With its distinctive architecture paying homage to the old power station it once was, the Turbine Boutique Hotel and Spa seamlessly blends industrial chic with modern luxury to create a unique and unforgettable experience.
Also read: 15 cool things to do in Knysna, the jewel of the Garden Route
Charles William Thesen purchased Paarden Island (now called Thesen Island) in 1904 and started producing timber on the island. He also built a power station that generated electricity from turbines using wood waste from the timber mill.
The current Turbine Boutique Hotel and Spa is located on the site of the former power station, which was constructed in 1939–1940 and whose last day of operation was in June 2001.
Plans for a museum never came to fruition, and the site was sold to current owners Geoff Engel and Dandre Lerm-Engel in September 2007.
After three years of rezoning, approvals, and construction of facilities, the hotel opened on 12 August 2010, featuring 26 individually decorated bedrooms, a spa, conferencing facilities, a pool, a jetty and a restaurant.
The station’s original machinery, including the original wood boiler and four electricity generators, has been lovingly restored and is now an integral part of the hotel’s aesthetics, giving you the opportunity to soak up its fascinating history as you explore the hotel’s nooks and crannies.
As you stroll past the massive turbines on the balcony, you can’t help but marvel at the ingenuity and engineering that went into their creation. And the steel pillars and pipes that now form part of the hotel’s funky decor serve as a reminder of the building’s past while adding a contemporary touch.
When exploring the hotel, you’ll find that a sense of playfulness in the decor softens the industrial backdrop of bare bricks and enormous whitewashed walls.
The machinery and pipes are painted bright red, blue, green and orange, and the dining chairs are also brightly coloured. Engineers, scientists and curious visitors will be intrigued by the instruments and contraptions strewn about the hotel.
The Turbine is also a disability-friendly hotel, with a disabled toilet downstairs for restaurant and bar patrons as well as a bedroom designed to accommodate any guest regardless of their accessibility needs.
Sleep
The Turbine is a standout among Knysna accommodations, with 26 individually designed rooms and suites, each with stunning views of the Knysna lagoon or surrounding hills.
Each of the rooms is equipped with amenities such as a flat-screen TV, WiFi, a fully stocked minibar and a tea and coffee station.
The rooms feature an ensuite bathroom with good lighting, a powerful shower and a large bath, as well as all necessary toiletries.
While it can be difficult to feel completely at ease when you aren’t at home, the Turbine’s eclectically decorated rooms (each with its own theme to dictate the overall decor), luxury amenities, facilities that meet every need and attentive staff make your stay more than comfortable.
Dine
Enjoy a delicious meal at the on-site Island Café, which serves fresh seafood and other dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. After dinner, visit the gastropub for a craft beer or cocktail while listening to live music performed by talented local musicians.
The Turbine’s 90-seater Island Café restaurant, with its inside tables placed between the original turbines and its outside tables on the spacious terrace overlooking the canal, is open every day of the week and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as monthly food and wine pairings.
The hotel’s other restaurant, the vibey Gastro Pub, offers classic pub meals with a delicious turbine twist on tap draught beer, a comprehensively stocked cellar and glorious lagoon sunset views – perfect for Happy Hour every Friday evening with a live music line-up of local musicians.
Work
For business visitors, the hotel boasts excellent conference facilities, with two rooms capable of hosting between 20 and 40 delegates. Conference rooms come equipped with free WiFi, full audio-visual facilities and tailored catering packages.
Furthermore, the turbine’s installation of a generator ensures that power outages due to loadshedding are now a thing of the past.
Pamper
The Turbine Spa is renowned as one of the finest on the Garden Route, offering a wide variety of relaxing treatments to guests.
The spa’s extensive treatment menu offers massages, facials, mani-pedis – the list goes on – and even boasts a Rasul Steam Room.
The spa caters to both men and women, as well as day visitors and hotel guests, and its team of experienced professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional service to ensure that each guest leaves feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Whether you’re in need of some much-needed relaxation or simply want to treat yourself to a massage before dinner at the Gastro Pub, the Turbine Spa is the perfect place to unwind.
Experience
So whether you’re a thrill-seeker or simply looking to unwind, the Turbine Hotel and Spa is the perfect base for your Knysna adventure.
The Turbine Water Club, the hotel’s own adventure centre, offers a variety of water- and land-based activities, from fishing charters and whale watching to kayaking and sunset cruises, and for those more comfortable on land, guided tours into the ancient Knysna Forest and bicycle rentals.
Sunset cruises
Embark on a beautiful lagoon cruise aboard a turbine-powered pontoon barge and experience the stunning Knysna lagoon like never before.
A round-trip cruise includes a fascinating tour of the channels of Thesen Island, giving you a unique perspective on this picturesque area. Along the way, you’ll pass by Brenton-on-Lake, where you might catch a glimpse of deer and fish eagles.
Before heading back to the Turbine Waterclub, you’ll be taken on a scenic journey through the Heads. To make your experience even more special, you can request a bottle of the hotel’s house wine (white or red) and a snack platter per couple.
- Time: 5pm
- Duration: One and a half hours
- Cost: R550 per person
Canoe hire
The Turbine’s kayak rentals are not guided tours, but guests may explore anywhere on the Knysna lagoon in the course of the rental period.
There are single and double kayaks available, and the hotel will provide life jackets and paddles.
- Times: 9am to 5pm
- Cost: One hour: R130 per person | Two hours: R200 per person
Knysna forest hike
Circles in the Forest is a hike to remember. Located in the picturesque Goldfield (‘Goudveld’) forest in Knysna, the trail begins at the Krisjan-se-Nek picnic site and takes you on a scenic journey through nature’s splendour.
As you walk, you’ll be surrounded by dense ferns and towering trees, and the forest floor comes alive with the sounds of frogs and other small creatures. Keep your eyes peeled, and you might even spot the famous Knysna Loerie. Along the way, you’ll also discover a refreshing swimming hole and a magnificent waterfall, perfect for cooling off on a hot day.
Choose between two routes: a short 3.1-km circle or a longer 9km circle, both offering a range of easy to moderate terrain suitable for anyone over the age of 5.
Circles in the Forest is a feast for the senses, an immersive experience that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Find out more about the Knysna Experience and other activities here.
Details:
- Location: The Turbine Boutique Hotel and Spa | 36 Sawtooth Lane, Thesen Island, Knysna
- Bookings: book.nightsbridge.com | [email protected]
- Contact: 044 050 3500 | [email protected]
- Website: www.turbinehotel.co.za
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Picture: The Turbine Boutique Hotel and Spa