Chill out on the Cape Point Route...

Not every day or family activity has to be adrenaline packed. Slow things down with long walks on Noordhoek Beach to the Kakapo shipwreck. This long, wide stretch of sand is perfect for gentle kite flying, sand-castle building and sundowners. Beach boardwalks on the Cape Point Route are about dunes, water and wildlife – not amusement parks, gaming arcades or “your-name-on-a-grain-of-rice” stalls. There is a rustic wooden boardwalk to access Noordhoek’s Long Beach and elevated boardwalks to view the penguins at Boulders Coastal Park. “Board-less” walks along the waters edge include Jaggers walk from Fish Hoek Beach to Sunny Cove and the St James to Muizenberg walkway, along the tidal rock pools and with views up to the colonial stone mansions that line the Millionaires’ Mile. For a decadent experience stay at the exclusive Rodwell House in St James and they can assist with booking “strandloper safaris” with a marine biologist or taking care of any whims you may want to indulge – be it food or wine or any other extravagance.

Whether your days are energetic or lazily languished from lounging under the suns rays, it is worth contemplating the watery wonders from the land. Flip flops and bathing suits are welcome at most outdoor beach cafes by day. Many of these restaurants transform into fine dining locations by evening, with superb opportunities for over-eating. With two coastlines on the peninsula, it is hardly surprising that seafood tends to be the speciality at most restaurants. There are plenty of excellent restaurants with meat and vegetarian fare as well as a wide range of international cuisine. One has to ask what’s better than eating a meal with an ocean view? Perhaps the only suitable answer is an ocean view with wine. The Cape is known for its wines but we recommend trying the local Cape Point Wine of origin available at most restaurants.

The Cape Point Route is sensitive enough to satisfy the environmentally anxious but sufficiently cosmopolitan for the jet- setters. In addition to the sand and the swimming, the food and the fun, there is a fantastic combination of hotels, bed and breakfasts and self catering accommodation to satisfy any needs for groups, families, couples or individuals. With long wide stretches of sand, secret coves, swelling waves, quaint villages and a range of beach and land activities to indulge in, the Cape Point Route allows any visitor to choose from being a beach junkie one day to an informed contempory gallery hopper the next day. From stylish beach bohemia to rustic pleasures, energetic pursuits to relaxed lazy days the Cape Point Route has a beach for everyone.

For more information on beaches, activities, attractions or accommodation on the Cape Point Route, look at www.capepointroute.co.za.