Adventure, baby!

Christine Knight

Christine is the editor of Adventure, Baby!

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

The little inner west suburb of Summer Hill is often left out when one thinks of upmarket family cafe options. A lot of families, however, live in the area so it came of no surprise to hear about Envy Deli Cafe, an extremely kid-friendly cafe in the neighbourhood.

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

From the front, Envy looks like a regular cafe, but a closer look in the window reveals adorable teddy race car treats and tea cups made out of marshmallows. It’s a dead give away that they get a lot of local kids in here!

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

While there is seating in the front of the cafe, it’s the courtyard out the back with the massive jacaranda tree giving diners shade that is the prime seating area. While the courtyard can be accessed through the front of the cafe, it does have a very narrow door that might prevent strollers from entering. A few metres around the side there is a door leading directly into the courtyard.

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

While kids clearly rule at Envy, there are plenty of diners of all ages enjoying the gorgeous spring weather on the day we visit. A toy box, colouring books and tins of pencils are stashed near the bathroom for kids to grab and play with at the tables while awaiting their meal.

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

The kids meals are a bit light on the menu – just the one “kids breakfast” and a kid-sized version of the pancakes, but the three kiddos we are dining with are happy with the choices: The Kiddie Breakfast (1 scrambled egg, chipolata sausages and toast, $8.50) and Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes (with cinnamon ricotta and maple, and the blueberry swapped for strawberry, $10).

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

The adults order light lunches: The Roast Beetroot Salad (pear, fetta, crushed pistachios and cherry tomatoes, $16) and Smashed Avocado and Fetta on Toast ($9.50) with added roast tomato $4.

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

Our meals arrive quickly thanks to the friendly staff, who weave in and out of the tables, tree trunk and tiny guests darting to and from the toy box. It’s chaotic but in a contented way. There’s very little in the way of children wailing or whining thanks to so much entertainment to be had.

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

The food is delicious and quickly polished off, and we grab the kids, order kid-sized milkshakes to go in chocolate and strawberry, and head to the nearby playground on the far side of the shopping complex across the road.

Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney Envy Deli Cafe: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Summer Hill, Sydney

With the playground gate safely locked behind us, we let the kids run off their milkshakes while we relax in the sun.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal – bring a folding stroller and enter through the rear.
Easy access: No – a step and narrow door in the front.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Envy Deli Cafe
109 Smith St,
Summer Hill NSW 2130
Phone: (02) 9286 6000
Prices: $$
Hours:Mon-Sat 6am-5pm, Sun 6:30am-5pm
Get Directions

Frozen – Live at the Hyperion, Disney California Adventure Park

Frozen – Live at the Hyperion, Disney California Adventure Park via christineknight.me

The hot ticket at Disney California Adventure Park this year is the brand new stage show, Frozen – Live at the Hyperion.

The show is exactly what you would imagine it to be: a very closely followed adaptation of the movie Frozen, performed live on stage by excellent performers on some seriously stunning staging.

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The show is one hour in duration (the movie is 1 hr 49 minutes) and as a result there are small cuts in places – a few minor characters are either missing or have their parts shortened significantly, but the changes I noticed the most were to take away anything remotely “scary”.

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As a result, the show is billed as “suitable for all ages” – and I have to agree, it was extremely mild and even my scaredy cat Cheese who refuses to see the movie at the moment because she deems it “too scary”, didn’t find a single moment of the show anything other than thoroughly entertaining.

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As per all of Disney’s productions, Frozen – Live At The Hyperion is of the highest standard. I was particularly impressed with their Elsa, considering the difficulty of the song Let It Go, (which she nailed, by the way).

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The set design for the show is incredibly impressive, particularly the scenes from the sisters’ childhood, where the props are made larger than usual to make the “child” Anna and Elsa really look small, even though they are played by adults.

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Even with the show significantly shortened from the original movie, it seemed a perfect length, with all the major songs and moments covered beautifully. It was also a great length for all of the small children in the audience, who were happily belting out the lyrics to each number and wiggling joyfully throughout the show.

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Tips on how to see the show:

When we went the show was new and popular and tickets were available through the Disney FASTPASS Service. As of September 2017, FASTPASS is no longer available for the show.

