Noordhoek

At the foot of the imposing Chapman’s Peak, Noordhoek is known for its scenic coastline and beaches. It is near a stunning nature reserve and contains a dramatic shipwreck on the main beach. Stroll leisurely along the coast and admire the charming houses facing the water.

Relax on the white sand of Noordhoek Beach with a view of the mountains to the side. The 5-mile-long (8-kilometer) stretch of sand is surrounded by natural features, including rock formations, wetlands and coastal shrubland known as fynbos.

Admire the Slangkop Lighthouse, which is Afrikaans for Snake Head, at the beach’s southern end. At 112 feet (34 meters) high, it stakes a claim as the tallest cast-iron lighthouse in South Africa. See the shipwreck of the Kakapo, which mistook Chapman’s Peak for the Cape of Good Hope.

The district has a relaxed atmosphere, with many artists working here and animals roaming through gardens and green spaces. Spot peacocks and suricats or meerkats and gaze up at black eagles and owls.

Travel through the Silvermine Nature Reserve, which is part of the enormous Table Mountain National Park. Trek along footpaths winding up and down the hills and enjoy a picnic beside a reservoir. Admire the serenity of this secluded park just a short drive south of the city.

Stay at one of the many guesthouses and villas that decorate the coast. Take a trip along the mesmerizing Chapman’s Peak Drive, which wraps around its namesake mountain and offers spectacular views of the sparkling ocean below. Take part in the Cape Argus Cycle Race and the Two Oceans Marathon on this road.

Noordhoek is at the northern point of the Cape Peninsula in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Overlooking Hout Bay on the Atlantic Coast, the district is opposite Kalk Bay, St. James and Muizenberg. Take a train to one of these villages followed by a short taxi journey to get here. Alternatively, drive south from central Cape Town for 19 miles (30 kilometers).