If big skies, the smell of the ocean, the cries of seagulls and an active, outdoor lifestyle appeal, this Cape Town neighbourhood ticks all the boxes.
The beach may not be the only reason to move to Bloubergstrand, but it certainly is the focus of everyday living here.
The long beachfront overlooking that picture postcard view of Table Mountain, with sunset vistas towards Robben Island, is a part of just about every resident’s day, whether for all-out kite-surfing, more leisurely SUP boarding, or a morning walk with the dogs. A cluster of cafes and restaurants on the central beachfront makes the most of the view. On windy days enjoying a swooping panorama of colourful kites dancing over the waves, and iconic sundowner spots such as The Blue Peter, draw the rest of Cape Town to share the glorious wide-open views.
“I love the beach walk that I do almost every day – it’s like being on holiday 365 days a year!” says author and artist Ann Gadd, who moved here 33 years ago. “I was a competitive windsurfer and wanted to live closer to the sea to practice.” Blouberg also turned out to be an ideal place to bring up a family.
“I chucked my kids into the sea from a young age which gave them a lifestyle alternative to computer games,” she says. Families are also attracted to the area by the good selection of schools, both public and private, in the adjoining suburbs of Milnerton, Table View, Sunningdale and Parklands.
Coastal development has reached its northernmost possible point at Big Bay, with the conservation area of Blaauwberg Nature Reserve creating a natural boundary of strandveld and fynbos between the coastal suburbs and Melkbosstrand. But neighbours Sunningdale and Parklands, are still undergoing new residential development and a huge new mall here is set to rival Canal Walk when it opens in September, providing serious retail therapy on the doorstep. Otherwise, there are plenty of small-scale “village” malls for grocery shopping, and Bayside is currently the best place for clothes shopping and movies.
More watersports are on offer at Rietvlei, part of Table Bay Nature Reserve, popular for water-skiing, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing, and the wetland reserve is also a mecca for bird-watching, with pelicans, flamingos and many other species. And for watersports and nature lovers another bonus of living in Blouberg is that it’s the gateway to the West Coast, just keep on going up the R27.
If big skies, the smell of the ocean, the cries of seagulls and an active, outdoor lifestyle appeal, Blouberg ticks all the boxes.
I love the relaxed vibe, the friendliness of people, the fossilized shark’s teeth you can find on the beach, the stunning view, and Blouberg’s proximity to the Winelands and West Coast.
-Ann Gadd, resident.
Dine out in Blouberg:
- The Indian Chapter: for Indian cuisine
- Homespun: for delicious meals in a cosy setting
- Catch 22: for great seafood
- The FUE: for cafe fare
- FrozenYo: for frozen yoghurt right on the beach
- PRIMI Piatti: for delicious Italian-inspired meals
Things to do in Blouberg:
- Kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing
- Long beach walks
- SUP
- Sundowners from any spot you like
- Golf at Milnerton or Atlantic Beach golf clubs
- Sailing, canoeing or windsurfing on Rietvlei
Schools in Blouberg:
- Elkanah House
- Parklands College
- CBC St Johns Parklands
- Blouberg International School
- Milnerton High School
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
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