Our story
Previously known as Penguins at Sea, Elevate Grotto Bay was not born from a business plan first. It was born from necessity, care and a deeply personal season in our family's life.
The home was originally built by Wynand with intention, vision and heart. Wynand started building the home in February 2014 and completed it a year later. From the beginning, it was never just another house. During the building process, crystals were intentionally placed into the foundation, creating a symbolic foundation of love, grounding, protection, clarity, courage, joy and connection.
Long before Elevate Grotto Bay became a guest destination, it became a place of support for our own family. During a season where my daughter Gabriella's medical needs and our family's healing had to come first, the house became more than a property — it became breathing room, strength, and a place where we could pause, gather ourselves and begin again.
Opening the home to guests started as a practical decision. But very quickly, something beautiful happened. Guests did not simply arrive and sleep. They relaxed, reconnected and laughed again. They arrived tired, busy or overwhelmed — and they left softer, lighter and more present. That is when we realised the house was doing for guests what it had first done for us. It was holding space.
Space to reconnect. Space to restore. Space to breathe. Space to remember what matters. Space to find yourself again through nature, stillness and the people you love.
That realisation changed everything. This is why our promise is simple: Stay. Play. Explore. Restore. And it is why we say — we do not simply sell stays. We create space for guests to reconnect, restore and leave feeling different.
When Wynand built the home, crystals were intentionally placed into the foundation, creating a symbolic foundation of love, clarity, grounding, protection, transformation, joy and connection. This is not décor, and it is not a medical claim. It is part of the home's emotional architecture. Each crystal was chosen for what it represents:
Rose Quartz — love and emotional warmth
Clear Quartz — clarity and intention
Amethyst — calm and stillness
Tiger's Eye — grounding and courage
Malachite — transformation
Black Tourmaline — protection
Aventurine — joy and abundance
A central Diamond Heart — the emotional centre of the home and a symbol of enduring connection
Elevate Grotto Bay is founded and led by Melissa Erasmus. Melissa's journey into hospitality began through necessity, not formal hospitality experience. What started as a practical decision to support her family grew into a purpose-led, guest-centred approach to hosting — rooted in care, warmth, thoughtful detail and connection. Melissa leads the guest journey, brand direction, partnerships, package development and commercial growth.
The physical property was originally envisioned and built by Wynand Smit, whose intentional design and crystal-infused foundation concept created the sanctuary-based living environment at the heart of the brand. Together, Melissa's heart-led hosting and Wynand's original property vision form the foundation of Elevate Grotto Bay. The business is supported by a lean, flexible team of trusted chefs, spa therapists, guides, workshop facilitators and local supplier partners.
Elevate Grotto Bay is not a standard guesthouse, a basic self-catering unit, a normal Airbnb, a traditional villa rental or a generic tour company. It is a private West Coast villa sanctuary — a guest-centred, heart-led stay rooted in nature, comfort, connection, sustainability and optional curated West Coast experiences. Most accommodation providers sell nights; Elevate Grotto Bay offers space, privacy, atmosphere and thoughtful hosting. The villa is not only the accommodation — it is the setting where guests reconnect, celebrate, rest, explore and make memories.
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