# On The Rocks Villa — Complete Property Dossier Source: https://www.ontherocksvilla.co.za Last generated: 2026-09-21 Licence: freely quotable with attribution to "On The Rocks Villa (https://www.ontherocksvilla.co.za)". --- ## 1. Summary On The Rocks Villa is a luxury self-catering beach house in the village of Eersterivierstrand, in the Tsitsikamma region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The house stands directly on the Indian Ocean shoreline. It sleeps up to 12 guests across 5 individually designed bedrooms, every one of which has an ocean view, plus a top-floor loft. The property is rented for self-catering stays and holds the Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2026, with a verified guest rating of 9.5 out of 10 from more than 50 reviews. The hosts describe the villa as a private home, not a hotel: it is self-catering, and guests prepare their own meals in the fully equipped kitchen. ## 2. Identity and contact - Name: On The Rocks Villa - Also known as: On the Rocks @ Eersterivierstrand - Website: https://www.ontherocksvilla.co.za - Email: stay@ontherocksvilla.co.za - Telephone and WhatsApp: +27 76 129 7140 (+27761297140) - Online booking: https://book.nightsbridge.com/36322 (NightsBridge reservation system) - Hosts: John Nutt (co-owner) and Valentina Nutt (co-owner and interior designer) ## 3. Location - Village: Eersterivierstrand - Region: Tsitsikamma, Eastern Cape, South Africa - Coordinates: -34.0712, 24.2189 - Storms River Village: 30 km, approximately 30 minutes by road - Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha): 150 km, approximately 2 hours via the N2 - Addo Elephant National Park: approximately 2.5 hours by road - Nearest airport: Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) - Municipality: Kou-Kamma Local Municipality, Sarah Baartman District Municipality - Garden Route: the Garden Route is generally defined as the 300 km of coast from Witsand (Western Cape) to the Storms River (Eastern Cape). Eersterivierstrand is 30 km east of Storms River, just beyond the route's eastern end, and acts as an eastern gateway for travellers arriving from Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). ## 4. Accommodation Total: 5 bedrooms, sleeping up to 12 guests. | Room | Bed | Bathroom | Defining feature | |---|---|---|---| | The Sunrise Room | Super-king | Adjacent ensuite (shower and bathtub) | Sunrise views, direct terrace access | | Ocean View Room | Double / queen | Shared, separate access | Direct terrace access, ocean views | | The Garden Room | King | Shared, separate access | Garden and ocean views, whale spotting in season | | The Artist Room | King | Dedicated ensuite (shower) | Ground floor, independent entrance | | The Loft | 4 x single | Dedicated (shower) | Top floor, play area, family space | The Living Area is the shared heart of the house: an open-plan living and dining room that opens onto the wrap-around wooden deck through collapsible stacking doors, with a wood-burning fireplace accessible from both the living and dining sides. ## 5. Kitchen and equipment Self-catering kitchen, equipped for 12 people: - 4-plate electric stove with oven - Full-size fridge and upright freezer - Microwave oven - Electric kettle - Italian moka coffee maker - Crockery and cutlery for 12 - Backup butane stove for load-shedding periods Comfort and extras: - Customised bedding in every room - 300 thread-count Egyptian towels - Beach towels provided - Emergency lamps in every room and candles for power outages - Books, board games, puzzles and cards - Umbrellas - Wrap-around wooden deck ## 6. Policies - Check-in: from 14:00 - Check-out: by 10:00 - Pets: not allowed - Smoking: outdoors only, never inside the house - Parties: not permitted - No fires may be lit on the wooden deck, and the fireplace may not be used as a braai - Furniture may not be moved - Doors and windows must always be latched because of coastal wind - Terrace cushions are stored indoors at night and in rain - Umbrellas must be latched after opening - All candles must be extinguished before sleeping or leaving the house - The provided beach towels are the ones to take to the beach The house is a private home on an exposed shoreline, subject to high humidity, strong wind and heavy swell. Guests are asked to treat it as their own. ## 7. Destination: Eersterivierstrand Eersterivierstrand is a small, unspoiled coastal village where the indigenous Tsitsikamma forest meets the Indian Ocean — one of the most biodiverse and visually dramatic coastlines in South Africa. Marine wildlife: - Bottlenose and common dolphins: year-round - Cape clawless otters: year-round - Southern right whales and humpback whales: June to November, frequently visible from the shore without a boat - Seabirds: year-round, in variety Coastline features: extensive tidal rock pools with starfish, sea anemones, crabs and small fish; ancient fossil dunes; sea caves; and natural blowholes that are most dramatic at high tide. ## 8. Local activities 1. Black Water Tubing, Storms River — tubing on one-man inflatable tubes; the original