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Line up for the show at least 30 mins before the show begins, earlier on really busy days.

Frozen – Live at the Hyperion, Disney California Adventure Park via christineknight.me

Frozen – Live at the Hyperion, Disney California Adventure Park via christineknight.me

If you have a stroller with you, be very aware of where it is parked when you go into the show. Our stroller was taken from us and parked by a Disney cast member and we didn’t see where it was taken. As a result, at the end of the show it took us a very long time to search for our stroller among a sea of about a hundred or so.

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Get more information on Frozen – Live At The Hyperion and the latest show times here

Meet Anna & Elsa at Disney California Adventure Park

Meet Anna & Elsa | Disney California Adventure Park

The Frozen sisters have found a permanent home in California Adventure Park’s Hollywood Land. The meet and greet isn’t anywhere near as crazy popular as it was when we visited two years ago. Back then, if you didn’t get to the link as soon as the park opened you were in for an all-day wait.

This time, we did the rounds in the morning to get FastPasses for our fave rides and then came back to meet the sisters. Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome is located deep inside the Animation Academy within the Disney California Adventure Park.

From the outside, it’s unclear that this is even the place to meed the Frozen duo as there are no clear signs that say so.  We asked a helpful Disney cast member outside who confirmed that this was the place and pointed where to go.

The Animation Academy has several experiences inside, just one of which is the Anna and Elsa Royal Welcome. it’s a huge space with Disney films playing all over the walls, which makes waiting to meet the sisters much more palatable. The queue wasn’t too bad – maybe 10 people before us, and we waited in total about 30 minutes to meet the pair.

Meet Anna & Elsa | Disney California Adventure Park

Anna and Elsa share an Arandelle-themed room in the Animation Academy for meeting their royal guests. I really think the pair are best as a dual act – they play off each other, make witty jokes, and in general are so much fun when they’re experienced together.

Meet Anna & Elsa | Disney California Adventure Park

The princess and queen really took their time talking to Cheese. They wanted to know all about her kingdom and commented on her beautiful hair.

Meet Anna & Elsa | Disney California Adventure Park

Meet Anna & Elsa | Disney California Adventure Park Meet Anna & Elsa | Disney California Adventure Park

After the meet and greet, with Frozen stars in our eyes, we head off to the new show, Frozen – Live that is now playing at the Hyperion Theatre next door. If you have an avid artist on your hands, drop by the Royal Academy (it’s tucked inside the Animation Academy) where a real-life artist is on hand to teach you how to sketch characters like Olaf and Marshmallow.

Get more information about Frozen experiences at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park here.

Sheraton On The Park High Tea: Sydney’s Best High Teas

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me

Sydney’s Sheraton On The Park has given their Gallery dining area a major refurbishment, and with it, their high tea offerings too.

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me

Recently reopened to the public, the new Gallery dining area is modern and cool, with a silver backdrop representative of the adjacent Hyde Park. When ordering a classic High Tea stand at the Sheraton On The Park, you’ll notice an elegant twist on their traditional stands of old.

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me

The indulgent High Tea is now served on a silver three-tiered stand that is elegantly designed to reflect a tree. It’s a thoroughly modern stand and quite a unique offering in the world of high teas.

The tree High Tea stand is served daily at Sheraton On The Park from 12pm. Included in the classic High Tea is a selection of savouries, scones and sweet treats, plus a choice of Vittoria espresso coffees, fragrant Dilmah teas or hot chocolate made with Lindt chocolate, milk, dark or white.

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me

Sheraton On The Park have partnered closely with Dilmah to deliver a selection of quality teas. I chose the recommended Uda Watte from the Watte range – Sheraton On The Park are the first high tea establishment in Australia to offer this particular tea range to the public.

The Watte tea range is grown at different elevations in Ceylon’s central highlands. Strong, robust teas are supplied from the mid country, rich, rounded tea from the high country, with delicate, subtle tea found at the highest elevations.

My Uda Watte tea was classified as “high grown”, at 5000 feet above sea level, and described as “Rich and lively, with intense aroma and well-rounded flavour”.

