Out & About

Things To Do

In & Around Somerset West & Cape Town

Activities abound for visitors to Forest Rest. Whether you're into outdoor adventure, lazy days on the beach, adrenalin sport or want to be a tourist in our own town, there's something for everyone.

Take a self drive tour of our award winning wine farms all within close proximity to Forest Rest or spend the day on an open top bus in and around the Cape Town peninsula to see the mother city in all her glory.

Things To Do in and around Somerset West

The Western Cape offers some of the finest beaches in the world of which several carry Blue Flag status. The closest beaches to Forest Rest are within an easy 10 minute drive time.

Helderberg Beaches

The azure blue beaches of east cost of False bay are conveniently from within 10 minutes drive timefrom Forest Rest.

Strand Beach

A 5 km stretch of white sand ideal for long walks, fishing, surfing and wind surfing. Excellent wave action.

Gordon’s Bay Beach

Considered as one of the safest swimming beaches, Gordon's Bay beach offers great sheltered rock pools - wonderful for a little marine exploration!

Bikini Beach

This beautiful secluded Blue Flag beach provides a high level of water quality and safety. The beach is highly popular with sun lovers for tanning as it provides excellent shelter from the winds.

Kogel Bay

Follow the spectacular Clarence Drive from Somerset West towards Rooi Els to reach this stretch of pristine white beach. Surfers paradise and great caves to explore.

Hermanus Beaches (1 hours drive time)

Breakfast Bay

Tucked away between Onrus River and Fisherhaven this beach offers and ideal spot for picnics and the adventure seekers who love snorkeline. The beach is well protected from prevailing winds by the surrounding dunes so a great family beach.

Onrus Beach

Onrus Beach is the venue for the annual Onrus Classic Surfing and Body Boarding Competition which takes place in December. Located at the mouth of the Onrus River this beautiful location offers safe swimming conditions with a great sandy beach and surfers often frequent this spot when surf's up!

Sandbaai Main Beach

A vast expanse of beach with rocky outcrops and tidal pools for great snorkeling adventures during high tides.

Langbaai

The secluded beach is a favourite amongst locals for surfing and body boarding. Getting there can be somewhat laborious but with a bit of effort the pristine isolated sandy beach will make it worth the effort.

Kammabaai

Kammabaai, located next to Langbaai is more easily accessible and a popilar destination for families and surfers. A great picnic spot for families and friends. Rocky outcrops hide marine pools teaming with marine life. The beach offers BBQ areas under the shady Milkwood trees.

Voelklip Beach

For sun babies who are not so fond of sand, Voelklip Beach offers leveled grassy lawns with a small sandy shoreline. Another favourite with surfers. Lots of parking close by.

Grotto Beach

With Blue Flag beach status, Grotto Beach is a firm favourite with visitors from far and wide stretching more than 18 kms. Synonymous with Grotto must be Dutchies Restaurant, a firm favourite with visitors. Savour traditional Dutch delicacies as you take in the pristine azure blue water of this dazzling beach. There is plenty of parking.

False Bay Beaches (40+ minutes drive time)

Within approximately 40 minutes' drive time from Forest Rest Apartments on the False Bay Coast, between Muizenberg and Simonstown, guests will find world class beaches and interesting small seaside villages.

Muizenberg Beach

Long known as a surfer's paradise with an expansive long sandy beach and colourful beach huts.

Fish Hoek Beach

Provides calm waters and the walkway that hugs the right hand side of the beach is ideal for an enjoyable stroll.

Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach in Simon's Town is synonymous with the population of protected African Penguins who live here. Boulders Beach is a paying beach and one of the best swimming beaches in Cape Town. It lies in a small cove and is protected from the wind by giant granite boulders. A boardwalk past the main beach takes you to the penguin beach, although they do pop over to visit you around the boulders.

Atlantic Coast Beaches

There are numerous famous beaches on the Atlantic side of Cape Town, just over an hour’s drive from Forest Rest.

Bloubergstrand/Sunset Beach

For spectacular sunsets and views across the bay of Table Mountain. Blouberg and Sunset Beach are home to wind and kite surfers from far and wide with some of the top annual wind and kite surfing competitions held here annually.

