Time Out At Altydgedacht
Being from the Northern Suburbs (you know the place located behind the Boerewors Curtain) much of our leisure time is spent enjoying the very picturesque Durbanville winelands. Although the valley is located roughly only 20 minutes from Cape Town, it’s almost a bit of a secret treasure trove which people are a little unaware of if you don’t live in the area. It’s also a little less widely documented than the likes of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek or say Paarl but let me tell you, the Durbanville winelands are just as delightful and inspiring as their more famous counterparts .
One of the spots we like to enjoy having a relaxed family brekkie or coffee session with is at the very historical Altydgedacht Wine Estate. They’re located off the magnificent tree-lined stretch of Tygerbergvalley Road. Clues that you’re nearing the estate will be a few random quirky cane chairs suspended up in the tree branches above which are also home to plenty of local squirrels. This unusual location for chairs fascinates my kids no end. In fact they comment on them every single time we drive past!
The Altydgedacht Wine Estate was established in 1698 which makes it one the oldest wine estates in South Africa. The Parker family have been custodians of the estate for 6 generations. They have looked after and developed the land and vines using a mixture of traditional and modern methods to create the unique quality wines that they offer.
The Restaurant
The area where you’ll most likely be hanging out at is the restaurant called Eat@Altydgedacht. It has a rustic and laid back farm style ambience. They’re open for breakfast and lunch during the day from 0900 to 1530 Monday to Saturday and from 1100 to 1500 on a Sunday. The dining area spans a large patio with trees and umbrellas for shade. The patio overlooks a lovely fenced off grassy area where the kids can run around while soaking up the fresh farm air. There’s a sandpit to dig in and jungle gym equipment to practice climbing prowess on providing a perfect energy-draining area for busy kiddies while mom and dad while away some time sipping on a coffee or a cheeky glass of wine. For daytime coiffing with a light lunch, I love the crisp and fruity Altydgedacht Sauvignon Blanc. The actual tasting room is right there and R40 will get you the choice of 5 wines to sample. The restaurant offers a kiddies menu with a variety of reasonably priced options. A basic no-frills cheese toastie is only R25.
We always sit outside to keep an eye on our beasties while they roam the play area but there’s also a covered tented section and the cosy 300-year-old barrel room where one can sit and dine out of the elements. If you do live locally in the area, Altydgedacht is also a great venue for moms to meet up for a casual after school or holiday playdate. A highlight for my animal adoring brood is that at some point during our visits we’ll be greeted by friendly farm dogs, Jasper and Rusty. They like to mingle and say hello when they’re not snoozing in the dappled shade of a tree or exploring their estate.
Zipzoom Adventures
If the kids are after something a little more daring and different to jungle gyms, you can pop across from the restaurant area to Zipzoom Adventures which is located on the property. Here you can enjoy the thrills and spills of navigating an exciting mixture of obstacle and ziplining fun in the oak tree forest. They accept walk-in visitors Wednesdays to Sundays between 1000 and 1700, although bookings are recommended over weekends and in holidays. They essentially offer 2 main courses which are age, height and weight dependent.
Courses:
The Mini-Course is aimed at 4 to 7-year-olds, costs R120 per head currently and will entertain the kids for 1 to 1.5 hours. The Maxi Course is designed for ages 7 plus and is also the choice for adults. This course costs R160 currently per guest and also has a duration of between 1 to 1.5 hours.
As a fun extra there’s another option called the Incubator Course which is a free offering for 1 to 3-year-old budding explorers. It is ground level and requires the full supervision of parents.
Kids Parties:
Zipzoom Adventures also do kids parties. You’ll pay a cost per head depending on the course chosen and may then choose from 3 party pack options ranging from R30 to R80 per child. Chat to them directly about other party entertainment that they can add on and for information regarding cakes, snack platters, decorations etc. or visit their Zipzoom Adventures website.
My daughter recently attended a party which was booked for the Mini Course and she had an absolute whale of a time. Shrieks of nerves and joy were a plenty. I will definitely take my boys soon.
Mountain Bike Adventure:
A brand new offering from Zipzoom Adventures which is sure to be very popular is their mountain bike track offered in the same area as the ziplining. This course is ideal for kids aged 4 to 15 years old and costs R50 per child. Helmuts are a strict requirement.
Other Estate Offerings
Battlefield Live SA and Lockdown Paintball are also located on the estate for some adrenalin filled fun and ideal for party or corporate bookings. Battlefield Live SA offer lasertag events and Lockdown Paintball, well they clearly offer paintball fun! Bookings are required for these activities. Please visit their websites for more details.
All in all whether it’s a laidback meal or coffee date at the restaurant you’re after or rather something a bit more high octane such as obstacles and ziplining pay Altydgedacht a visit soon.
For more information:
www.altydgedacht.co.za or call restaurant on (021) 975 7815
www.zipzoom.co.za or call on 082 562 3615
www.battlefieldlive.co.za or call 084 364 9979
www.lockdownpaintball.co.za or call 0741 700 780
All details quoted correct at date of publish.
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