Around the farms

Something else to do with the children.

29 mapped stops within 30 km of Vriesenhof Vineyards, closest first.

Within 30 km of Vriesenhof Vineyards

Stops without a map pin stay on the area list.

Family farms in Stellenbosch Back to Vriesenhof Vineyards

Nature reserve · Stellenbosch

Jan Marais Nature Reserve

3 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages (short walks)

Small municipal nature reserve in Stellenbosch town — easy family walks. Coords from OSM. Confirm hours/fees with Stellenbosch Municipality before visit; website left blank pending official municipal page.

Near Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, Skilpadvlei Wine Farm

Directions

Nature reserve · Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden

3 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

Children only with a grown-up.

Admission R15; seniors R10. Students and staff free with a card.

Oldest university botanical garden in South Africa, with a picnic lawn in the middle of town. Summer 08:00–17:00 (1 September–31 May); winter 09:00–17:00 (1 June–31 August). Closed New Year's Day and Easter Friday. No dogs, balls or cycling. Street parking, and a municipal lot on Van Riebeeck Street.

Near Brampton Wines, Vredenheim Wine Farm, Welvanpas Family Vineyards

Website Directions

Berry picking · Stellenbosch

Mooiberge Farm Stall

5 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

All ages.

Picking is paid by weight in season. Confirm dates and the price.

Scarecrow farm on the R44, with a farm stall and the Thirsty Scarecrow. Strawberry picking runs roughly October to early January: weekends and public holidays, and daily in the December school holidays. Pin is the Thirsty Scarecrow at the farm.

Near Alto Wine Estate, Longridge Wine Estate, Stellenzicht Vineyards

Website Directions

Nature reserve · Stellenbosch

Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve

6 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages (picnic-focused)

Picnic adult R50 / child R30; day hikes adult R70 / child R50 (CapeNature tariff Sept 2025–Aug 2026)

Smaller CapeNature reserve with historic farmstead (1792); picnic area. Coords from OSM Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve. Confirm current picnic tariffs on CapeNature tariff sheet.

Near Le Pommier Wine Estate, Zorgvliet Wine Estate

Website Directions

Walk or hike · Stellenbosch

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

6 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

families ok on easier trails (e.g. Tweede Waterval ~6.4 km); longer trails for older kids/fit adults

Day access adult R80; child 4–17 R55 (CapeNature published)

CapeNature. Official GPS 33°57'48.70"S 18°55'31.98"E. Rock pools; trail cut-off times apply. Wild Cards accepted for hiking with proof.

Near Alluvia Specialist Winery, Le Pommier Wine Estate, Zorgvliet Wine Estate

Website Directions

Nature reserve · Somerset West

Helderberg Nature Reserve

9 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

All ages on the lower boardwalks; longer trails for older children.

City of Cape Town entry fee. Confirm the current tariff.

Picnic sites and an accessible boardwalk above Somerset West, plus longer mountain paths. Dogs are not allowed. Pack out rubbish. Hours change by season; the gate phone is 021 444 7263.

Near Kings Kloof, Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerbosch Wines

Website Directions

Berry picking · Stellenbosch

Polkadraai Farm (strawberry picking)

11 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages

Strawberry picking from R65 pp; bike park from R70/day; tractor/mini-golf R30 pp; pony rides R30/child

Official GPS 33°57'45"S 18°44'35"E. Mon–Sun 09:00–16:00. Also bike park, tractor rides, mini golf, pony rides.

Near Skilpadvlei Wine Farm, Spier Wine Farm

Website Directions

Animals · Firgrove / Somerset West

Cheetah Outreach

15 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

Viewing all ages; some encounters age/height restricted (e.g. no under 14 for certain experiences)

Entry R10 weekday / R5 weekend & public holidays; adult cheetah encounter R180 / child under 14 R110 (excl. entry)

Conservation education facility. Open 365 days 10:00–17:00. Coords from OSM Cheetah Outreach.

Near 96 Winery Road, Alto Wine Estate, Annandale Wines

Website Directions

Animals · Simondium / Paarl–Franschhoek valley

Soetmelksvlei (Babylonstoren family farm experience)

15 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages (close supervision near open water/farm equipment)

19th-century working-farm recreation: farm animals, ox-wagon rides, indoor playhouse, craftspeople. Allow 3–4 hours. Listed under Franschhoek as valley family stop (also near Paarl). Coords OSM Soetmelksvlei.

Near Allee Bleue Estate, Babylonstoren, Backsberg Wine Estate

Website Directions

Kids museum · Stellenbosch

Wonderdal Edutainment Centre

15 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

best 5–13 (Grade R–7 curriculum-aligned)

Supervised STEM/nature play zones with WonderPals. On Hazendal estate but is a distinct kids edutainment attraction. Coords from OSM Hazendal Bottelary Road. Bookings: bookings@wonderdal.co.za / 021 205 5624.

