorm van kas of hangkas, laaikas of spieëltafel. Die kamer langs die TV-kamer het ‘n deur na die gang en so ook een direk na die TV-kamer.

Die twee voorste kamers op die boonste vloer het groot glasdeure wat uitloop op die houtdek. So, die bewoners van hierdie twee kamers geniet ‘n weergalose uitsig op die baai en ook die voorreg om op helder oggende die skouspelagtige sonsopkoms te aanskou.

Linne en beddegoed word voorsien, maar nie handdoeke nie, so gaste word versoek om asb. hulle eie bad- en swemhanddoeke saam te bring.

Badkamers in Die Blou Huis

Daar is ‘n blougeverfde badkamer met ‘n bad, groot wasbak en toilet op die onderste vlak. In ‘n hoek van die toegemaakte agterstoep is ‘n stort met ‘n gasgeyser. Regs van die toegangshekkie in die agterplaas staan so ‘n koddige klein klipgeboutjie wat by nadere ondersoek ‘n buitetoilet blyk te wees.

Die mure van die badkamer op die boonste vlak is wit en dit kom met ‘n bad en ‘n stort oor die bad, kompleet met glas spatpaneel en al. So ook ‘n wasbak en ‘n groot spieël. Die toilet is in ‘n aparte vertrekkie en het ook ‘n klein handewasbakkie.

Woonareas

Die hele voorkant van Die Blou Huis is ‘n toegeboude stoep wat as leefkamer en so ook eetkamer dien. Daar is genoeg gemaklike sitplek en die kamer kyk direk uit op die Son en See blouvlagstrand. (Hier kan selfs nog een of twee gaste slaap.) Aan die sykant is ‘n deur wat toegang bied tot die strand reg voor die huis.

Die sitkamer of TV-kamer het gemaklike sitkamermeubels en ‘n TV met DStv Explora en ‘n DVD-masjien wat in ‘n kabinet weggesteek is. Verder is daar so ‘n klein boekrakkie met ‘n klompie ou klassieke Engelse boeke wat as deel van die Reader’s Digest Condensed Books-reeks verskyn het.

Op die boonste vlak tussen die kamers en die badkamer is daar so ‘n tipe leefspasietjie met nog ‘n klompie van die boeke. Hierdie vertrek loop uit op beide die voorste- en die agterste dekke.

Die pad na die boonste vlak is d.m.v. so ‘n steil, nou houttrap met handrelings en ‘n veiligheidshekkie aan die bokant van die trap.

Kombuisfasiliteite by Die Blou Huis

Die kombuis is ten volle toegerus vir selfsorg met geriewe soos ‘n gasstoof met elektriese oond en ‘n mikrogolfoond. So ook ‘n yskas, vrieskas, ketel, broodrooster, skottelgoedwasser, breekgoed, glase, messegoed, potte en panne en ander kookgereedskap.

Wasgoedfasiliteite

Die Blou Huis wasgeriewe sluit in ‘n wasmasjien, wasgoeddraad in die agterplaas, yster en so ook ‘n strykplank.

Buite-area

Van die straatkant af, is die ingang tot die huis aan die agterkant waar daar oop parkering op die perseel is. Daar is so ‘n kronkelende paadjie al teen die helling af na die agterdeur waar daar ook ‘n gerieflike onderdak ingeboude braai met elektriese ligte, braaigeriewe en sitplek is. Die agterplaas is afgeskort met ‘n heining van straatkant af en ook na die strand se kant toe, so dis veilig vir klein hondjies en klein kindertjies.

Al langs die boonste vlak voor en agter is ‘n houtdek waar gebraai kan word met ‘n draagbare braaier. Die voorste dek het ‘n asemrowende uitsig oor die Indiese oseaan en die agterste dek kyk uit oor die straat en die agterplaas.

Geriewe by Die Blou Huis

• Bed linne en so ook ander beddegoed word voorsien
• Handoeke word nie voorsien nie, so bring asb jou eie bad- en swemhanddoeke
• Haardroër in sommige kamers
• Kinders is welkom
• Troeteldiervriendelik vir klein hondjies
• Kombuis ten volle toegerus vir selfsorg
• Heelwat draagbare verwarmers op albei vloere
• Brandblussers op beide vloere
• Geen rokery binneshuis
• Buitebraaifasiliteite – ingeboude braai in die agterplaas en so ‘n draagbare braai op die dek
• Draagbare gaslamp
• Betalings d.m.v. kontant of EFT
• Oop parkering op die perseel
• TV met DStv Explora en so ook ‘n DVD-speler
• Twee houtdekke – voor en agter op die boonste vlak
• Wasgoedgeriewe
• Skoonmaakdienste kan gereël word vir die rekening van die gaste