Things to do near
Atlantis
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Mountain Biking Trails
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Melkbosstrand (9.3 km from Atlantis) This mountain bike route consists of two trails, both relatively easy. The one trail is a 7 km loop and the other a 25 km route to the beach. The trails are well marked and safe for all ages.
Hiking Trail
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Melkbosstrand (9.5 km from Atlantis) This two-hour walk starts at the Koeberg Visitor Centre. Part of the walk is along the beach and passes a salt marsh, rich in bird life. The trail leads you around the main reactor, heading for the beach on the Cape Town side.
Nature Reserves
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Melkbosstrand (9.7 km from Atlantis) Eskom controls 3000 ha of West Coast around the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. In keeping with both Eskom's environmental policy and national conservation trends, Eskom has decided to open this property to the public. Grysbok, Steenbok and the larger Duiker are buck species in the area and Bontebok and Springbok have been introduced as well. The elusive African wild cat, Grey mongoose and genet can also be seen. 153 Bird species can also be observed. A hidden treasure in the reserve is a large underground lake that supplies a lot of the surrounding areas with water.
Popular Attractions
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Melkbosstrand (12.1 km from Atlantis) This fun activity takes place at the Melkbosstrand Country Club. A minimum number of six players are required to make a group booking. A refundable deposit is required and a minimum age of 10 years old applies. Long-sleeve tops, long pants and good shoes are recommended. All paint used is bio-degradable and washes out. Protective clothing is available for hire.
Wine Estates
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Darling (13.1 km from Atlantis) Groote Post is a beautiful historic wine farm dating back to 1706, situated in the Darling area on the West Coast. Many of the buildings, including the Manor House and cellar, are National Monuments. Part of a family owned, 4 000 hectare working farm the winery produces award-winning wines.
The farm incorporates a game camp and offers game drives and a bird hide. The views of the Atlantic Coast and Table Mountain are spectacular. The popular restaurant (housed in the Manor House) offers modern country cuisine.
In spring the farm is covered in wild flowers. Along with these attractions the compelling feature of the farm is its membership of the Biodiversity Wine Initiative with a commitment made to preserving thousands of hectares of endangered fynbos.
Open Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00, Saturday to Sunday 10:00 - 14:30, Public Holidays: 10:00 - 16:00.
Wine Estates
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Darling (13.3 km from Atlantis) The West Coast village of Darling – only one hour’s drive from Cape Town – is home to artists, actors, retired financiers, farmers and other interesting people (Cloof proprietors count themselves amongst those).Even if the region geographically and demographically is more than a little off-centre, Darling’s annual wild flower show – showcasing a selection of the 1 200 flowering species to be found here – makes it the focal point of the Cape Floral Kingdom.Cloof Vineyards, situated on the eastern slopes of Dassenberg, 70 kilometres north of Cape Town, are surrounded by wheat fields. In winter the most brilliant of greens, these fields ripen in early summer to earthy golden when the vineyards have burst into vibrant green leaf.Late in 2006 Cloof were named Champions under the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, in recognition of the steps they’ve taken to conserve pristine natural vegetation, and to rehabilitate previously cultivated areas. The programme also sets extremely strict standards in terms of the potential environmental impact of vineyard and cellar activities.Darling’s unique combination of soils and climate give rise to the trademark bold-flavoured richness of Cloof wines, which ultimately is the real reason for visiting Cloof.Their passion for bold, well-defined flavours is expressed also in various food events at Cloof. Celebrating the best of country produce and simplicity in preparation, their wines are considered as being the ideal complement.Afrikaans has a word, gesellig, which best describes the happy mood that settles on a group when hospitality, good company, wine and food are brought together. That is the Cloof life and you are invited to share it with them.Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm
Popular Attractions
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Melkbosstrand (14.1 km from Atlantis) The Thandeka Stables in Melkbosstrand offers horse riding for novices and seasoned riders in some of the most beautiful parts of the area. With over 40 years experience, the owners ensure a safe and wonderful experience. They even offer riding for the disabled and specialized equine therapy. Picnics can be catered for and a quaint little coffee shop is situated on the premises.