Near Koelenhof Wine Cellar, Weltevreden Estate, Anura Vineyards

Website Directions

Adventure park · Muldersvlei

Acrobranch Stellenbosch

16 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

From 3 years.

Book online or pay by card. Cash not accepted.

Treetop courses at Klein Joostenberg, off the N1 on the R304. About 14 km from Stellenbosch town. Wednesday to Sunday, plus public and school holidays. Map pin from OpenStreetMap at the park.

Near Joostenberg Wine Estate, Kanonkop, Koelenhof Wine Cellar

Website Directions

Kids museum · Groot Drakenstein

Franschhoek Motor Museum

16 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

Best from about 3. Younger children with a grown-up.

Adults R90; children 3–12 R50. Pensioners and motor-club members R70.

More than 80 cars on show at L'Ormarins, a deli, and a tram across to Anthonij Rupert. Cashless. Monday–Friday 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00); weekends and public holidays 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:00). Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. No dogs. Wheelchair friendly.

Near Allee Bleue Estate, Anthonij Rupert Wines, Bellingham

Website Directions

Butterflies · Klapmuts

Exotic Animal World (formerly Butterfly World)

18 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages (under 3 free)

Adult R88; child under 18 R49; students/pensioners R79; 2A+2C R225; under 3 free

Tropical garden walk-through with lemurs/birds; aquarium; creepy-crawly house. Daily demos weekends/holidays 11:00 & 14:00. Coords OSM Butterfly World (same site). Café Lemur on site.

Near Anura Vineyards, Babylonstoren, Backsberg Wine Estate

Website Directions

Animals · Paarl

Le Bonheur Reptile Adventures

18 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages (child-friendly per official site)

Croc pond tours, snakes, kids play area, fishing, pizzas. Open daily 09:00–17:00 (closed Christmas Day). Access via Babylonstoren Rd / R45. Lat/lon blank — OSM miss. Also serves Paarl.

Near Allee Bleue Estate, Babylonstoren, Boschendal

Website Directions

Animals · Paarl

Drakenstein Lion Park

19 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages (sanctuary viewing)

SA residents: adult R100 / child R50; standard adult R160 / child R80

Lion sanctuary. Open Mon–Sun 09:30–17:00; closed 25 Dec. Feeding Mon/Wed/Fri 16:00. Coords OSM. Also listed for Paarl.

Near Babylonstoren, Backsberg Wine Estate, Boschendal

Website Directions

Nature reserve · Grabouw / Elgin

Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve (Nuweberg)

23 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

Palmiet Trail (~6 km) noted as perfect for families; overnight trails not for under 12

Hiking permits from R50 adult / R30 child (page); picnic sites bookable

CapeNature World Heritage Site. Official GPS 34°4'26.64"S 19°3'42.41"E. Picnic sites with braai; swimming pools in mountains.

Near Almenkerk Wine Estate, Elgin Vintners, Highlands Road Estate

Website Directions

Nature reserve · Durbanville

Durbanville Nature Reserve

24 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

All ages. Wheelchair-friendly paths.

Free municipal reserve. Confirm weekend hours.

Six-hectare renosterveld reserve with short walks and picnic sites on Racecourse Road. Weekdays 07:30–16:00. Winter weekends are often closed.

Near Bloemendal Wine Estate, Canto Wines, Durbanville Hills

Website Directions

Nature reserve · Paarl

Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve

24 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages on easier trails; Bretagne Rock scramble for older kids with supervision

Weekdays free; weekends & public holidays R36 pp + R30/car (Drakenstein tariffs cited for 2025/26)

Municipal nature reserve with granite outcrops & views. Coords OSM. Confirm current tariffs on Drakenstein site. Official municipal GPS -33°45′27.594″, 18°56′50.3658″. Hours summer 07:00–19:00 / winter 07:00–18:00.

Near Avondale Wine Estate, Backsberg Wine Estate, Perdeberg Winery

Website Directions

Outing · Franschhoek

Huguenot Monument & wild flower garden

25 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

all ages (outdoor monument lawns)

Included with museum admission when visiting museum precinct (see Huguenot Memorial Museum)

Outdoor monument and wild flower garden opposite museum annex — easy family photo/stretch stop. Same precinct as museum.

Near Haute Cabrière, Leopard's Leap Family Vineyards

Website Directions

Walk or hike · Franschhoek

Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve

29 km from Vriesenhof Vineyards

families on shorter trails; children under 12 free with paying adult

Day permit R70 pp; under 12 free with paying adult

Open sunrise–sunset. Permits at gate 09:00–17:00 (card/Zapper; no cash), Franschhoek Info Bureau, or Webtickets. Not Wild Card. Coords OSM.

Near Boekenhoutskloof Winery, Chamonix Wine Farm, Haute Cabrière

Website Directions