Noordhoek is known for its beach views, lush greenery and tranquility. Few places in Cape Town can match it for peace and quiet and natural beauty. Noordhoek is accessibly via Ou Kaapse Weg and Chapman’s Peak (when it’s open), as well as Fish Hoek, Glencairn and Simon’s Town. One of the most popular destinations in Noordhoek is Noordhoek Farm Village, which contains clothing shops, arts and crafts, art galleries, restaurants, an organic market and children’s play area, it also plays host to a number of events.
Farm village highlights include:
- Caroline’s Health and Beauty Salon: where you can enjoy pampering facials, manicures and pedicures, as well as massage treatments.
- Namaste Trading: specialises in local clothing labels and jewellery.
- Noordhoek Art Gallery: get anything from fine art to contemporary collectibles. Ndoro provides a range of hand-made arts and crafts from around Africa.
- Tack shop: a must for horse riding enthusiasts.
- Café Roux: inside and al fresco dining with a varied menu.
- The Toad in the Village: a quaint two-storey pub and restaurant that often boasts live entertainment and has good old pub grub, such as smoked eisbein and ribs.
- De Noordhoek Hotel: a 21-bedroom boutique hotel with a private pool for summer and fireplace for winter.
Another favourite activity is horse riding on Noordhoek’s 8km beach. The broad expanse of white sand and crashing waves makes a marvellous outing for riders and horses. Surfers frequent the waves at “The Hoek” and there are occasional dolphin sightings. Milkwood trees grow right up to the beach at the foot of the mountain below Chapman’s Peak and the tides create lagoons which come and go. You can walk to the beach-wrecked SS Kakapa, which crashed ashore 110 years ago. Noordhoek is also a bird watcher’s paradise with over 170 different bird species to be seen.
Chapman’s Peak Drive connects Noordhoek to Hout Bay and is one of the most beautiful and treacherous roads in the Cape. The drive is often closed during bad weather and rock falls are a constant danger. The Chapman’s Peak Drive is not overly long; it’s a mere 9km, but it makes the most of those 9km with 114 curves, panoramic views and a nearly 600m climb. There are plenty of picnic spots along the way so you can get out of your car, stretch your legs, admire the view and take photos to your heart’s content. Athletic types will appreciate the various hiking opportunities on the mountain. If you’re travelling between August and October you might even see some whales.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
