Cape Town Coastline offers some of the funnest drives to enjoy. These are day trips that unlock the highlights of the living the highlife... just not in the fast lane! So if you're looking for day trip inspiration here are 5 short drives that spark joy in the Western Cape.
Cape Chapman’s Peak Coastal Drive
- Location: Camps Bay to Noordhoek
- Distance: +/- 60 km
- Duration: 2 hrs (recommended for the enjoyment of stops along the way)
Start in Camps Bay… grab a coffee from one of the huge selection of coffee spots along Victoria Road, then buckle up and head off for one of the most iconic drives in the world, let alone Cape Town itself. You will wind along the road as it hugs the coast all the way past the 12 Apostles Hotel, and in front of it, a fabulous stopping spot - Oudekraal beach. Then it's up and over Suikerbossie and into Hout Bay.
If you are there on the weekend, try to make some time to pop into the Bay Harbour market for arts and crafts, but also amazing padkos snacks! Finally, you will be through the town and entering the wonder of Chapman’s Peak (the toll gate is on the Hout Bay side, and as you pay it will be right next to the rather discreet entrance to Tintswalo Atlantic, a firm getaway favourite with our members!). You are now ready to unlock the twists and turns of Chapman’s Peak with its many stops and viewpoints along the way. Always be mindful when pulling out of rest stops, as there are many other road users - from cyclists to runners and walkers, and on occasion, baboons. As you go through the 155m half tunnel (an architectural creation of amazing proportions) take a look back at the road you’ve driven, chiselled into the mountainside, and marvel at the fact that the modern feat resting above your head was originally carved into the craggy mountain face 100 years ago! Finally, the road crests and the expanse of Noordhoek beach opens up in front of you. This is always one of those moments when you feel like a tourist in your own town.
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Getting back to town can be done in a couple of ways depending on how much time you have left in your day. You can return via Ou Kaapse Weg, or for a longer day out add on another short drive option…
Cape Point Cruise
- Location: Noordhoek to Kalk Bay
- Distance: +/- 80 km
- Duration: 3 hrs (recommended for the enjoyment of stops along the way)
Whether via the previous route (Chapman’s Peak) or via Ou Kaapse Weg, make your way from Noordhoek towards Kommetjie. En route you will pass Imhoff Farm - which is a fun stop to enjoy, with art stalls, some great dining options, and Higgeldy Piggeldy Farmyard - where your kids can feed and touch friendly farmyard animals. Next you will drive through Kommetjie - perhaps take a short stop at Long Beach (at the bottom of Kirsten Drive) to watch the surfers - and onwards past Misty Cliffs. Remember to go slowly so you can spot Camel Rock in Scarborough, and then head on towards Cape Point.
At this “point” you will need to keep your eyes peeled for buck in the reserve, baboons along the roads, as well as Ostriches on the left (inland) side of the road. Then you will wind down past Boulders Beach, through Simons Town and finally into Kalk Bay - a fabulous Breakfast or Dinner spot depending on which way around you do the route… but if you’re not careful you could spend the entire day browsing all the stores & quirky side roads.
READ: Secret Kalk Bay | Enjoy the Taste of a Small Town Escape
From there you can head past Muizenberg beach with its recently renovated beach huts, and then you are once more in the domain of the motorways to guide you safely home!
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Clarence Drive
- Location: Somerset West to Hermanus, R44
- Distance: 25 - 65 km each way
- Duration: 1 - 4+ hrs
For a fun day out (or make it an overnight stay) set your GPS for Hermanus. Take the long way around on one of the best coastal drives in the Western Cape. Rushed holiday makers will mostly go up and over Sir Lowry's Pass, which makes this alternative route all the better for those looking to travel slow & see much! Recently rebuilt, this ribbon of tar snakes from the edge of naval town Gordon’s Bay right along the coast through to Rooi Els - where you can choose to cut the drive short at about 25 km, and perhaps stop for a bite to eat with a sea view.
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Otherwise, keep going via Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay, Kleinmond and onward to Hermanus. This route is nestled in the North East of False Bay and at times, with the Hottentots Holland mountains towering above and the azure sea stretching below, you are very grateful for how well-maintained the road is with its epic twists and dips! According to Mountain Passes South Africa (a Treasure Trove for Road Tripping fans!) “... if you like passes with lots of corners, then this one is for you, as it contains 77 bends, curves and corners of which four are in excess of 150 degrees”. Overtaking is fairly limited and in general one can expect to average well below 60 kph. Just remember to be mindful as baboons can often be found sunning themselves along the low retaining walls, and the drive is best enjoyed at a restrained pace.
Swartberg Pass
- Location: Karoo
- Distance: 180 km
- Duration: 4 - 6 hrs (take it slow and enjoy the scenery)
Depart from the charming (and increasingly popular for weekend getaways) Prince Albert and head out and through Meiringspoort – a wonder of a drive not enough people rave about. Then pass over the Groot River 25 times in less than 20 km, as it (and you) carve a route through the once-impenetrable Swartberg.
The ‘poort’ conquered, head for Oudtshoorn and make your way over the scary Swartberg Pass – 25 km up, all gravel with great views and even greater drops to your left – and then take it easy as you head back into the Karoo to Prince Albert.
READ: Swartberg Family Stay in the Klein Karoo
Winelands Four passes
- Location: Cape Winelands
- Distance: +/- 100 km
- Duration: At least 3 hrs - well worth setting a day aside for this one!
The 'four passes' of the Cape Winelands starts with the busy Sir Lowry's Pass, followed by Viljoen's Pass and Franschhoek Pass, and lastly, into Stellenbosch via Helshoogte - or you can drive it the other way around! Leaving Somerset West on the outskirts of Cape Town, start with Sir Lowry’s Pass. Before taking the Grabouw turnoff on the left (R321) enjoy a quick coffee stop at the infamous Peregrine Farm Stall on the right hand side of the road. Their pies are absolutely divine and can be enjoyed at any time of the day!
Follow the R321 to enter Viljoen’s Pass, winding through the vast Fruit Orchards and up onto the Dwarsberg plateau with its rocky outcrops from Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve. Enjoy a hairpin bend descent into the Villiersdorp valley. This is a well-maintained tar road and is also fortunately not an overly busy road. Cross the bridge over Theewaterskloof Dam and then take the left turn driving parallel to the dam’s waters for a bit before reaching a fun, fast stretch to the foot of Franschhoek Pass - the only exit to this town and one of the prettiest roads to enter the popular ‘capital’ of the Winelands! Indulge in a leisurely lunch in Franschhoek, perhaps a wine tasting or two (but not for the driver), and a visit to the Franschhoek Motor Museum, where you will find nearly 200 cars - surprisingly fascinating even for non-petrol heads! The final pass to overcome is the Helshoogte Pass taking you back into Stellenbosch. Be mindful of your speed as there is a permanent camera as you enter the town.
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