Originally a farm, the South African Railways and Harbours turned it into a holiday resort for their lower-rung employees in 1933.

The ATKV also has an amphitheater in the resort and holds Afrikaans cultural festivals, such as their 2005 Afrikiti concerts there.

The resort includes five kilometers of Blue Flag Beaches, a river with paddle boats, a super tube, fun park, heated swimming pool, flea markets, conference facilities and shopping centres.

Koos Kombuis, a rebel against apartheid and member of the Voëlvry movement which kickstarted Afrikaans rock and roll, writes of the 'pure zen' of this town: "As a child, Hartenbos symbolised to me everything that is positive, beautiful and noble about humanity.

The fact that my parents could not afford anything better than a very small asbestos home right next to the railway line did not bother me...with the years Hartenbos has not changed much...even though the seafront restaurant is now licensed [to sell liquor] the ooms and tannies (not just their children) still drink pink milkshakes after Sunday lunch.

Especially controversial are proposals to turn certain caravan parks into conference venues to ensure a constant market of tourists.