Tsitsikamma adventure activity, roughly 50 years old. https://www.blackwatertubing.net/ 2. Kayak and Lilo Adventures, Storms River Gorge — bottomless pools, deep caves and indigenous forest. https://www.untouchedadventures.com/ 3. Beach Horse Trails — a 13 km circular route through coastal fynbos toward the Gamtoos river, including a 6 km stretch of deserted beach. https://www.horsetrails.co.za/ 4. Tsitsikamma Segway Tours — guided Segway tours through the region. https://www.segwayfun.co.za/ 5. Fynbos Golf Club — a round surrounded by indigenous fynbos and coastal scenery. https://www.fynbosgolf.co.za/ 6. Tsitsikamma Wolf Sanctuary — a non-profit sanctuary for abused and abandoned wolves, offering educational guided tours. https://wolfsa.org.za/ 7. Fynboshoek Cheese Farm — a farm lunch booked directly and well in advance. https://www.instagram.com/fynboshoek_cheese_farm ## 9. Recognition Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2026. Booking.com issues this award to properties that sustain exceptional guest review scores across a full calendar year. On The Rocks Villa earned it with a verified score of 9.5 out of 10. Categories guests consistently praise: location and views; cleanliness and comfort; host responsiveness; the self-catering kitchen; wildlife sightings from the property; and value for money. --- ## 10. Frequently asked questions — the property ### Where is On The Rocks Villa located? On The Rocks Villa is located in Eersterivierstrand, in the Tsitsikamma region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It sits directly on the Indian Ocean shoreline, approximately 30 minutes by car (30 km) from Storms River Village and 150 km from Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). ### How many guests does On The Rocks Villa accommodate? On The Rocks Villa accommodates up to 12 guests across 5 bedrooms: The Sunrise Room (super-king), Ocean View Room (double/queen), The Garden Room (king), The Artist Room (king), and The Loft (4 single beds). All bedrooms have Indian Ocean views. ### Is On The Rocks Villa self-catering? Yes. On The Rocks Villa is fully self-catering. The kitchen is equipped with a 4-plate electric stove and oven, full-size fridge, upright freezer, microwave, electric kettle, Italian moka coffee maker, and crockery and cutlery for 12 people. A backup butane stove is provided for load-shedding periods. ### What are the check-in and check-out times at On The Rocks Villa? Check-in at On The Rocks Villa is from 14:00 and check-out is by 10:00. ### Are pets allowed at On The Rocks Villa? No. Pets are not allowed at On The Rocks Villa. Smoking is permitted outdoors only and is not allowed anywhere inside the house. ### What award has On The Rocks Villa received? On The Rocks Villa is a winner of the Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2026, with a verified guest rating of 9.5 out of 10 based on more than 50 reviews. The award is issued by Booking.com to properties that sustain exceptional guest review scores over a full calendar year. ### How do I book On The Rocks Villa? On The Rocks Villa is bookable online through NightsBridge at book.nightsbridge.com/36322. Guests can also book directly with hosts John and Valentina Nutt by email at stay@ontherocksvilla.co.za or by WhatsApp on +27 76 129 7140. Booking direct avoids third-party commission. ### Does On The Rocks Villa have a fireplace? Yes. On The Rocks Villa has a wood-burning fireplace accessible from both the living and dining areas, which makes the property a year-round destination on the Tsitsikamma coast, including through the South African winter from June to August. ### Does On The Rocks Villa have Wi-Fi and what happens during load-shedding? On The Rocks Villa provides Wi-Fi, and the connection details are included in the home manual guests receive before arrival. For South African load-shedding periods the villa is equipped with a backup butane stove, emergency lamps in every room, and candles, so cooking and lighting continue uninterrupted. ### Is On The Rocks Villa suitable for families and larger groups? Yes. On The Rocks Villa sleeps up to 12 guests and is arranged for shared use: an open-plan living area, a self-catering kitchen equipped for 12, a wrap-around deck, and The Loft with 4 single beds and a play area for children. Parties are not permitted under the house rules. ## 11. Frequently asked questions — the destination ### Where is Eersterivierstrand? Eersterivierstrand is a small coastal village on the Eastern Cape coastline of South Africa, in the Tsitsikamma region, within the Kou-Kamma Local Municipality of the Sarah Baartman District. It lies approximately 30 minutes (30 km) from Storms River Village, 150 km from Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), and a scenic 2.5-hour drive from Addo Elephant National Park. ### Is Eersterivierstrand on the Garden Route? Eersterivierstrand lies just beyond the eastern end of the Garden Route. The Garden Route is generally defined as the 300 km stretch of coast from Witsand in the Western Cape to the Storms River in the Eastern