Noordhoek,
Cape Town
The valley, the beach and what surrounds it
A quiet valley on the Cape Peninsula
Roughly 35 minutes from Cape Town city centre, reached over Chapman’s Peak Drive or the Ou Kaapse Weg mountain pass, and built around an 8km white sand beach with Table Mountain National Park on three sides.
Where Noordhoek is
Noordhoek sits on the Atlantic-facing side of the Cape Peninsula, south of Hout Bay and north of Kommetjie. The city centre is roughly 35 minutes away, close enough for a day trip and far enough that the valley keeps its own pace.
Two roads lead in, both scenic rather than functional: Chapman’s Peak Drive, cut into the cliff face above the Atlantic, and Ou Kaapse Weg, which crosses the mountain spine and drops into the valley with the whole beach laid out below.
The beach
Roughly 8km of white sand runs between Noordhoek and Kommetjie, backed by dunes and mountains, with almost nothing built along it. On a weekday you can walk a long stretch and see very few people.
That length and openness make it one of the best beaches anywhere for riding, and the valley’s horse farms run outrides along the sand. The water is Atlantic and cold year round, so this is a walking, riding and surfing beach rather than a swimming one. There is a practical guide to riding here.
The valley itself
Away from the beach, Noordhoek is small and green. The Common is open space in the middle of the valley used for walking and riding. Noordhoek Farm Village gathers restaurants, a weekly craft market and local shops in one place, a walk rather than a drive from much of Old Noordhoek.
The valley keeps a rural character unusual this close to a major city: oak-lined lanes, horse farms, and gardens that back onto national park rather than onto other houses.
What surrounds it
Table Mountain National Park wraps the valley on three sides, which is why the skyline is mountain rather than rooftops.
Silvermine Nature Reserve sits above the valley on the Ou Kaapse Weg side, with hiking trails and reservoir walks.
Kommetjie lies at the far end of the beach, a small fishing and surfing village.
Cape Point and the tip of the peninsula are a short drive further south.
Cape Point Vineyards is close by, with the older Constantia wine route back towards the city.
Fish Hoek, Simon’s Town and the False Bay coast are over the pass, where the water is noticeably warmer. For what to actually do across all of this, see things to do in Noordhoek.
Filming in the valley
Production crews use Noordhoek heavily. Within a few kilometres there is open beach with no development in shot, a cliff-edge coastal pass, mountain, forest, farmland and quiet country lanes, half an hour from a city with a full production industry.
What the valley has lacked is somewhere to base a production while shooting it. More on using it as a film location and crew base.
Staying in the valley
Staying in Noordhoek rather than the city changes the shape of a trip. Early starts on the beach become possible, Chapman’s Peak stops being a commute, and evenings are quiet.
Sacred Mountain Lodge sits in Old Noordhoek at 6 Avondrust Lane, bordered by Table Mountain National Park, 500m from Noordhoek Farm Village. Accommodation is six garden cottages plus two rooms in the main building, bed and breakfast or self-catering, all with forested garden views. The property runs on uninterrupted solar power with high-speed fibre.
See the cottages and suites, or check availability. The lodge also hosts small conferences and workshops and educational retreats on an exclusive-use basis. Weighing Noordhoek against other areas? Compare the best part of Cape Town to stay in and the safest areas.
Getting here
From the city centre
Roughly 35 minutes, over Chapman’s Peak Drive via Hout Bay or over Ou Kaapse Weg.
From the airport
A longer drive, usually via the M5 and Ou Kaapse Weg.
Note on Chapman’s Peak
A toll road that closes in high wind or after rockfall. Ou Kaapse Weg is the alternative and is always open.
Common questions
Where is Noordhoek?
On the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula, south of Hout Bay and north of Kommetjie, roughly 35 minutes from Cape Town city centre.
How long is Noordhoek Beach?
Roughly 8km of white sand running between Noordhoek and Kommetjie, backed by dunes and mountains with almost no development along it.
How do you get to Noordhoek from Cape Town?
Either over Chapman’s Peak Drive from Hout Bay, which is a toll road and can close in high wind, or over the Ou Kaapse Weg mountain pass, which is always open.
Can you swim at Noordhoek Beach?
The water is Atlantic and cold year round, with strong surf. It is better known as a walking, riding, surfing and dog-walking beach than a swimming one.
Is Noordhoek worth staying in rather than central Cape Town?
It depends on the trip. Noordhoek gives quiet, space and quick access to the beach, the peninsula and Cape Point, at the cost of roughly 35 minutes to the city centre.
Is Noordhoek used for filming?
Yes. The valley offers undeveloped beach, a cliff-edge coastal pass, mountain, forest and farmland within a few kilometres of each other, about half an hour from Cape Town.
Visit Sacred Mountian in Style
We Have Vacancy!
All of our accommodation offer beautiful and tranquil forested garden views.
