A favourite with locals, Melkbosstrand is the quintessential seaside village and a popular water sports location. Home to The Lodge at Atlantic Beach.

Located on the West Coast Way Culture Route

West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature

West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.

Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way: Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve. For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777.  Follow us on  on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.

Welcome to Melkbosstrand Blue Flag Beach

Melkbosstrand literally translates to ‘milk bush beach’ and refers to the Euphorbiaceae bushes which grow on sand dunes in the area and which give off a milky latex-like substance. A favourite with locals, Melkbos is the quintessential seaside village, but with all the amenities one could wish for, including several inviting beachfront restaurants, modern supermarkets and ATMs. Melkbosstrand is a Blue Flag Beach and is located on the West Coast Way Culture Route. Blue Flag is a world-renowned eco-certification for beaches and marinas. When you see a Blue Flag flying, you know a beach or marina is clean and accessible; has great water quality; meets high safety standards; and is working hard to protect local shorelines and ecosystems.

The long Main Beach is backed by green lawns that are perfect for sand-free picnics, and there are several cafés and restaurants dotted along Beach Road. A popular water sports beach, conditions are superb for wind and kite surfing and surf skiers and the calm waters also make Melkbosstrand ideal for sea kayakers to enjoy long paddles along the coast. However, there is enough of a wave to also keep the surfers happy at two spots known as Beach Road and Captains.

For boating enthusiasts, there is a safe slipway on the northern edge of Melkbos Point for leisure craft. It is also home to the National Sea Rescue Institute’s Station 18.

Book Your Stay: 

+27 (0)21 553 4653

A rocky outcrop called Slabbert se Klippe – a popular fishing spot – demarcates Main Beach from Kapteinsbaai to the north, which gives way to Van Riebeeckstrand. This means that it is possible to walk along the beach all the way from the rocky point known as Melkbos Point in the south, to the border of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station – a distance of some 4 km.

Melkbosstrand also has the distinction of being the landing point for South Africa’s undersea communications cables and the SA-Far East (SAFE) cable runs from Melkbosstrand to Mauritius, India and Malaysia, while another cable runs to the United Kingdom, with branches to more than 10 African west coast countries.

Also a place of historical importance, Melkbosstrand is where the invading British troops landed in 1806 and, soon after, in the Battle of Blaauwberg they took the Cape from the Batavian Republic.

Distance from Cape Town: 33.2km
Where: Just north of Blaauwberg on the R27 or Otto du Plessis Drive
Coordinates: 33.7333° S, 18.4333° E

Where to stay

The Lodge at Atlantic Beach is located next to the R27 West Coast Road and offers 3 types of luxury 4-star accommodation: Double, Twin and a Self-catering apartment.

Facilities available at The Lodge at Atlantic Beach 
• Accommodation  • Child Friendly  • Wheelchair Accessibility (Some Rooms, Bedrooms & Bathrooms) • 4 Star Tourism Grading  • Member: Cape Town Tourism • AA Grading • Trip Advisor  • Bar  • Restaurant (B&B on site with Golf Clubhouse offering Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)  • Championships Links Type Golf Course, Golf Academy & Driving Range and Shop  •  Tennis  • Pool  • Wellness Spa • Fitness Centre  • Conference Facilities  • Wedding and Function Venue  • Un-Guided Nature Walks  • Online Booking Facilities.

Open 7 days a week| Free entry
Distance from Cape Town: 27km 
Where: R27
Contact:+27 (0)21 553 4653 | [email protected] |  www.thelodgeAB.co.za

What to do:

Cape Skydiving Adventure

A 35-minute drive north along the R27 or West Coast road as it’s more commonly known, is all it takes for you to be whisked from the Cape Town city centre to the closest skydiving drop zone to South Africa’s tourism capital, boasting one of the best views in the world from altitude.

On the way up in the aircraft to your tandem skydive, the view is breathtaking. To the south, the city bowl lies sandwiched between towering Table Mountain and bustling Table Bay harbour. Further south, and to the far side of the mountain, lies False Bay, Hout Bay and the splendour of the south peninsula as far as Cape Point. To the west, you will spot Robben Island and the Atlantic Ocean breaking on the beautiful Cape West Coast, as famous for its icy water temperature as it’s mouth-watering crayfish. To the north, the Langebaan lagoon, a great kitesurfing and windsurfing venue.

Skydiving is the one item that features on almost every bucket list. At Skydive Cape Town, their dedicated staff and internationally qualified tandem masters are on hand to make your skydiving dream a reality. There’s no better way to experience Cape Town than in freefall. Go on – take the plunge!

Where: Brakfontein Road, Cape Farms

Contact: +27 (0)82 800 6290 | [email protected] | www.skydivecapetown.co.za

West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature

West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.

Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way: Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve. For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777.  Follow us on  on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.