Green Gables historic property exterior — Strand, Western Cape
Strand, South Africa · Est. 1918

Green GablesAccommodation in the Helderberg

A beautifully restored 1918 heritage property in Strand, 1 km from the beach, 5 km from Somerset West, 7 km from Gordon's Bay and 48 km from Cape Town. Timeless charm meets coastal serenity.

Our Story

A Place Where History
Meets Hospitality

Green Gables is a vibrant 1918 heritage property in Strand, in the Helderberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa — a home, an artist studio, and a welcoming retreat all in one. Perfect for art lovers, beach goers, couples, and solo travellers seeking a stay with genuine character.

Green Gables historic exterior with green columns

Steeped in Character

The property's distinctive white walls and signature green-painted pillars have stood since 1918, making Green Gables one of the Helderberg's most charming heritage addresses. Each room carries its own personality — from classic fireplaces to arched doorways and warm wooden floors.

Situated just 48 km from Cape Town, it's the ideal coastal base for exploring the Western Cape — whether that's day trips to the Cape Winelands, scenic drives along the coast, or simply relaxing by the ocean minutes from your door.

Since July 2025, Green Gables has been under new management, lovingly cared for by your hosts Christo and Tiana Goosen.

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Heritage Property

Built in 1918, our beautifully preserved Cape architecture tells a story of history and character.

1km to Strand Beach

Wake up and walk to the beach. Pristine shores of the Western Cape are just moments away.

Art & Culture

Home to a resident artist studio. An inspiring environment for art lovers and creative souls.

Tiana Goosen StudioTiana GoosenInstagram

Lush Garden Setting

Surrounded by mature trees and a lush garden — a peaceful sanctuary from the everyday.

Where You'll Stay

Accommodation in the Helderberg

Three distinct places to stay in Strand: guesthouse rooms and a self-catering apartment, 5 km from Somerset West and 7 km from Gordon's Bay. Each one is listed on Airbnb, so you can book securely and check live prices.

The Green Room: double bed with white linen beside a black cast-iron fireplace, wooden floors, a Persian rug and an arched doorway to the en-suiteRoom in a Home

The Green Room

Classic Room with En-Suite

A charming classic guesthouse room in Strand, with a beautiful original fireplace and arched doorway. It is completely private, with its own separate entrance and en-suite bathroom, so you can come and go as you please. Ideal for solo travellers or couples looking for a cosy, intimate stay steeped in character.

1–2 guests1 double bed
Free Wi-Fi
Smart TV
Separate Entrance
Private En-Suite
Street Parking
The Garden Apartment bedroom: double bed with bedside lamps and a window with wooden blindsEntire Apartment

The Garden Apartment

Entire Apartment — Sleeps 2 or 4

Self-catering accommodation in Strand: a self-contained garden apartment with a full kitchen, dishwasher, and air conditioning, just 1km from Strand beach and 5km from Somerset West. Choose the 2-guest configuration for a cosy couples' retreat, or the 4-guest configuration with extra beds for families and groups.

1–4 guests1 bedroom · up to 3 beds
Free Wi-Fi
Private Bathroom
Street Parking
The Blue Room: double bed with white linen and rolled towels, an arched doorway to the en-suite shower and a window with a floral blindRoom in a House

The Blue Room

Private Room with En-Suite

A charming classic guesthouse room in Strand, with an arched doorway. It is completely private, with its own separate entrance and en-suite bathroom, so you can come and go as you please. Ideal for solo travellers or couples looking for a cosy, intimate stay steeped in character.

1–2 guests1 double bed
Free Wi-Fi
Smart TV
Separate Entrance
Private En-Suite
Street Parking
Book onairbnb

Bookings are managed securely through Airbnb. Click any listing to check live availability and pricing.

Wooden doorway opening onto a bedroom with a double bed and an arched window
Entrance hallway with polished wooden floors and a stained-glass fanlight over the double front door
Double bed with white linen seen through an arched doorway, with a white wardrobe and high ceiling
Hallway with polished pine floors, framed botanical prints and a welcome mat
Open front door with a stained-glass fanlight looking out to the tiled veranda and garden
Tiled veranda with green-painted decorative pillars, tables, chairs and framed art
Enclosed veranda with terracotta tiles, a large portrait painting and windows onto the garden
Tea and coffee tray with mugs, glasses, sugar bowl and a kettle on a small fridge
Double bed with a grey throw between two bedside lamps, a patterned rug on polished floorboards and curtained windows
Bedroom with a black cast-iron fireplace, a framed print, a mirror and an arched doorway beside the bed
Timber-clad studio room with an easel, shelves, cupboards and tables by a sunny window
The Goose & Gander hanging sign under the veranda roof
Enclosed veranda with terracotta tiles, a table with a floral cloth and white chairs beside a long run of windows
Veranda with a large portrait painting, tables and chairs, and windows looking out onto the street trees
Brick-paved courtyard with a white wrought-iron table and chairs, potting shelves and a pair of wooden doors
Courtyard with a white wrought-iron table, a green cast-iron veranda post and an outdoor staircase
Find Us

Location & Getting Here

Green Gables is situated in Strand, in the Helderberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa — the ideal base for Somerset West, Gordon's Bay, the Winelands and Cape Town.

