Paternoster Property & Home Sales

Paternoster at a glance

Paternoster is situated in the Western Cape’s West Coast and is the oldest fishing villages in the area. The lifestyle of its inhabitants is intricately intertwined with the sea, and this allows for old and new worlds to come together. Meaning “Our Father” in Latin, Paternoster is 145 km north of Cape Town (90-minute drive) and 15km northwest of Vredenburg. The town covers a total of 194.8 hectares of area space and lies between Saldanha Bay and St Helena Bay. 

It is renowned for its abundance of crayfish and world-class tourist attractions. White-washed fisherman’s cottages are strewn throughout the beach behind a backdrop of pristine coastline with huge boulders peaking from the bay, offering a contrast in magnificent views. 

Economy of Paternoster: Fishing and Tourism

The area is considered the heart-beat of the South African fishing industry with the town housing a lobster factory and the new Kabeljou farm. The many commercial activities include deep sea fishing, snoek and oyster catching, abalone and mussel farming, and the canning of pilchards.

Paternoster ensures a life of relaxation as the town is away from the busy city life (although no too far).

It is situated next Langebaan which holds the title of largest oyster farm in South Africa.  Most people are employed by either the crayfish factory or the Kabeljou farm. Fishermen catch and sell snoek and herring and harvest black mussels for a living - a stark contrast to big city living, defined by corporate employment. 

Tourism plays an imperative role in the economy of the fishing village and with its rich history, extraordinary food and breath-taking coastline, Paternoster has something for everyone, some of which include: 

Columbine Nature Reserve 

Lying near Paternoster, The Cape Columbine Nature Reserve covers an area of 263ha, and contains a manual lighthouse that is the last of its kind. Declared a nature reserve in 1973, the reserve stretches along a rocky coastline and is rich in vegetation, such as fynbos and during spring it is covered in bright wild flowers that greet visitors on arrival. The reserve offers hiking, angling, bird-watching, diving, kayaking and a beach campsite.

Wreck Diving

The graveyard of ships can be seen near Paternoster, a site littered with the wrecks of the ships that have sunk. Local diving will take you on a wreck dive and provide you the history of each wreck on the coast. The history of the shipwreck dates back to 1910 when the steel steamship, The Lisboa was on route to Cape Town from Angola. It ran aground on Soldiers Reef near Paternoster and was carrying cargo as well as 250 passengers. The wreck represented the first occasion that radio telegraphy was used to summon help by a ship in distress on the South African coast. Then again in 1930 the SS Malmesbury was wrecked on the nearby Jacobs reef while on its maiden voyage in which seven people drowned. 

At Botha Art Gallery

Situated on St Augustine Road, the gallery showcases original art by actor At Bothas, his wife Annelize Botha, and their son Johan Botha. Visitors can view authentic, diverse and interesting art-pieces, as well as collectibles and knitwear.

Pristine Beaches of Paternoster 

Paternoster’s beach is rich in fresh fish, such as snoek (caught in the winter) and crayfish (caught in the summer months). Beach-goers can buy fresh fish straight from the boats as they reach the shore. The beach is renowned for its whale-watching and dolphins greet the ocean surface on regular basis. Activities and attractions at the beach include hiking trails, mountain biking, sea kayaking and beach buggy trips along the coastline. Evening fires and braais are permitted, and for a panoramic view over the village, enthusiasts can climb the Cape Columbine lighthouse situated just 5km outside Paternoster.   

High-quality Amenities

Shopping Malls

Shopping malls near Paternoster include: Ipic Shopping Centre Centre Vredenburg and Weskus Mall (West Coast Shopping Mall). Ipic offers goods and services to meet the ever-increasing demand for retail. The centre is located in Vredenburg at the corner of Main Road, just 10 minutes or 14 kms from Paternoster. It is anchored by Pick n Pay and houses Sterns, Scooters, Russels and Clicks.

Weskus Mall lies just 14.9 km from Paternoster. The mall is surrounded by views of Saldanha Bay and is furnished with restaurants, coffee shops and retail shops, some of which include: Foschini, Mr Price, Musica and Edgars. Restaurants available are: Spur, Wimpy, Beads Café and Panarottis. In total there are over 70 shops to choose from with four anchor tenants including: Game, Woolworths, Edgars and Checkers.

Restaurants

Many of the restaurants overlook the scenic Paternoster beach and these gastronomical delights include:

• The Noisy Oyster Restaurant

• Voorstrand Restaurant

• The Square Spoon

• Blikkie Pizzeria

• Modo Mio Restaurant

• Skatkis Restaurant 

Schools 

For superior education look no further that the following schools in and around Paternoster:

• Paternoster EC School

• St Augustines Primary School

• E.J Malgarte Primary School

• Laerskool Vredenburg

• Vredenburg High School

• West Coast College

• Curro Langebaan Independent School

Health and Fitness

Situated just 15 minutes from Paternoster, Vredenburg houses the closest gyms for the residents.

These gyms are well-equipped and cater for all your health needs. These include:

• OxiGym Fitness Club

• Curves

• Medi-Vibe Fitness Studio

OxiGym 

This gym chain opened its first branch in 2001 in Oudtshoorn and in 2006 opened an additional gym in the same area. As OxiGym’s reputation spread, it began establishing new gyms in Knysna, Langebaan and Vredenburg. The gym boasts modern, hygienic and fully equipped with the finest cardio and weight training apparatus. 

Hospitals 

• Life West Coast Private Hospital

• Vredenburg Hospital

• Vredenburg Provincial Hospital

• Long Acres Animal Hospital

Homes available in Paternoster from Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty are luxurious, spacious and emanates fine living amid beautiful ocean-side scenery, fully equipped with modern finishes. Those interested in buying a home in the area can contact our expert and helpful agents today.