Clifton, Camp’s Bay & Llandudno beaches

Forest Rest Self Catering Apartments is surrounded by world class golf courses which are from within 10 minutes drive time to an hour's drive time. We will gladly pre book your tee off time for you if pre-arranged with management.

Golf Course Minutes Drive Time Website
Erinvale Golf Club 10 Minutes www.erinvalegolfclub.com
Somerset West Golf Club 10 Minutes www.somersetwestgolfclub.co.za
Strand Golf Club 15 Minutes www.strandgolfclub.co.za
De Zalze Golf Club 20 Minutes www.dezalzegolf.com
Stellenbosch Golf Club 20 Minutes www.stellenboschgolfclub.com
King David Golf Club 25 Minutes www.handicaps.co.za
Devonvale Golf Club 35 Minutes www.devonvale.co.za
Royal Cape Golf Club 35 Minutes www.royalcapegolf.co.za
Milnerton Golf Club 45 Minutes www.milnertongolfclub.co.za
Kleinmond Golf Club 45 Minutes www.kleinmondgolfclub.co.za
Pearl Valley Golf Club 45 Minutes www.pearlvalley.co.za
Atlantic Beach Golf Club 45 Minutes www.atlanticbeachgolfclub.co.za
Westlake Golf Club 45 Minutes www.westlakegolfclub.co.za
Arabella Golf Club 45 Minutes www.arabellacountryestate.co.za
Clovelly Golf Club 50 Minutes www.clovelly.co.za
Steenberg Golf Club 50 Minutes www.steenberggolfclub.co.za
Paarl Golf Club 50 Minutes www.paarlgolfclub.co.za
Hermanus Golf Club 60 Minutes www.hgc.co.za

Things To Do in and around Somerset West

Visit some of our award winning world class wine estates all within easy drive time from Forest Rest Self Catering Apartments. Savour a wine tasting or sit down meal at some of the estate restaurants where you'll enjoy some of the most delectable dishes on offer.

Avontuur Wine Estate and Stud Farm

No better combination than good wines, delectable food and racehorses. A marriage made in heaven.

Waterkloof Wines

Wines of distinction and an elegant wedding venue with an outstanding restaurant venue.

Vergelegen Wine Estate

Enjoy handcrafted wines from this estate established in the 1700's. This historical estate is a firm favourite with visitors. Try out their restaurants or their delicious picnic options during the summer season. Menus available on the website.

Topaz Wines

The Topaz Wine Company is here to help you have fun as you learn how to taste, appreciate, serve and entertain with wine. And, ... if you’re bold enough, to make your own wine! Of course if you already know quite a bit about wine you might just want to order some of our hand-crafted wines on-line.

Yonder Hill Wine Estate

Enjoy a wine tasting at Yonder Hill and a delicious cheese platter.

Lourensford Wine Estate

A magnificent estate nestled in the fertile bowl of the Helderberg Mountains. Lourensford Estate, founded in 1700, a proud history joins with a dynamic new vision to create a giant among South African wine producers.

Vergenoegd Estate

The Vergenoegd Estate is synonymous with excellent food, award winning wines an artisinal picnic experience out of this world and an unrivalled history.

Morgenster Wine Estate

Established in 300 years ago, this gem offers more than just award winning wines. Olives, fine dining and an olive tree nursery produces the finest cultivars for sale.

Blaauwklippen Wine Estate

Besides the production of award winning wines, Blaauwklippen offers one of the finest events venues & bistro. A wonderful venue for a great day out.

Markets and festivals offer guests the opportunity to mix with the locals and to enjoy a day of fun, laughter and great food.

Seasonal festivals include Wine Festivals, Harvest Festivals, Olive Festivals, Cheese Festivals, Food festivals, and many more take place in the region on a regular basis.

Then there are the numerous regular markets ranging from Art and Craft markets to fresh food markets.

Visit the family market at the historic Blaauwklippen Wine Estate on a Sunday. The market has a range of stalls offering fresh produce and homemade products to crafts and plants. There are also live music, delicious food stalls and of course Blaauwklippen wines to enjoy.

The Harvest Market at the Lourensford Wine Estate offers fresh produce and traditional food from a wide variety of regions. It also has some arts and craft stalls and is open on Sundays.