The tea stand is served with the savoury and sweet treats first, the scones following after these are finished.

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me

Quiche
Warm serrano ham, caramelized onion and ricotta dip (vegetarian substitute dried tomato)

Sandwiches
Red pepper hummus with pita – grilled zucchini, chickpeas & feta
Duck & currant pate brioche – cranberry, mache & orange (vegetables used instead of pate on vegetarian substitute)
Hot smocked salmon dark rye – avocado, fennel & chives (pumpkin used instead of salmon on vegetarian substitute)
Schinkenspeck schiacciata – bush tomato, fig & goat’s curd (zucchini used as substitute for vegetarian option).

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me
Vegetarian savoury options.

The savoury food was delicious. Fresh, fluffy bread, a warm quiche and delicious ingredients. My favourite was the pumpkin sandwich, while my dining companion loved her quiche.

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me

Sweet Treats
Green tea cake
Decadent passion fruit truffle
Pampa jelly tart
Hazelnut cream eclairs
Raspberry macaron
Carrot cheese cake

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me

The sweet treats were the perfect size for sampling. I really enjoy the colour and variety of the treats, with a variety of ingredients highlighted, from creamy hazelnut to refreshing berry. Each treat was decadently good, with my favourites being the pampa jelly tart (I loved the bright fruit jelly in the centre) and the passion fruit truffle, with its layers of cream and jelly. Just delicious.

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me

Scones
Fruit and plain
Strawberry jam and devonshire cream

The scones are served last, warm and fresh. They come with a variety of toppings – butter, jam and cream in plentiful amounts, but I find the scones to be a bit on the hard and dry side, more like biscuits than the big and fluffy scones I prefer.

The Sheraton on The Park is one of Sydney’s iconic high tea venues for a very good reason. Their consistently high quality of food and service make an afternoon in the Gallery a memorable affair.

The Gallery High Tea is served daily from 12pm and includes one coffee, tea or hot chocolate, $49 per person. The Sparkling Tea Stand includes one glass of sparkling house wine and is $59 per person. 

Sheraton On The Park High Tea
161 Elizabeth Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9286 6000
Prices: $$$
Get Directions

Thank you to Sheraton On The Park for hosting us.

British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil’s Bay On Virgin Gorda

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The beautiful Virgin Gorda, second-largest of the British Virgin islands, is a popular day trip for cruise ships stopping in Tortola. The “plump” shape of the island reminded Christopher Columbus of a reclining woman, or a “Fat Virgin,” which inspired the rather interesting name.

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Virgin Gorda has a population of around 3000 people, including celebrities like Morgan Freeman and Richard Branson. A glimpse at the pristine beauty of the island and it’s easy to see why. White sand beaches, crystal blue ocean and a slow way of life are draw cards for those wanting a relaxing vacation or a complete sea change.

A Tour of The Baths is a popular way to see one of the area’s must-see sights – The Baths. Many cruise ships, including the Disney Cruise Line’s 7-Night Eastern Caribbean include this as a port of call option for an additional fee.

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To get to The Baths from Tortola, the main port of call where cruise ships dock, it’s possible to go on the cheap and take the local ferry, but I would advise to just pay the bit extra to have the entire trip organised for you so there is zero stress involved. It’s quite a way from where the ferry lands on Virgin Gorda to The Baths and not much in the way of public or private transport options.

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The half-day tour to Virgin Gorda begins with a scenic 40-minute cruise along the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda. Open-air safari buses await the cruise boat, ready to take its passengers on the short 20-minute drive through Spanish Town to an outlook over Savannah Bay for a photo stop.

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It’s only a short drive further to the Top of the Baths, where a local tour guide meets the group and leads us down to The Baths. The path is somewhat rocky but doesn’t take more than 10 or 15 minutes, and is easy enough for my 4.5 year old to walk on her own.

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The spectacularly beautiful Baths lies at the bottom of the path. There are waves to swim, boulders to climb and beaches to laze on. Paradise.

British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil's Bay On Virgin Gorda via christineknight.me British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil's Bay On Virgin Gorda via christineknight.me

We journey further through narrow caves and water-filled grottos to find the pristine waters of Devil’s Bay on the other side.

