The area of Newlands is not referred to as ‘the green suburb’ for nothing! Besides the fact that it lies next to the gorgeous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a place of endless beauty, rare plant species, works of art, peaceful walks, a craft market, garden centre and great food, the Newlands Forest is a haven for joggers, mountain runners, walkers and families. A popular stroll is the Newlands Forest Contour Path, about 8 kilometres in length and marked by a wooden boardwalk. The route has plenty of shade and beautiful views can be enjoyed along the way. The Little Wort Trail is great for families with children, with educational markings along the way, a waterfall and a plunge pool where you can take a dip.

The Liesbeek River Valley is known as the oldest urbanised river valley in the country and a trail of about 8 kilometres is available alongside the river. The river rises on the slopes of Table Mountain and flows downwards through Bishopscourt and into Newlands. From Newlands it continues to Rosebank, Mowbray and Observatory and connects with the Black River. The walking trail begins in Kirstenbosch and leads into Newland’s Fernwood area. Some parts are paved and lovely places for picnics are available.

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has been a popular Cape Town attraction for many years, and as time goes by, it just gets better and better. For example, the recent addition of the Tree Canopy Walkway, a beautiful bridge that takes you from the ground up into the trees for spectacular views, and the Galileo Open Air Cinema featuring romantic movies under the stars, add to the park’s appeal.

There isn’t a better place to stay than Newlands if you are a sports fanatic. With the massive Newlands Rugby Stadium and the Newlands Cricket Stadium on your doorstep, you can easily arrange to watch an exciting match in action or go on a guided tour of the grounds. On a tour you will discover places such as the ‘Snake Pit’ and ‘The Oaks’ of the cricket grounds, see the player’s dressing rooms, learn about the intriguing history of Western Province cricket and even visit the President’s suite that is acquainted with world famous politicians and celebrities. The Newlands Rugby Stadium is the oldest stadium in the country, it has space for over 50,000 people and it is often referred to as ‘the home of South African rugby’. Tickets for matches can be purchased online from the stadium’s website.

Newlands has a swimming pool that is open to the public throughout the year. There is a main pool, a children’s pool and a diving pool with a high board for those who are not squeamish for heights. The pools are used by the locals for leisurely swims or for training.

Newlands loves to charm its residents and visitors with a bit of history and culture. In this line, there are several recommended locations to explore. One of the best is the Montebello Design Centre with over twenty arts and crafts studios and workshops, a historic greenhouse, a restaurant and small deli farm stall. Visitors can watch how various things are made and make some lovely purchases. The design centre also offers classes for African dance, jewellery making, painting, weaving and much more. Furthermore, Newlands is home to the Barnard Gallery with many prestigious works of art.

The Josephine Mill is the only remaining water mill in Cape Town and can be found on the banks of the Liesbeek River. It was built in 1940 and was restored to a working condition again in 1988. A shop selling delicious fresh breads and other snacks is available and visitors can view a milling demonstration whilst learning about the history of the mill and the processes required for baking the perfect loaf of bread.

Beer enthusiasts will certainly get a kick out of visiting the Newlands Brewery, located right next to the Newlands rugby and cricket grounds. It is the oldest brewery still in operation in South Africa. There are tours that give lots of interesting information about brewing history and that demonstrate modern-day brewing methods.

From a Newlands hotel, it’s quick and easy to reach many wonderful areas of Cape Town, such as the famous beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, Cape Town central with its many attractions, popular Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town with its museums and Boulders Beach, and the wine farms of Constantia, which are some of the oldest wine producers in the country. Newlands is a most convenient place to stay for anyone’s schedule in Cape Town.