Time to break away for a West Coast Summer Holidays

Every one is talking about their West Coast Summer Holidays. The end of a long year has arrived and holidays are on everyone’s minds. With more and more families opting for “staycations” the good news is that the Cape West Coast, which is right on Cape Town’s doorstep, has so much to do you won’t know where to start. Added to this, there are several brand new and exciting activities and developments that are available these holidays.

What’s New for you own West Coast Summer holidays?
For those fancying a day out at the beach, Melkbosstrand has been declared a Blue Flag Beach due to its international standards of cleanliness. Definitely the place to take your towel and beach umbrella!

Slightly further afield but still only an hours drive from Cape Town, !Khwa ttu, the San Culture and Education Centre, has launched their special kids holiday programme which offers daily fun activities for kids up to the age of 12 – with things such as mountain biking, animal tracking, building a bow and arrow and more on offer. No better way to celebrate West Coast summer holidays!

From here one can head to the Ormonde Private Wine Cellar in Darling for some wine tasting and a supplied artisanal food platter (packed full of delicious locally sourced produce) to be enjoyed on this picturesque wine farm.   If picnics aren’t your thing then head to the Flying Pig restaurant in Darling’s Station Road – this renowned charcuterie delicatessen has just launched their exciting new summer menu and pop-up restaurant concept – one of which will be located at Darling Brew. For those with a sweet tooth, Darling Sweet is a must for your road trip route. Situated in new premises in Darling’s Long Street, Darling Sweet produces hand-made gourmet toffees and also offers a unique new range of toffee spreads in three flavours; Tannie Evita’s Classic, Bird’s Eye Chili, and Honey & Salt toffee spread. Visitors can also watch toffees being made in the factory.

While in the town of Darling be sure to pop in at the award winning craft brewery, Darling Brew, to sample their beers. Darling Brew is offering a Travel Tuesday special of a unique beer and food pairing experience, followed by a cellar tour.

Staying with the Travel Tuesday theme, the Tori Oso Restaurant in Mamre is offering donation based (no set fee but donations appreciated) guided Heritage Walks on Tuesdays from 11am to 12:30am. Donations for the walk go back into developing more tourism experiences at Mamre Werf. After building up an appetite on the walk stay for lunch or some cake and coffee at Tori Oso.

For lovers of good food be sure to try the newly opened Russells on the Port restaurant in Port Owen. Launched and owned by a restaurateur with global reach, and located on the Marina, Russells on the Port has amazing views of the sunset from the verandah and an interesting and varied menu which is prepared by a top chef who has worked for world-renowned wine estates.

Heading further out on your road trip, visit the award winning Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort, which recently reopened all 7 zip-lining platforms, after they were destroyed in a fire earlier in the year.   In addition to the zip-lining, the Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort also offers target shooting, a health and beauty Spa, a mountain biking route through the picturesque setting, Carmien tea and Darling Brew beer tasting, and the top-class Kloof Restaurant.

The west coast is perfect for last minute holiday bookings, with many options available at Club Mykonos, The Lodge at Atlantic Beach. For lovers of farm stalls be sure to pull over at the farm stalls of Moose Farmstall on the and Kardoesie Countrystop on the N7.

All of these attractions and activities are situated on the West Coast Way self-drive routes, which include the newly launched West Coast Way Wild Route, the West Coast Way Scenic Route, the West Coast Way Berg Route, the West Coast Way Foodie Route as well as the West Coast Way Cultural Route – all of which are designed to showcase the many attractions and activities that are already on offer on the Cape West Coast and inland areas – but may be unknown to many. Visitors can also download the free West Coast Way Tourism Radio Smart Phone app which offers a comprehensive guide of the areas.

Carmen Lerm, founder of West Coast Way, says that these self-drive routes are designed to drive traffic from the main roads to the surrounding inland towns as well as the coastal regions, connecting the inland areas with the sea.

“Whether your focus is sightseeing, photo opportunities, history, culture, fauna and flora or adventure and activities, the Cape West Coast has so much to offer and is a must-visit, unique, affordable and accessible destination that offers memorable, fun experiences for the entire family.”

“December holidays are upon us and with the Cape West Coast on our doorstep, Capetonians don’t have to travel far to access all of the amazing attractions and activities on offer. Hop in the car and go road-tripping up the West Coast this holiday. From the start of the West Coast Way routes at SANCCOB at the Rietvlei Wetland Reserve in Table View, to the Blaauwberg Private Nature Reserve, the seaside village of Melkbosstrand, up past the West Coast National Park and winding its way past Shelley Point, St Helena Bay and Velddrif (to name but a few), the Cape West Coast has so much to offer that you may never want to go home again,” concludes Lerm.

For more information on West Coast Way, the other routes on offer, and the list of 101 Things to Do on the West Coast visit www.westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Connect with West Coast Way on Facebook and Twitter at WestCoastWaySA.

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.