We recently decided to take advantage of one of the long weekends to go away with little Evan and our parents. Initially we couldn’t decide on where to go, but eventually we settled on the Robertson wine valley. We’d only driven through the region on our way to the Garden Route, so I was keen to explore the area a bit more. I was also relieved to see a blog post by the lovely Cindy, so we went armed with some ideas on things to see and do!
Where to stay
I’m so glad that we found the beautiful 20 on Chardonnay on Airbnb. The self-catering accommodation sleeps 6, and is situated in the Silwerstrand Golf Estate. The location is perfect to explore Robertson and the surrounding areas, and the house was immaculate (I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in such a clean house!). It’s incredibly well-equipped with everything you need, and it even stayed mercifully cool in the midday heat.
Where to eat
We had most of our meals at the house, but we did venture out for a couple of lunches. We initially planned on having a picnic at the Ashton Winery, only to find out that pre-booking is a requirement (oops). We eventually ended up at Platform 62, which is a great location for a family lunch. There’s a lovely play area for the kids, and the food was tasty and well-priced.
We did end up having a delicious picnic at Viljoensdrift on our last day. The winery has a well-equipped deli, from which you can select items to stock your own picnic basket to enjoy on the riverside lawns. If it takes your fancy, you can even take an hour-long meander down the river on their flat-bottomed riverboat.
On our way back to Cape Town we stopped at Rooiberg Winery for lunch. The food was delicious (we can recommend their burgers!), and there’s also a lovely play area for the kids. Any place that mixes wine tasting and play areas gets a thumbs up in our book!
What to do
We came across the Sheilam Cactus Nursery quite by accident, and I’m so glad that we did. The extensive nursery and cactus garden is beautiful, and almost other-worldly. I would have loved to stay and explore it for a bit longer, but it was incredibly hot. I’d recommend visiting in the early morning or late afternoon if you’re there during the Summer months. And of course some cactus babies made their way home with me!
While the boys were playing golf, the ladies took a leisurely drive through to McGregor, which is situated about 20 minutes away from Robertson. Unfortunately most of the little town was more quiet than usual, since it was a public holiday. We did manage to visit the Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The sanctuary is home to close to 30 rescued donkeys. The farm has a lovely little cafe which serves tea and light meals, where we enjoyed delicious pancakes. Evan enjoyed crawling around the lawn before we wandered down to the field to greet some of the donkeys.
We had a wonderful time exploring the Robertson wine valley. There really is something for everyone, and the region is dotted with numerous little towns and villages to be explored. I can’t wait to head back for another visit!