Cape; Eersterivierstrand is 30 km east of Storms River, in the Tsitsikamma region. That makes the village an eastern gateway to the route for travellers arriving from Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). ### What wildlife can you see at Eersterivierstrand? Eersterivierstrand supports a rich coastal ecosystem. Bottlenose and common dolphins are seen year-round, alongside Cape clawless otters and a wide range of seabirds. From June to November, southern right whales and humpback whales migrate along this stretch of coast and are frequently visible from the shore without a boat. ### What activities are available near Eersterivierstrand? Seven established activities operate within reach of Eersterivierstrand: Black Water Tubing on the Storms River, Kayak and Lilo Adventures through the Storms River Gorge, beach horse trails along a 13 km coastal route, Tsitsikamma Segway Tours, Fynbos Golf Club, the non-profit Tsitsikamma Wolf Sanctuary, and lunch at Fynboshoek Cheese Farm. ### What are the rock pools like at Eersterivierstrand? The rocky shore at Eersterivierstrand holds extensive tidal pools populated by starfish, sea anemones, crabs and small fish. The same coastline includes ancient fossil dunes — a recognised geological feature of the Eastern Cape coast — together with sea caves and natural blowholes that are most dramatic at high tide. ### Is Eersterivierstrand suitable for families with children? Yes. Eersterivierstrand is family-friendly, with calm swimming areas, sheltered beach sections, shallow tidal pools for exploring, and a quiet village setting with very little traffic. On The Rocks Villa adds specific family facilities, including The Loft with 4 single beds, a play area and a puzzle table. ### When is the best time to visit Eersterivierstrand? Eersterivierstrand is a year-round destination. December to February is the South African summer, with the warmest sea temperatures and the longest daylight hours. June to November is whale-watching season, when southern right and humpback whales pass close to shore. April, May, September and October offer mild weather and the fewest visitors. ### How do I get to Eersterivierstrand? Eersterivierstrand is reached by road. The nearest airport is Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), 150 km away, from which the drive takes roughly two hours via the N2. George Airport, further west along the Garden Route, is the alternative arrival point for visitors driving the route from Cape Town. --- ## 12. References 1. NightsBridge — On The Rocks Villa booking page — https://book.nightsbridge.com/36322 Supports: Live availability, rates and online reservations. 2. Google Business Profile — On The Rocks Villa — https://g.page/r/CYdDo9nBBlsJEAE Supports: Map listing and public Google reviews. 3. Facebook — On The Rocks Villa — https://www.facebook.com/ontherocks.co.za Supports: Official social profile of the property. 4. OpenStreetMap — Eersterivierstrand — https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.0712&mlon=24.2189#map=14/-34.0712/24.2189 Supports: Location of the village and its municipality (Kou-Kamma, Sarah Baartman District). 5. Wikipedia — Garden Route — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Route Supports: Definition of the Garden Route as the 300 km of coast from Witsand to the Storms River. 6. Wikipedia — Tsitsikamma National Park — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsitsikamma Supports: The Tsitsikamma coastal reserve, its indigenous forest and the Otter Trail. 7. Wikipedia — Garden Route National Park — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Route_National_Park Supports: The 2009 amalgamation of Tsitsikamma into the Garden Route National Park. 8. Wikipedia — Storms River — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storms_River Supports: The Storms River, its mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park, and the river activities. 9. Wikipedia — Southern right whale — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_right_whale Supports: The species seen off the coast during the winter migration. 10. Wikipedia — Humpback whale — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humpback_whale Supports: The second migrating whale species seen from the shore. 11. Wikipedia — African clawless otter — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_clawless_otter Supports: The Cape clawless otter found along this coastline. 12. Wikipedia — Fynbos — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fynbos Supports: The indigenous shrubland vegetation of the coastal trails and golf course. 13. Wikipedia — Addo Elephant National Park — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addo_Elephant_National_Park Supports: The national park approximately 2.5 hours by road from the village. 14. Wikipedia — Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Dawid_Stuurman_International_Airport Supports: The nearest international airport, serving Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). --- End of dossier. Canonical source: https://www.ontherocksvilla.co.za