Strand Beach near Green Gables

Strand Beach — 1km from Green Gables

Strand, in the Helderberg

Strand is a picturesque coastal town on the shores of False Bay, surrounded by the Hottentots Holland mountain range. Known for its wide, sandy beaches and relaxed atmosphere, it's an ideal retreat for those wanting to escape the city without straying too far.

Together with neighbouring Somerset West and Gordon's Bay, Strand makes up the Helderberg, so Green Gables is a comfortable base for accommodation across the whole area.

Strand Beach

~15 min walk

1 km

Somerset West

~10 min drive

5 km

Gordon's Bay

~10 min drive

7 km

Cape Town City

~40 min drive

48 km

Cape Winelands

Stellenbosch, Franschhoek

30 km

Cape Town Int'l Airport

~35 min drive

40 km
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Explore

What to Do in the Area

From the beaches of Strand and Gordon's Bay to the Somerset West wine estates and the winelands beyond — Green Gables puts you at the centre of the Helderberg.

Strand & Gordon’s Bay Beaches

1–5 km

Wide, sandy beaches along False Bay perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and sunset walks. Gordon’s Bay adds a scenic tidal pool and harbour views just down the coast.

Cape Winelands

25–35 km

Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are a short drive away, offering world-class wine tasting, historic estates, and some of the region’s best fine dining.

Helderberg Nature Reserve

10 km

Fynbos-covered slopes with waymarked hiking trails and panoramic views over False Bay — a favourite for morning walks and picnics.

Whale Watching

Sep – Nov

False Bay is part of one of the world’s best land-based whale watching regions. Southern right whales are regularly spotted from the coast in season.

Gordon’s Bay Harbour

5 km

A working harbour with fresh seafood restaurants, fishing boat charters, and a laid-back seaside atmosphere.

Table Mountain & V&A Waterfront

48 km

A comfortable day trip into Cape Town for the cable car, iconic views, and the shops and restaurants of the V&A Waterfront.

Paarl

~60 km

The Pearl of the Winelands: a granite mountain crowned by the Afrikaans Language Monument, historic Cape Dutch streets, and a wine route known for Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, and Pinotage.

Grabouw & Elgin Valley

~45 km

Apple country beyond Sir Lowry’s Pass, with orchards, cool-climate vineyards, farm stalls, and the Elgin Railway Market at the heart of the valley.

Hout Bay

~65 km

A fishing harbour tucked between two peaks, with seafood on the waterfront, a weekend harbour market, seal island cruises, and the cliffs of Chapman’s Peak Drive close by.

Kalk Bay

~50 km

A creative fishing village on the False Bay coast, where fishermen still land the catch at the harbour, and quirky shops, galleries, and cafés line the main road.

Local Guides

Nearby & Worth the Trip

Local Guide

Things to Do in Strand

Beaches, tidal pools, sunset dinners, wine estates and mountain walks, all within half an hour of our front door in Strand.

Read more about Things to Do in Strand
Beaches

Strand Beach

Soft white sand, gentle waves, and a 15-minute walk from our door. Come for a swim, stay for the sunset.

Read more about Strand Beach
Dining

Veld Restaurant at Spier

Dinner built around whatever the Spier gardens and local farmers are growing that season, with the estate's own wines alongside.

Read more about Veld Restaurant at Spier
Day Trip

Stellenbosch

Oak-lined streets, Cape Dutch buildings and galleries, with cellar doors close by. South Africa's second-oldest town is an easy day out from Strand.

Read more about Stellenbosch
Wine Estate

Lourensford Wine Estate

Vineyards, orchards and fynbos under the Helderberg, with daily tastings, a weekend market, lunch at The Millhouse Kitchen, and plenty to do outdoors.

Read more about Lourensford Wine Estate
Wine Estate

Vergelegen Wine Estate

Founded in 1700, with eighteen gardens to wander, towering camphor trees, cellar tastings, and lunch or a picnic in the camphor forest.

Read more about Vergelegen Wine Estate
Wildlife

Cheetah Outreach

Learn about cheetahs up close at a Somerset West conservation project and, if you're feeling brave, meet one in person.

Read more about Cheetah Outreach
Dining

Idiom Restaurant

Italian and South African cooking on a mountainside terrace, with the Helderberg basin and False Bay laid out below.

Read more about Idiom Restaurant
Market

Elgin Railway Market

An old 1940s apple warehouse near Grabouw, now a steampunk and art deco market with street food, craft drinks, live music and a vintage steam train.

Read more about Elgin Railway Market
Beach & Coast

Kogel Bay & Dappat se Gat

Wild, dramatic coastline on Clarence Drive, with a sea cave you can step into at low tide and surfers riding the waves below.

Read more about Kogel Bay & Dappat se Gat
Craft Beer

Triggerfish Brewing

A craft brewery with a friendly taproom, a kitchen, live music and a Sunday market, ten minutes from Green Gables in Paardevlei.

