Top 5 child-friendly South African wine farms
There are over 150 wineries in the Stellenbosch region alone that open their cellar doors to visitors, let alone the rest of the South African wine region. Every wine farm has a story as unique as the wine it produces. Similarly, every farm offers a unique experience. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite child-friendly wine farms. From game drives to eagle encounters and kiddies pairings, these farms go out of their way to keep everyone entertained.
Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch
Located in Stellenbosch, Spier Wine Farm is located on a stunning estate. It’s spacious, lush and green and it’s surrounded by stunning views. In addition to its natural beauty, there are tons of to-dos to keep both parents and children well-entertained. The hotel offers family-friendly accommodation, as well as a Kids’ Clubhouse (reserved for guests only). Featuring a slide, tunnels to crawl through, swings and more, the Spier Elemental Play Garden, however, is free for all visitors and it is open daily. A nice little touch is the kids’ tasting, where they can sample 100% grape juice while the adults sip on a similar version, but fermented. For the braver little ones, Spier’s Eagle Encounters bring them up close and personal with these majestic birds of prey.
Check out their website for more information.
Vredenheim, Steelnbosch
Currently owned by a family of former game farmers, it’s no surprise that Vredenheim has an impressive variety of wildlife on the estate. For starters, the Big Cat Park at Vredenheim has a growing family of cats, including lions, leopards and tigers. Evidently, this is a huge draw card for kiddies. If they’d like a souvenir, the gift shop sells the most adorable plush toys of the big cats. Kids can also enjoy a tractor-led drive around the farm. Furthermore, the Animal Farm offers a more immersive experience where children can play and even feed some of the animals. And, while parents enjoy wine tastings, kids can enjoy their Vredenheim grape juice pairings with treats like toffee, candy and chocolate.
Check out their website for more information.
Blaauwklippen, Stellenbosch
Known as one of the oldest wine farms in the Cape Winelands region, Blaauwklippen is a hit with adults, as well as children aged both under and over thirteen. Uniquely, Blaauwklippen has its own Bike Park (R85 per child) complete with a track, which the older children frequent. Younger kids can enjoy an elaborate designated play area featuring everything from a zipline to a massive jungle gym –
it’s kiddies’ heaven out there. In fact, Blaauwklippen is quite a popular venue for hosting kiddies’ parties at too. What they’re really famous for, however, is the Blaauwklippen Family Market on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 – 16:00. Expect live music, a wide range of food and drinks options and even activities like face-painting to keep the kids entertained.
Check out their website for more information.
D'Aria, Durbanville
Located in the picturesque Durbanville Wine Valley, D’Aria Wine Estate is a closer option for those driving from Cape Town CBD and surrounds. And, from its quality wines and its lush greenery to its world-class facilities, it ranks right up there with the other estates on our list. With their safety as a priority, the CU Kids play park – equipped with swings, small trampolines and jungle gyms – is exclusively for children aged thirteen and younger. It’s also available for hire for kiddies’ parties. In addition, D’Aria has a tuck shop where kids can order lunch while parents enjoy their own activities.
Check out their website for more information.
Hazendal, Stellenbosch
A very popular wine farm and wedding venue around Stellenbosch, Hazendal is also considered one of the most family-friendly farms in the Cape Winelands. Exclusively for children aged five to thirteen, Wonderdal is an interactive edutainment centre where parents can leave their children in the capable supervision of their staff while they indulge in Hazendal’s other offerings. It features tons of outdoor and indoor activities to keep kids engaged and entertained. A unique selling point is their Kleine Hazen Putting Park – a special putt-putt course designed for kids. In addition to the Pivnushka Beer Garden and its child-friendly menu, child-friendly picnic options are also available.
Check out their website for more information.
