Noordhoek

Noordhoek is a beautiful suburb of Cape Town, located below Chapman's Peak on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, approximately thirty-five kilometres to the south of the Cape Town City Bowl itself. The name "Noordhoek" was taken from Dutch and literally means "north corner".Noordhoek was first named in 1743 when it described the north corner of the farm Slangkop. 

Noordhoek is famously known for its picturesque shoreline and its long, wide, sandy beach, which stretches south to the neighbouring village of Kommetjie. Near the southern end of this beach is the wreck of the steamship "Kakapo", which ran aground about a century ago when the captain mistook Chapmans' Peak for the Cape of Good Hope. An article written by a correspondent in the Wynberg Times of May 1902 describes his trip to the village -  “I have never seen in all my travels a prettier place than Noordhoek, or one more worth a trip to spend a good long day".

Noordhoek can be accessed either from the spectacular scenic coastal road, Chapman's Peak Drive, which leads out of Hout Bay or via the mountain road Ou Kaapse Weg which cuts through the beautiful Silvermine Nature Reserve - now part of the Table Mountain National Park. Noordhoek is a small scattered community of nice houses, often with sea views and has a large horse population as riding on the long sandy beach is a great attraction. 

Noordhoek is also home to an award winning wine estate, with the Noordhoek vineyards producing white varietal grapes for the Cape Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. Gourmet dining has become standard fare with the likes of the Foodbarn Restaurant and Café Roux at Noordhoek Farm Village. Pub Grub is available at the Toad or the Red Herring.

Whilst Noordhoek has seen substantial development in the last 5 years, tight environmental controls and the natural borders of the sea and conservation land have ensured it retains a village atmosphere and natural beauty. 

Whether it’s the attraction of the hosting the southern seaboard’s longest beach frequented by sun-seekers, dog walkers, surfers and horse-riders, the wonderful hiking trails or the hospitable Noordhoek Farm Village, life in Noordhoek is never boring. Today Noordhoek remains one of the Cape's treasured destinations.