I’ll be the first to admit, the small town of Robertson in the Western Cape has always been overlooked by us while passing through on a Route 62 road trip. I’m sure many of you are guilty of the same offense! Sorry beautiful little town but I’ve always thought of you as the Wacky Wine festival capital and certainly didn’t think there’d be much family friendly places to visit in Robertson.
More than often we were on our way to one of the other Western Cape towns and off the top of my head I can think of various things to do in Montagu. But our little family righted this horrible wrong two weeks ago when we visited Robertson for a one night stay over. The plan was to do as many family friendly Robertson activities as we could during our short visit. Some of our plans were foiled due to closures but that just led us to even more family friendly places to visit in Robertson!
Overhex Bistro
Our first stop on the R60 en route to Robertson was Overhex Winery and Bistro. This understated gem is situated just outside the town of Worcester and is the perfect stop for a bite to eat if you’re travelling with kids. They have a play area for under 3 year olds inside the bistro and a jungle gym outside next to the outdoor dining area for the older children. This is the first time we found a restaurant that catered for toddlers and I must say it made our visit a lot more enjoyable.
The food is also delicious; we had their wood fired pizza and curry mince vetkoek. I ordered my first gourmet milkshake which made a very good impression indeed! The kiddies menu features all their favourites and definitely won’t disappoint the older kids. For mom and dad, Overhex also offers tastings of their Survivor and Balance wines – you’ll be intrigued by the story of their Nguni cow!
Bistro Trading Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 09:30 – 15:30 |Contact: +27 23 347 5012 | www.overhexbistro.com
Die Pampoenstalletjie
Second stop on the way to Robertson was the cute Pampoenstalletjie. Countless bright orange pumpkins line the entrance to this unique farmstall, beckoning you to stop and find out more about this little place! Our 11 month old son loved playing with the giant pumpkins outside and inside the shop we found even more interesting things.
Die Pampoenstalletjie has a wide selection of jams, preserves, rusks and homemade cookies. They also sell various handmade items and I particularly like the wooden and wired toys. The beautiful pumpkins are also available for purchase – whether you want to display or eat them is up to you!
Trading Hours: Monday to Friday from 08:00 – 17:00 and Saturday/Sunday from 09:00 – 17:00 | Contact: +27 83 651 4990
De Hoop Cottages
Tucked away in the Langeberg Mountains, right at the end of the De Hoop Kloof you’ll find De Hoop cottages. This affordable self-catering accommodation in Robertson is the perfect countryside escape. While the cottages do have inclines and stairs leading to them, I would still categorise it as one of the family friendly places to visit in Robertson purely for the amount of activities they offer.
We enjoyed an early morning walk with our little one snugly on my husband’s back in his hiking carrier. The walking and hiking trails on the farm lead you to various farm dams and breathtaking mountain views. One a hot day you can also take a dip in one of the farm dams to cool off! What further makes De Hoop the ideal family friendly getaway is that they also allow pets at a small additional charge. You can see more about their quaint cottages on my Instagram.
www.dehoopcottages.co.za | info@dehoopcottages.co.za | Contact: +27 23 626 4154
Sheilam Cactus Farm
I’ve seen many photos of Sheilam Cactus farm in local magazines and knew I had to add it to our list of places to visit in Robertson. The cactus farm is the first stop on the Klaasvoogds Meander and has a cactus garden as well as a nursery on site. We loved strolling through the garden and marvelling at the wide variety of cacti and their interesting names – Horses’ Teeth, Elephant Feet and Mother-in-law’s Chair!
Sheilam also offers guided garden tours (bookings essential) where they go a bit more in-depth on the details of the plants. We purchased a tray of cute succulents to take home which is now sitting very pretty in our kitchen!
Trading Hours: Monday to Thursday from 08:00 – 17:00 and Friday to Sunday 08:00 – 16:00 | www.sheilamnursery.com | Contact: +27 23 626 4133
Owl’s Rest Olive and Lavender Farm
Our next stop on the Klaasvoogds Meander was Owl’s Rest. From the moment we pulled into the parking space, we were received warmly by owner, Patricia. For this very reason, we stayed a little longer and I’m glad we did! The Owl’s boutique shop sells a variety of food and personal care products which is made on the farm. Everything on offer is available to be tested before purchase. When my husband tasted their Rose Geranium cordial, he knew it would be the perfect addition to a gin and tonic – and it was!
We ordered delicious lavender muffins and cappuccinos which we enjoyed outside in the beautiful tea garden. They also have toys outside to keep the kiddies happy while mom and dad relax and their two resident dogs are kid-friendly too! If you have slightly more time, I’d recommend taking a tour of the farm where you’ll learn more about their olives, lavender and production process.
Trading Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 – 16:00 and Sundays by appointment only | Contact: +27 23 626 1284
Van Loveren
One of the most popular wine farms in Robertson is Van Loveren Family Vineyards and we simply couldn’t pass them by. The farm is situated on the Robertson wine route and is surrounded by many other well-known wine estates. What immediately strikes you at Van Loveren is the beautiful lush green garden. All the photos in the world will never do it justice so head over to my Instagram Stories to see our walk through it. The tasting area and outdoor section of the restaurant overlooks the stunning green oasis so you’ll have views on both sides. Our baby loved their water feature so much that it lulled him to sleep!
Van Loveren offers nine wine pairings for moms and dads to enjoy at R60 each. What puts them on the list of child friendly restaurants in Robertson though is the fact that they offer a kiddies grape juice tasting as well! At Christina’s Bistro we obviously opted for their thin-crust pizzas – which we also swiftly devoured. The farm offers a range of family friendly activities including: mountain bike, hiking trails and garden tours.
www.vanloveren.co.za | Contact: +27 23 615 1505 | info@vanloveren.co.za
More Family Friendly Places to Visit in Robertson
There are so many things to do in Robertson that I almost feel ashamed for bypassing it all these years. We’ve definitely been missing out! The list of family friendly places to visit in Robertson is extensive and you should also consider adding Bird’s Paradise and Roam Rooiberg. If you’re up for driving a little further, there’s also the Protea Farm Tractor rides in Montagu and Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary in McGregor.
Nice article, love your photos! Will definitely be a helpful article next time I visit the area!
Thanks for stopping by – glad we could help!
You can also do a horse ride at Robertson Horse Adventures! Kids absolutely love it