If you’re a Capetonian on staycation or a visitor to the Mother City, the Northern Suburbs is an often overlooked district of the city that deserves your attention. Durbanville, Bellville and the surrounding areas have everything Cape Town’s more popular areas have, and then some more too.
The rolling hills of the Northern Suburbs are home to the Durbanville Wine Valley, responsible for some of the Cape’s award-winning wines. But if you’re not a fan of sipping on delicious grape juice while overlooking lush vineyards, the region has a whole lot more to offer.
Check out our top 7 things to do and places to visit when hitting up the northern part of Cape Town:
1. Experience art at Rust en Vrede Gallery
For a sophisticated cultural experience, you can’t skip this gallery. Rust en Vrede boasts an array of studios featuring a variety of artworks in addition to its main art gallery. There is a clay museum, a leather studio and a delicious eatery, among other things. There are three exhibition spaces, featuring works that have won several prestigious awards.
- Location: Art centre, Rust-en-Vrede, Wellington Road, Durbanville
- Operating hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm | Saturday 9am to 1pm
2. Toboggan at Cool Runnings
For a day of fun in the sun with the kids, visit the tobogganing slopes at Cool Runnings. The first downhill tobogganing track in Africa, the park has a 1.25km track that sends visitors down its silver slopes on a bobsled at high speeds.
“Cruise through 17 corners, S-bends and even a tunnel, before the sled automatically slows down at the bottom of the course, safe and sound,” says Cool Runnings on its website.
- Location: Off Carl Cronje Drive, Tygervalley
- Operating hours: Monday to Friday 11am to 6pm | Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm
3. Stroll through Majik Forest
Durbanville has no shortage of spaces to enjoy Mother Nature. Visit this lovely park for a family picnic, some quiet reading time or simple stroll through its leafy woods.
There are popular mountain bike trails and the park allows dogs, so there’s ample space for your furry family members. Admire several plant species, or see if the kids can spot a fish or three in one of the reservoirs.
- Location: Van Riebeeckshof Road, Van Riebeeckshof
- Operating hours: Monday to Sunday 7am to 7pm
4. Unwind at one of the wine farms
The Durbanville area is prime wine country, and world-class vinos are produced right here on our doorstep. Go for a tasting, pairing or simply while away the hours over a bottle of your favourite zesty white or robust red, overlooking stunning views.
Some of the most popular farms include Meerendal, Durbanville Hills, Diemersdal, Nitida, Bloemendal and Hillcrest. Many of these bigger wine farms cater to families, with kid-friendly restaurants and playgrounds included on their estates. If you’ve ticked them all off your list, look up some smaller boutique wineries like Klein Roosboom and Kronendal.
5. Watch a show at the Barnyard Theatre
The show must go on. Get your entertainment fix at The Barnyard Theatre Tygervalley, with some of the best performers in the country tearing up the stage.
Book a night out with some friends or just go with your significant other to watch a musical performance that promises to entertain. Upcoming shows include ABBA’s “Thank You for the Music” and “Nineties vs Noughties”, which features the greatest hits from the 1990s and 2000s.
- Location: Entrance 12, Tygervalley Shopping Centre, Bellville
6. Explore the Rose Garden
This iconic part of Durbanville is one of only three trial rose gardens in the Southern Hemisphere. Stroll through the more than 500 varieties of roses and have a picnic with your loved ones.
This beautiful and award-winning rose garden is immensely popular for wedding photos in the summer months. So pack a basket, grab the kids, smell the roses and see if you can spot a couple posing as newlyweds.
- Location: 33 Drakenstein Road, Durbanville Hills
- Operating hours: Monday to Sunday 8am to 6pm
7. Play a round of putt-putt
Practice your putting skills at this fun African-themed mini-golf course at The Golf Village in Bellville. The whole course consists of 27 holes, which will have players crossing bridges, putting uphill and over ponds.
The course is right next to the driving range, so golfers can drop off their children at putt-putt before practicing their swings. This experience is sure to inspire some laughter, excitement and a good dose of competitive spirit.
- Location: Carl Cronje Drive, Bellville
- Operating hours: Monday 11am to 8pm | Tuesday to Friday 8am to 8pm | Saturday 8am to 7pm | Sunday 8am to 5pm
Cape {town} Etc discount: Indulge in a pamper package for two at Tygervalley’s Coco Vogue for R599 (valued at R1 660). Get it here.
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Picture: @durbanvillewine / Instagram
