You would love to take your family on a fun outing in Cape Town, but here’s the thing: how do you find something that every single family member will enjoy – even you?
We’ve got you.
Take a short 30-minute drive from Cape Town, Stellenbosch or the airport, for a relaxing fresh air experience in the beautiful Durbanville Wine Valley. Sipping cool climate wines on a cosy wine farm while your children are having a ball.
Let’s raise our glasses to thank these terrific ten wine farms that cater to our kids, so we can eat our eggs benedict while it’s still hot:
1. Bloemendal Wine Estate
Probably the most popular family-focused estate in the area, Bloemendal offers a variety of activities that children of all ages will enjoy.
First up is Bon Amis, a casual restaurant known for their wood fired pizzas and sushi, but the main drawcard is this: their huge play area featuring a sandpit, a variety of climbing frames, slides and swings and even some cute rabbits to look at. Top tip: pre-book a table outside if you want to keep a closer eye on your young ones.
Around the corner is the Bloemendal Tasting Room where parents can sample and savour the local wines, and children can hang out on the jungle gym or enjoy their own playful kiddies tasting experience.
For a touch of adventure you can bring your bikes and helmets (or rent some) and get a junior permit for your kids to ride their hearts out on the roads and ramps at the Bloemendal Bike Track.
Right across the road, a brand new wine tasting room, 360° Bloemendal, recently opened its doors. Located on top of the Kanonberg, the jungle gym could win an award for having the most panoramic views in Cape Town – overlooking Table Mountain, the Atlantic ocean and the wine valley below.
2. D’Aria
The CU Kids at D’Aria is a state of the art outdoor play area, kitted out with modern climbing apparatus and swings that would keep kids busy for hours. If they’re older than 5 years, you are welcome to check them in with a day visitors’ pass (with no time limit) and pick them up later. For younger toddlers, mom or dad will have to take turns to be on standby, but luckily there’s a shaded spot with tables to sit and enjoy a meal or something to drink whilst you wait.
If you opt for the drop-and-go – you can take a short stroll to the restaurants and choose between three different spots for your day-date: the trendy eatery, The Terrace, a steakhouse, Patina or the cocktail lounge, Botany.
3. Klein Roosboom
Although Klein Roosboom is famous for their creative cave-like tasting rooms, the farm has so much more to offer families – especially after renovating a few years ago.
The outdoor wine tasting veranda has its very own play area with a jungle gym and slide that lands right into a sandpit with beach toys.
Head on over to Jean’s Deli – a fabulous foodie venue – to taste their farm meals, freshly baked pastries and a selection of artisanal picnic food (think charcuterie, aged cheese, quality olive oil and pesto’s).
Young children can play outside on the tree-swing and mini-kitchen or the whole family (even friendly dogs) can take a hike on any of the three well-marked trails.
4. Durbanville Hills
Durbanville Hills is a multi-story wine tasting destination with separate areas catering for different needs.
Besides the fine-dining The Tangram restaurant on top with beautiful vistas over Table Mountain, the wine tasting lounge in the middle that often hosts big groups and the cellar, they also offer a more relaxed area downstairs – the Olive Grove Bistro. And this is where you need to settle down with your busy bunch.
You can either sit inside a glass boxed area, or outside between the olive trees. Either way, you’ll be right next to a play area with swings, a modern branch-like climbing frame and grass where the kids can play. If you go on weekend you might even get to enjoy live music as the sun sets over the vineyards.
5. Signal Gun
Pick a weekend and add Signal Gun to your shared family calendar. If you choose the first Saturday of the month, you’ll be lucky enough to witness the firing of their 300 year old cannon.
The Signal Gun restaurant is perched on a hill with beautiful views – and with the kiddie crew exploring the indigenous gardens – you’ll be able to enjoy the landscapes, and your gourmet hamburger, in peace. The jungle gym is on a lower level, so it’s ideal for kids that won’t call “mommy” too often.
A stone’s throw away from the restaurant is Die Stal tasting room where you can sample Signal Gun’s wines, MCC and the local Hoogeberg craft beer. Enjoying your drinks with platters or interesting pairings. The green spacious lawns are a great place for children to run, do cartwheels or play with their favourite toys.
If you’re keen for something different – book the Signal Gun wine safari and enjoy a scenic (and informative) drive through the vineyards, spotting animals like zebra, eland and springbok.
6. Hillcrest Wine Estate
Aside from their vibey restaurant and beer garden with an outside deck and jungle gym Hillcrest Wine Estate also offers many other unique family activities.
The Hillcrest Quarry Venue around the corner hosts live music, festivals, concerts and occasionally an old-school drive-in theatre – often showing family favourite animated movies.
The quarry dam is also a great place to teach your children how to fish. Pack your rods, camping chairs and snacks, pay a day fee at the quarry office, and catch (and release) fish like trout, bass and carp.
7. Meerendal
Meerendal recently underwent some changes, and the latest addition to the farm is their very own Bossa Nova – a popular franchise restaurant with a bustling social vibe. The tables outside have access to a nice patch of grass, and if you go down a few stairs, there’s a jungle gym where children can try out their circus tricks.
Meerendal is well-known for their many hiking, biking and trail running trails snaking through the vineyards and farm hills. The trails are open throughout the week, and a minimal fee is charged at the entrance gate. This is also the spot where you can run the popular 5km Durbanville Parkrun every Saturday.
To note: the restaurant where Carlucci’s used to be is currently closed and the building is undergoing renovations, but the tasting room is still open – so watch this space.
8. Nitida
There are two eateries on Nitida: a fancy restaurant – Cassia – with lawns where kids can play outside, and a more relaxed café – Tables at Nitida – with a jungle gym and swings. On sunny days we’d recommend you choose a picnic spot on the lawns outside Tables. Order a cheese and charcuterie goodie box for you and your loved one, and a kiddies picnic parcel for the young ones. They’ll dig into a ham and cheese toastie, fruit, a juice, crisps and get a special treat. Nitida now also offers a fun, interactive tasting experience for children. Each kiddie connoisseur will get five test tubes filled with a variety of drinks and snacks to tickle their tastebuds as they identify salty, sweet and sour notes.
9. Maastricht
Maastricht is a welcoming little wine farm with a tasteful interior and a cosy fireplace. But let’s be honest – outside is where parents’ stress-levels will be reduced significantly.
We highly recommend lounging on their comfortable black and white bean bags in the sunshine, whilst tasting their fantastic boutique wine flight. They don’t serve meals, but you can order classic cheese platters or their famous bitterballen – Dutch deep-fried crusty meatballs.
Behind the hedge of trees, you’ll find an open space the size of a small soccer pitch with balls and outdoor toys where the children can burn some energy. There’s also a water fountain in the middle where kids can dip their hands – but no swimming please, Jimmy.
10. Altydgedacht
Although the play area at the main tasting venue at Altydgedacht Wine Estate is quite basic, this rustic farm offers many other exciting experiences for kids of all ages.
Experience the adventurous Zipzoom zipline obstacle course set in the magical oak forest at Altydgedacht’s entrance. There’s a mini course for kids between four and seven, and a maxi course that older kids will enjoy – and that includes you, dad!
Zipzoom also has two mountain biking pump tracks there – a 300m tortoise trail for beginners, and a 700m rabbit route with a more advanced track.
Oak Tree Stables horse-riding school is based on Altydgedacht, and if you book in advance you can organise a special horseback outride into the vineyards – or book a few lessons if your kids are really into it.
