Photos: Oubaai map (courtesy of Hyatt Regency Oubaai), View from the whale watching deck, Delicious bread & cake spread for breakfast, Wine room for private dining
Hyatt Regency Oubaai opened in December 2009 as part of the Oubaai Residential Golf Estate. Perched on the hill overlooking the Indian Ocean and surrounded by the Outeniqua Mountains on the inland side, the Hyatt Regency Oubaai has much to offer.
The location used to be a farm owned by the Gericke family in the early 1800’s, mainly breeding livestock and later farming with grain, vegetables and plantation wood. The farm was sold to Karafi Holdings, the developers of Oubaai in 2000. The history of the area though, dates back to the Stone Age as Stone Age tools and shell middens have been found in the area. It is important to note that Oubaai is a very ‘green’ development in many aspects, notably a very efficient water system, untouched fynbos and natural forest due to the fact that the residential and golf course development was only done in the areas that was previously utilized as agricultural land and the eradication of alien species.
One of only two Hyatt Hotels in South Africa, the Hyatt Recency Oubaai offers extensive facilities for leisure and corporate guests. A very attractive benefit of Oubaai is the fact that it is only an 8 minute transfer from the George Airport to Oubaai. All airport transfers as well as all other transport requirements are very efficiently dealt with by Tours for South Africa (TFSA), a local transport service provider contracted by the Hyatt. (TFSA can be contacted on: 044 873 5700, elizna@tours4sa.com , www.tours4sa.com )
Hotel facilities include:
- 100 Spacious, comfortable bedrooms, 1/3 of the rooms located on the third floor / Regency Club floor and 2/3 being standard rooms in a cluster set-up next to the main building. If more accommodation is required, overflow can be accommodated in the village apartments or estate homes that are in the rental pool.
- Presidential suite with 180° views
- Regency Club floor attachment offers guests private check-in, private concierge, newspaper delivery, late afternoon canapés and local drinks, use of the Regency boardroom as well as airport transfers
- All rooms have glass enclosed free standing baths and rain shower with separate toilet, basin and walk-in wardrobe
- The modern interior of the bedrooms also with a neutral palette include tea / coffee, mini bar, gown & slippers
- Complimentary WiFi available in all public areas and some of the rooms
- The Portica Verbena range of bath amenities together with a message bar soap & body mitt in the Regency rooms
- Hotel pool & gym
Cuisine options include:
- Cucina all day dining restaurant, serving an extensive breakfast with a lovely selection of cakes, imagine bread and butter pudding for breakfast! The triple volume restaurant with floor to ceiling windows allows for great mountain views. Outside seating available for balmy summer days
- The Wine Room is located on the side of Cucina is a private dining room, seating 12 guests with a rustic wooden table and wine glass chandeliers and wine wall woth an extensive collection of local wines. This facility is perfect for food and wine pairing evenings
- Cucina lounge is great for pre-dinner drinks or coffee after
- Waterside Bar is located in the village market square cosy lounge with fire place as well as outside seating
- Waterside Grill offers fine dining with outside seating with interactive show kitchen and fresh seafood counted, seating capacity is 55 guests indoors with overflow to additional 30 guests on the deck, weather permitting
- Clubhouse provides all day light and al fresco dining options with a lounge and bar area
Conference facilities include:
- Ballroom, up to 150 guests in banquet seating
- Four meeting rooms, 10-48 guests
- One executive boardroom, with beautiful mountain views, 18 guests
- Various indoor & outdoor function areas
- Open / outdoor chapel, 60 pax
- All rooms have natural light
- Quarry, ground floor function room,approx. 120 pax
- Anchor Store, ground floor function area, very industrial looking, approx. 220 pax
- Various retail outlet spaces available (for breakaway rooms)
Resort facilities:
- Freesia Spa with 7 treatment rooms including a couples room
- Ernie Els signature golf course with members clubhouse and halfway house
- Lifestyle centre with resort pool & gym, tennis, squash & basketball
- Kids Club
- Golf Academy offering golf clinics to individual guests or can also serve as a great team building activity for corporate groups
- Driving range and putting green
- The Pro Shop
- The Village market with various retails outlets and ATM
- 5.5 km Heritage walking trail
- Oubaai itself and the Gwaing river mouth is a great fishing area
- Whale watching deck, can be utilised for small groups (max 30) for picnic or sun downers and just for watching the ocean if the whales are not there (best time for Whale watching is between July – Oct)
- Tree Tops Deck, can be utilized for small groups (max 25) for braai, also close to the hide overlooking a small dam, great for experiencing a bit of the birdlife at Oubaai
- The Southern Africa Museum of Golf and Hall of Fame. This museum contains a huge, extensive and most impressive collection, even for a non-golfer such as myself
For more information visit www.regency.hyatt.com or contact them on 044 851 1234.
We visited Hyatt Regency Oubaai on invitation.
For more information & bookings for leisure or conference at Hyatt Regency Oubaai as well as any other facility throughout South Africa contact me on carla@carlarossouw.com
