Highlights just out of Cape Town
Although Cape Town provides you with the most exquisite scenery, interesting people, and many activities to keep you entertained, our surrounding areas are also worth a visit. If you have a spare day or two while staying with us, why not chat to the Nox Team to arrange a trip up the coast, or inland to experience a little more of what the Western Cape has to offer.
The Cape Whale Coast Route
Just 40minutes to an hour outside of Cape Town is the start of the beautiful Cape Whale Coast. This route runs from Gordon's Bay/ Strand right through to the popular whale viewing town of Hermanus.
Gordon's Bay is a popular angling and boating spot and has a great beach for swimming – it is well protected from the wind, and the water is some what warmer than most of Cape Town’s beaches. The beach front is lined with restaurants and bars and if you head to the old harbour, deep sea fishing or boat trips into False Bay can be booked.
Carrying on the N2 past Gordon’s Bay will take you up Sir Lowry’s Pass. This pass over the Hottentots Holland Mountains was opened in 1838 and offers stunning views of False Bay. Sir Lowry's Pass will take you through the "apple farm" region of Grabouw. There are some fabulous farmstalls worth checking out for freshly baked pies and treats.
Alternatively, head through Gordon’s Bay past the harbour onto the R44. Although not as well know as Chapman’ Peak Drive, this coastal road (Clarens Drive) comes in a close second for breath taking scenery, with mountains looming on one side and cliffs plunging into the sea on the other. Also a great spot to view whales in season. Read more about this here.
The Steenbras River bridge is particularly dramatic and the parking lot here is the starting point for a hike up the river gorge. Known to Cape Townians as ‘Crystal Pools’, a 40 minute walk will take you to a series of beautiful rock pool, a great spot for a picnic and swim or the popular sport of "Kloofing".
Beware of the baboons however as they have become experts at stealing any food that is lying around and may become quite aggressive.
If you wish to enter the gorge you’ll need to obtain a permit from Department of Parks and Forests at Cape Town City Council: +27 21 400 3269.
Koggelbaai
A bit further along the R44 (Clarens Drive), is Koggel Baai (also known as Koel Baai), a truly beautiful beach, great for swimming and surfing. Carrying on, one will pass the seaside towns of Rooiels, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay, Kleinmond. Arabella Golf Estate is situated just past Kleinmond as you continue to drive toward Hermanus.
Hermanus
Hermanus is one of the Western Cape’s premier seaside holiday resorts. As well as being one of the best land based whale watching spots, it has nice beaches, a lagoon, stunning scenery and loads of shops and restaurants to keep you busy. Well worth a visit for a day or overnight stay.
Nox Rentals have access to luxury accommodation in these areas, so chat to us if you need any help.
Langebaan & West Coast Nature Reserve
The protected lagoon of Langebaan is a popular holiday destination for Cape Townians. There are lovely beaches and the sheltered waters are an ideal spot for a variety of water sports including water skiing, kayaking, wind surfing and kite surfing. There are a number of restaurants on the waters edge, a perfect spot for a meal or drinks.
The nearby holiday resort of
Club Mykynos has a casino and a number of restaurants over looking a mariner from where you can take a sunset boat trip around the lagoon. The famous Standloper Restaurant offers a fish buffet with crayfish and mussels al fresco on the beach.
The West Coast National Park surrounds parts of the Langebaan Lagoon including some of the lagoon itself and the surrounding land. It is home to thousands of sea birds that make the lagoon shores and marshes their home.
During
flower season, which occurs any time between August and September, areas of the park become blanketed with flowers of different colours.
Postberg, a privately owned area of land lying within the park opens its doors to the public during August and September It is home to a variety of game including zebra, wildebeest and various antelope species and is the perfect spot to come see the flowers on display.
Paternoster
A bit further up the coast is the picturesque fishing village of Paternoster where you can take a stroll along the long sandy beach or visit the fish stalls and restaurants located on the waters edge. The nearby Cape Columbine Nature Reserve offers more spectacular scenery and is a great spot to visit during flower season.
If you're looking for luxury, self catering accommodation in these areas, you can chat to us, or click here for more info.