British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil's Bay On Virgin Gorda via christineknight.me British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil's Bay On Virgin Gorda via christineknight.me

British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil's Bay On Virgin Gorda via christineknight.me

This stunning beach is perfect for families with its gentle waves and soft sand.

British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil's Bay On Virgin Gorda via christineknight.me British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil's Bay On Virgin Gorda via christineknight.me British Virgin Islands: The Baths & Devil's Bay On Virgin Gorda via christineknight.me

The tour ends with a retracing of our steps. Back up to the car park, back on the safari buses, back onto the cruise boat, which speeds us back to our ship, just in time for lunch.

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Tour To Virgin Gorda Tips
*Wear comfortable walking shoes as the path to The Baths is rough and uneven.
*Recommended age for the tour is 5 and up. Our 4.5 year old had no problem with the walk or the climb through the caves.
*Take plenty of drink bottles with water. Food from the ship is not allowed off the boat (such as fruit) so eat a hearty breakfast. We did take packaged crackers that we had taken aboard with us and were very grateful we did when our daughter badly needed food and there was nowhere to buy any.
*While our tour notes said a beverage (water, soda or fruit juice) is included, we were served the beverage on the cruise boat back to the ship at the very end of the tour, so taking lots of water is crucial.
*Additional food and drinks can be purchased at the Top of The Baths restaurant.
*Bathrooms/changing facilities and lockers are available at the beach; however, Guests are encouraged to wear a swimsuit underneath their clothes if wishing to swim at the beach as there are limited bathrooms and a long line to use them.
*Bring credit cards or cash for optional extras such as souvenirs.
*Pack a swim suit, sunscreen, sunglasses, additional clothing, hats, cameras, backpacks and towels.
*After swimming in the salty beach water you’ll want to rinse off – which was a problem when we visited as there was no running tap to use and we had to use the rest of our drinking water.

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More info on the Tour to Virgin Gorda here

A Disney Cruise Port of Call: Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure

Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.meCastaway Cay is a private island in the Bahamas reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line (DCL) guests on Bahamian and Caribbean cruises.

disney-cruise-castway-cay-44

Because the island is only used by guests debarking from the Disney boats, it’s possible to enjoy a fun-filled day without spending an extra cent.

Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.me

Many of the amenities on the island are FOC for DCL guests, such as tram transport to the different parts of the island, a full buffet lunch and beverage station, several gorgeous beaches, character meet and greets, child care for kids aged 3-12 at Scuttle’s Cove and the two water play areas, Pelican Plunge (more below) and Spring-a-leak, which we didn’t find on our day at Castaway Cove. Don’t have kids? Adults can enjoy Serenity Cove, the 18+ area on the island.

Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.me

There is so much to do on this island, particularly for families, that many guests say it’s their fave place to stop even on repeat cruises.

Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.me

Castaway Cay Stingray Adventure

On our Castaway Cay day we booked into the Castaway Cay Stingray Adventure, suitable for guests aged 5 and up. Despite Cheese being not quite 5, it was fine for her to join us.

Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.me

We checked into Ray’s Stingray Hut straight off the boat and were given a very quick run down by the crew on how to put on our gear (lifejackets and snorkel equipment) and told the rules of how to handle the stingrays during the feeding, which was the first part of the adventure.

Into the water, we gathered around platforms thigh-deep in water and held pieces of slimy fish in our fingers for the stingrays to eat. While we waited for the rays to approach the platform a few of the more curious of the stingrays rubbed against our legs. Don’t worry – the stingrays here to not have stingers, making them completely harmless.

The stingrays caught the scent of food and slid themselves onto the platform to slurp up the food from our fingers, tickling out palms with their rubbery mouths. After the food supply ran out, we donned our snorkels and went for a swim to watch these amazing creatures underwater.

Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.me Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.me Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.me

See our Castaway Cay adventures in the video below at 1:42.

disney-cruise-castway-cay-48

Castaway Cay Beaches

The majority of people who visit Castaway Cay are content to just relax on the beach and paddle in the soft waves.

