Noordhoek Activities

The Southern Peninsula of Cape Town, Western Cape offers an almost unending variety of activities to suit every life style. Browse our Photo Gallery for some images from our area. We always have up to date maps, brochures and books in the accommodation as a guide to help you choose during your stay. In our immediate vicinity, we recommend the following :

Noordhoek Beach

This spectacular beach stretches across to the coastal village of Kommetjie, with its prominent lighthouse at Slangkop. This lighthouse was commissioned in 1914; has a range of 29 kilometres and is one of the most powerful lighthouses in Africa.
On the beach one can watch the surfers riding the waves and occasionally one is lucky enough to see dolphins frolicking in the surf or whales sounding. A large number of bird species are found along the shore and in the tidal pools.
Truly a beautiful beach with an 8 kilometre stretch of pristine white sand; walking along the beach you will find an interesting shipwreck :

Kakapo, 26 May 1900. 

The skeleton of the boat is now an important landmark. The shipwreck is about 3km from the parking area. The Kakapo left Cape Town for Sydney on a misty night. Captain Nicolaysen saw Chapman's Peak and thought it was Cape Point. He turned sharp east but instead of cruising into False Bay he 'parked' his boat on Noordhoek Beach. He ploughed so deep into the dune that his crew could step out of the boat without getting their feet wet! Today horse riders and visitors explore the skeleton of his boat. The shipwreck is one of very few completely visible shipwrecks in the world!

Noordhoek Farm Village

Just a few minutes from Horizon Holiday Cottages is a thatched yesteryear grouping of shops, galleries and restaurants- it is as if one has entered an era of charm when life was generally more gracious and less hurried. The Village is a popular family venue and the playground offers a safe haven for children to play and explore. The Village has become established as a focal point for both locals and visitors to relax in cool shade and rediscover the simple pleasures of a country lifestyle. Renowned restaurateur and chef Franck Dangereax offers fine dining with affordable set menus or al la carte. Country restaurant Cafe Roux has garnered many accolades for the interesting meals served outdoors in the garden during good weather or indoors warmed by a log fire.

Cape Point Nature Reserve

Take a leisurely drive around the southern tip of the Peninsula and be in awe of some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world.
Cape Point is the most south westerly point of Africa where the cold Benguela current on the West coast and the warm Agulhus current on the East coast merge, often in cataclysmic confrontation. It is one of the highest sea cliffs in the world – 249 m above sea level. Situated in the 22 100 hectare Table Mountain National Park, which is a natural World Heritage Site.
From Cape Point , turn toward Simonstown and see the other half of the coastal road along False Bay to Simonstown.

Simon’s Town

Named after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who saw it as a safe winter harbour during the months of May to September for which it was finally proclaimed in 1741. The “historic mile” main street has an interesting selection of colonial architecture from 18 th to 20th  Centuries, with Victorian predominant,  as well as antique shops, galleries and restaurants, and a small waterfront. There are also a number of unusual museums.

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach, Simonstown

Since about 1985 African penguins began to take over Boulder’s Beach. These are also known as the “jackass penguins” because of the sounds that they make; sounding much like that of a donkey. Although part of the beach has been taken over by the Parks Board and fitted with wooden walks, one can still swim amongst the penguins.

Kalk Bay

This quaint, Bohemian village will keep attracting you back. Although the harbour and fishing fleet still operate the village has become the centre of antique, art and bric-a-brac shops and galleries some of the best restaurants who maintain the unique and special character of this historic harbour village.

Chapman’s Peak Drive

One of the World's most spectacular passes and is one of the Cape's greatest tourism draw cards. The drive opened on the 6th May 1922 because of the firm belief of Sir Frederic de Waal, Administrator of the Cape and the driving force behind Chapmans Peak Drive, that Tourists would one day abandon Egypt and spend three months of the year in Cape Town, and the new spectacular scenic road was one of the ways to entice the international travellers of the day to spread their interests and wealth to South Africa.
Chapman’s Peak drive remains a favourite outing for both locals and tourists, and will take you to the beautiful “republic”  of Hout Bay

Hout Bay

Hout Bay was formerly a fishing village and has managed to maintain its unique combination of fishing harbour and country atmosphere, despite development. Its long, sandy beach faces a bay framed by mountains and is quite simply exceptionally beautiful. Capetonians throng here over weekends to partake of the excellent local fish & chips at Mariner’s wharf which also houses a number of good restaurants. From here you can take sunset champagne cruises to the V&A Waterfront, boat trips to Seal Island in a glass-bottomed boat and visit the World of Birds. 

Hiking

There are many walks and hikes in the Silvermine Nature Reserve situated just behind our affordable self Cape Town catering accommodation or our beautiful Chapman’s Peak.  An easy walk from the parking area at the top of Ou Kaapse Weg takes you to the beautiful Silvermine reservoir – a popular site for picnics or for making use of the built in braai areas. There are mountain biking trails and walks across many parts of the Table Mountain National Park, of which the Silvermine reserve forms  a part.

Tours of Cape Town attractions