Read more about Triggerfish Brewing
Art

Tiana Goosen Studio

Art classes, atelier training and commissions from Tiana Goosen's studio, right here at Green Gables. Book a lesson while you stay.

Read more about Tiana Goosen Studio
Day Trip

Day Trip to Franschhoek

A valley village ringed by mountains, with Huguenot history, cellar doors and long lunches along one walkable main street.

Read more about Day Trip to Franschhoek
Dining

Vergenoegd Löw & Geuwels Restaurant

Time your lunch at Geuwels with the daily parade of Indian Runner ducks, as they march out to work in the vineyards.

Read more about Vergenoegd Löw & Geuwels Restaurant
Hiking

Hiking the Helderberg

Trails from a ten-minute stroll to a full-day summit climb, on the mountain that looks down over Strand and False Bay.

Read more about Hiking the Helderberg
Day Trip

Day Trip to the V&A Waterfront

Cape Town's working harbour with Table Mountain behind it: a museum of contemporary African art, an aquarium, a big wheel, and plenty of places to eat.

Read more about Day Trip to the V&A Waterfront
Farm & Garden

Babylonstoren

A historic Cape Dutch farm in the Franschhoek wine valley, with a garden of more than 300 kinds of fruit and vegetables, restaurants that cook from it, and cellar tours.

Read more about Babylonstoren
Local Guide

Things to Do in Gordon's Bay

Two beaches, an old harbour, the GB anchor on the mountain, and the start of Clarence Drive, ten minutes along the coast from Strand.

Read more about Things to Do in Gordon's Bay
Dining

Restaurants in Strand

Where we send guests for dinner on Beach Road, from Belgian bistro food to seafood and a German beer hall, plus a few worth the short drive.

Read more about Restaurants in Strand
Beaches

Strand & Gordon's Bay Beaches and Tidal Pools

Which beach for a swim, which for small children, and where the tidal pools are, from Strand Beach to Bikini Beach and Sparks Bay.

Read more about Strand & Gordon's Bay Beaches and Tidal Pools
Day Trip

Clarence Drive (R44)

The coastal road from Gordon's Bay to Rooi-Els, squeezed between the mountains and False Bay, with lookouts, tidal pools and whales in season.

Read more about Clarence Drive (R44)
Hiking

Crystal Pools Hike

A short, steep summer hike up the Steenbras River Gorge to a string of clear rock pools, just outside Gordon's Bay. Permits essential.

Read more about Crystal Pools Hike
Travel Tips

Is Strand Safe? A Local's Guide

Practical, honest advice from people who live here: the beach, getting around at night, swimming safety and what to keep an eye on.

Read more about Is Strand Safe? A Local's Guide
Wine

Somerset West Wine Farms

Our short list of Helderberg wine estates for tastings, long lunches, gardens and families, all 15 to 20 minutes from Strand.

Read more about Somerset West Wine Farms
Travel Tips

Getting to Strand

How far Strand is from Cape Town, the airport, the Waterfront, Stellenbosch and the rest of the Western Cape, and the best way to get around.

Read more about Getting to Strand
Family

Things to Do with Kids in the Helderberg

Cheetahs, duck parades, tidal pools, strawberry picking and farm animals: family outings around Strand, Somerset West and Gordon's Bay.

Read more about Things to Do with Kids in the Helderberg
Travel Tips

Where to Stay in the Helderberg: Accommodation in Strand, Somerset West & Gordon's Bay

How Strand, Somerset West and Gordon's Bay compare as a base for the beach, the winelands and Cape Town, and what kind of accommodation to look for, from people who live here.

Read more about Where to Stay in the Helderberg: Accommodation in Strand, Somerset West & Gordon's Bay
Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit Strand

Beach weather, wind, whales, wine harvest and quiet months: what each season in Strand is like, and when we think it is at its best.

Read more about Best Time to Visit Strand
Wildlife

Whale Watching in False Bay

Where to spot southern right whales from the shore around Strand, Gordon's Bay and Clarence Drive, when to come, and where to take a boat trip.

Read more about Whale Watching in False Bay
Travel Tips

December Holidays in Strand

Long, warm days, the beach on our doorstep, and Christmas in the sunshine: what December in Strand is like, and how to make the most of it.

Read more about December Holidays in Strand
Market

Lourensford Market

Street food, estate wine and craft beer, live music and around 60 stalls on the lawns under the oaks at Lourensford, on Friday nights and weekend afternoons.

Read more about Lourensford Market
Art

Anton Smit Sculptures in the Helderberg

Towering heads, angels and floating figures by one of South Africa's best-known sculptors, free to see in the gardens at Lourensford and at estates around the Cape.

Read more about Anton Smit Sculptures in the Helderberg
Art

Tiana Goosen: The Artist at Green Gables

From medicine to the Florence Academy of Art: meet Tiana Goosen, the classical realist painter whose studio is here at Green Gables.

Read more about Tiana Goosen: The Artist at Green Gables