The Airbnb that we stayed at in Knysna is called the Pool House and it is located on Leisure Island. We stayed only two nights at the Pool House though we could easily have stayed for many more. We arrived late after dark the night before, so it wasn’t until we were awakened by the morning light streaming through the windows that we were able to explore the house and the surrounding area.
Leisure Island is about 20 minutes to Knysna and surrounded on all sides by the waters of the Knysna estuary. It is linked to the mainland by a narrow road. Originally, it was wild and uninhabited, home to plants and wildlife that thrived in the wetlands. It was first inhabited by a white settler in 1770 and it was not until around 1930 that an American named George Cearn had the vision to develop Leisure Island into an idyllic community where people could live, raise their families and retire. Today, Leisure Island is home to full-time residents who want to savor a relaxed pace of life and plenty of birds and wildlife that thrive in the natural surroundings.
The Pool House is a cozy two-story house with a large open kitchen and dining area that connects to the living room. Leo and I stayed in the large master suite on the second floor with a practical working area that overlooks the living room. This space would be perfect for our learning time, especially the large white boards on the wall and the long desk. The children stayed in the two smaller bedrooms that connect to the dining area through a second living area. They enjoyed having their own wing of the house where they could be on their own, free from our watchful gaze.
Our favorite part of the house was the outdoor area. There is a pool and braai area in the backyard. On our second night staying at the home, Leo and RY prepared a delicious meal of hamburgers and steaks on the braai. Outside, there are multiple outdoor dining areas where the beautiful weather beckoned to us to dine al fresco.
We were excited to discover that the house had a collection of bikes for the guests to use. Unfortunately, there were no kids bikes. We spent some time figuring out how the six of us could fit onto adult bikes. Of the kids, only RY’s legs and arms were long enough to reach the pedals and handlebars. Luckily, there was a tandem bike that Leo could ride with the girls. DY and I rode another adult bike together and it brought back happy memories for us of when the kids were younger. Before DY and later EY learned to ride a two-wheeler on their own, we used to co-ride a lot together on my bike. EY sat at the child seat behind me and DY stood on the crossbar in front of me. We used to call it “Ride of your life”. We even had a little chant that we sang when we were doing “Ride of your life”. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Let’s get ready for the ride of your life!”
We rode the bikes to a local breakfast spot called Nadine’s Corner. At every turn, we were met with stunning natural beauty from views of the Knysna estuary to charming leafy roads lined by elegant homes. The neighborhood and the restaurant reminded us of Martha’s Vineyard which Leo and I visited when we lived in Boston. Before we even walked into the restaurant, the kids noticed the playground across a quiet street that was built around an old tree that was perfect for climbing. The playground was nothing more than a few planks of wood and a rope swing. The main attraction was the old tree with its gnarled old branches that extended like fingers in every direction.
Nadine’s Corner is one of those local breakfast cafes you might find in any small town that seems so effortlessly cute and quaint. It was positioned just under two giant trees that provided the perfect shady area for diners. We ordered French toast, big breakfast plates, eggs benedict and toast served with mincemeat. The highlight of the meal was the thick slices of sourdough bread served with knobs of butter and marmalade jam. After breakfast, we biked back to our Airbnb, soaking up the sunshine and beautiful views.