Beaches
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Melkbosstrand (14.3 km from Atlantis) The first West Coast beach you will encounter on leaving Cape Town is Melkbos. Perfect for long, lazy walks and safe swimming, Melkbos Beach offers beautiful views of Robben Island and Table Mountain. The sunsets are stunning.
Good surfing conditions can be found at Corner, Tubewave and Derdesteen. Melkbos Beach is also a popular spot for kitesurfing, windsurfing, crayfishing and boating.
Hiking Trail
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Melkbosstrand (15.6 km from Atlantis) The Dikkop Trail is a 13 km circular walk through the dunes and fynbos and a 2 km walk along the beach. The walk is at its most beautiful in spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Golf Courses
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Melkbosstrand (16.6 km from Atlantis) The beautiful Atlantic Beach Golf Course is an 18-hole links-style course, just 700 metres from the beach.
Complete with lovely views of the ocean and Table Mountain, few courses can match the sheer pleasure of playing this course. This is a full championship course with training and driving facilities.
Wine Estates
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Durbanville Hills (18.5 km from Atlantis) Havana Hills, as it name suggests, is beautifully located on a hill, just 18 km away from Cape Town.
From this vantage point, the view of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Atlantic Ocean will leave visitors breathless. Incorporating modern state-of-the-art equipment, as well as age-old methods of oak cask ageing, Havana Hills produces wines of superb quality.
Wine Estates
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Darling (18.6 km from Atlantis) Situated on the Darling/Malmesbury Road, Darling Cellars produces a wide range of excellent white and red wines.
It's premier range is the Onyx range with excellent Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. They have an extensive reserve range with excellent value-for-money wines, as well as the Zantsi range for easy drinking.
Beaches
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Big Bay (22.3 km from Atlantis) Big Bay is one of two Bloubergstrand beaches – the other is unsurprisingly called Little Bay (or Small Bay) – and is a favourite surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing spot, drawing international enthusiasts to annual competitions.
Not only is it a great fun family beach, the long, flat sandy Big Bay Beach is perfect for sun tanning, walking, flying kites and just vegging out. If you can cope with ultra chilly water the swimming and bodysurfing is safe and fun. A rocky point divides the descriptively named Big Bay and Little Bay Beaches of Blouberg. There’s a plethora of shops and eateries along the beachfront road.
Ever wondered which one of Cape Town Beaches is best for taking photos of Table Mountain and the sea? Well, Blouberg (Blue Mountain) is the spot from which the postcard images are taken. Don’t miss the awesome sunset views – watch the face of Table Mountain turn golden as the setting sun blazes across the Atlantic Ocean.
Popular Attractions
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Darling (22.5 km from Atlantis) Duckitt Nurseries is the largest orchid nursery in South Africa, if not the southern hemisphere. They specialise in growing Cymbidium orchids as cut flowers, mainly for export to Europe and the USA while many other varieties and hybrids are sold as pot plants in South Africa.
The nursery is open to the public on the first Saturday of the month from May to November from 09:00 to 12:00, where visitors will experience a spectacle of incredible flowers. Entrance is free, and plants and flowers are for sale in the pack-shed. The green house with the most spectacular display of flowers is also opened to the public.
Don't miss the annual Orchid Show on Oude Post Farm on the third weekend in September (which takes place at the same time at the Darling Wild Flower Show). This is a fully landscaped show with a tea room and sales area. Many popular and interesting new varieties of orchids can be purchased.
Beaches
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Bloubergstrand (22.8 km from Atlantis) Small Bay Beach is situated in Blouberg Village. The beach is located next to its big brother - Big Bay Beach.
A quieter beach, yet very popular with young families.
The beach offers the classical postcard view of Table Mountain& Robben Island.