The Root 44 market at the Audacia Wine Estate is open every Saturday and Sunday. The market is housed in sturdy marquees (which means rain is never an issue), and offers funky live entertainment, craft and home ware stalls and a good selection of edible and drinkable treats.

Country Craft Market in Somerset West, every 2nd Saturday, offers genuine quality hand-made arts and crafts.

Family market @ Blaauwklippen Wine Estate

Harvest Market @ Lourensford Estate

Root 44 market at the Audacia Wine Estate

Country Craft Market in Somerset West

In close proximity to Forest Rest you'll find plenty of activities to keep young and old busy. The beautiful Helderberg Nature Reserve offers a number of walking trails, suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.

Then there is Helderberg Farm which offers a number of scenic walking trails ranging from 1 to 20 km with various levels of difficulty.

Or explore the scenic Jonkershoek Nature Reserve in Stellenbosch on foot or mountain bike.

Experience the Winelands in a healthy and fun way – and be green about it! Do a carbon negative tour and enjoy a day of cycling through the vineyards.

For the more adventurous, there are a vast variety of activities on offer in the area and around Cape Town:

  • Helicopter flights
  • 4 x 4 adventures
  • Quad biking
  • Paragliding
  • Skydiving
  • Great White Shark cage diving
  • Horse Riding
  • Abseiling Table Mountain
  • Canopy tours
  • Cycle the City of Cape Town
  • Hot air ballooning
  • Whale watching (in season)

One of the Cape’s most scenic drives is the coastal road from Gordon’s Bay to Rooi Els, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay and the quaint seaside village of Kleinmond where a new waterfront project was recently completed. Carry on past Kleinmond to Hermanus – the Whale Capital of South Africa.

Hermanus has been recognized by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world. The best time to enjoy whale watching in Hermanus is between July and November either from the beach, the famous cliff path, by boat or from the air via a scenic flight. The whale viewing during the months of July and August vary from year to year with regards to how many whales are present in Walker Bay and along the coast; however you are almost guaranteed of seeing whales in September, October and November. For those with a more adventurous spirit, a guided sea kayaking trip promises to get the adrenaline going and offers a unique opportunity to watch whales and explore the magnificent coastline.

Table Mountain Cableway
Table Mountain Cableway

The mother city of Cape Town, recently voted as the most beautiful city in the world offers more scenic and historical venues than can be visited in one day. Allow yourself a couple of days and definitely a trip on Cape Town's now famous open top bus to take in the mother cities beauty.

Cape Town Red City Tour

Hop on and hop off the double-decker red bus and discover Cape Town. The best way to get to Table Mountain and back, our family-friendly bus offers informative audio commentary about Cape Town's major attractions in 15 languages, with a special audio channel just for kids. City Sightseeing tours are the easiest and most fun way to see the sights!

Cape Point

At the tip of the Cape Peninsula 60 km south-west of Cape Town, lies Cape Point nature reserve within the Table Mountain National Park; a declared Natural World Heritage Site. Encompassing 7 750 hectares of rich and varied flora and fauna; abounding with buck, baboons and Cape mountain zebra as well as over 250 species of birds.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Visit the Kistenbosch Botanical Gardens to enjoy one of the world's largest botanical gardens dedicated to indigenous plants and trees. with more than 7 000 species of plants and trees.

The gardens are home to a wide variety of birdlife.

See too the amazing new "Boomslang" (meaning tree snake) which forms part of the Tree Canopy Walkway, a curved steel and timber bridge which winds and dips its way through and over the Arboretum. Truly spectacular.

Robben Island

Of great historical significance to South Africa, you simply cannot miss out on a ferry trip to Robben Island to see what was home to Nelson Mandela, one of our greatest statesmen.

The island, now a world heritage site is located some 9 km offshore from Cape Town. Daily tours leave for the island at regular intervals and tours can be booked in advance.

Table Mountain

Magical views, winding walkways, inquisitive rock rabbits and masses of indigenous flora. An unrivaled cable car ride!

Find out all the information you need on weather conditions,

departure times and more.

V & A Waterfront

A vibrant life of shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure activities at the foot of Table Mountain right on the water's edge.

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Prime Location In Somerset West - Close To Beaches, Golf Courses and Cape Town's Hot Spots