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We hired a water tube for some serious floating action. There are several beaches to enjoy, all marked clearly on the island’s map, so while the beaches are busy you’d never guess that a few thousand people were there all at the same time.

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The free tram makes it very easy to get between the beaches, and there are also plenty of shaded deck chairs available for lounging.

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Pelican Plunge

After the free buffet lunch we walked to the Pelican Plunge to check out the water play area.

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It looked a bit scary for our little one, so we contented ourselves with squirting the water guns over the side while watching people climb up and slide down the plunge adjacent.

disney-cruise-castway-cay-62 disney-cruise-castway-cay-58 Castaway Cay & Stingray Adventure Caribbean via christineknight.me

Castaway Cay Tips
*No need to bring a towel – there are plenty of towels available on the island.
*Do bring sunscreen, hat, water shoes/thongs and a refillable water bottle to fill at the free beverage station.
*Head to the buffet either at the beginning or end of service when the queues are shorter.
*Bring some cash if you’re planning on shopping.
*There is occasionally sea lice in the water – you may want to buy some Sea Safe just incase. We didn’t have any problems with the sea lice.
*Head back to the ship early to ride the Aquaduck with zero queues!

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Get more info on Castaway Cay here.

Journey To The Top Of Table Mountain, Cape Town

Journey To The Top Of Table Mountain via christineknight.me

A journey up the mountain is a must for any visitor to Cape Town. The flat top peak of the mountain reaches 1,086m above sea level, so you’re guaranteed an incredible view of the entire city from up the top.

Journey To The Top Of Table Mountain via christineknight.me

Getting up the top is half the fun! Catch the 360° rotating Table Mountain Cableway to the top of one of the oldest mountains in the world. The rotating cable car enables every person inside to see all view points during the ascent and descent – just keep your hands (and camera!) inside the windows.

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Up the top of Table Mountain there are three easy three easy walking trails, or you can go rouge like the majority of people we saw up there, hopping from rock to rock like mountain goats.

Journey To The Top Of Table Mountain via christineknight.me

Look for landmarks such as Robben island, Lion’s Head and the southern Cape – all of which are visible from the top.

Journey To The Top Of Table Mountain via christineknight.me

Table Mountain is home to an incredibly diverse range of plant, animal and insect species, with many of the plant species found nowhere else in the world. The mountain’s vegetation types form part of the Cape Floral Region protected areas, which have been classified as a World Heritage Site.

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More info:

Buy tickets online: http://www.tablemountain.net. Seasonal rates apply, kids under 4 are free.
More info:

Getting around
Use a metered taxi or Uber for taking short trips around Cape Town.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

Where to stay:
While in the Cape Town City Centre, I stayed at the Westin Cape Town Hotel. The hotel is extremely modern, secure, and an easy walking distance to the stunning V & A Waterfront district.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

My room was large and comfortable – with an incredible heated floor! I also enjoyed the hotel’s free wifi and helpful staff who gave us a plenty of assistance in getting around the city.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

The daily buffet breakfast at the Westin was excellent, particularly the fresh fruit and yoghurts and omelette station.
More info: westincapetown.com

More info on my stay
I visited South Africa as part of the Australian Society Of Travel Writers’ annual general gathering. While my trip was supported by South Africa Tourism Australia, all opinions are my own. 

Get ideas on more things to do in Cape Town here

A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap, Cape Town

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This little neighbourhood of Cape Town, situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre, is an Instagrammer’s dream come true. Bo-Kaap, with its colourful houses all shades of pink, green, yellow and blue, has become a must-visit for visitors to Cape Town both due to its vibrant colour combinations and also because of its historical significance.

A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me

Bo-Kaap is a former township* formerly known as the Malay Quarter. It is an historical centre of Cape Malay culture in Cape Town, with the Nurul Islam Mosque, established in 1844, located in the area.

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After the demise of forced racial separation under the apartheid laws, Bo-Kaap has become much sought after for property, due to it’s location, architecture and cobble stoned streets.

A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me

A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me A Colourful Stroll Through Bo-Kaap Cape Town via christineknight.me

*In South Africa, the term township and location usually refers to the (often underdeveloped) urban living areas that, from the late 19th century until the end of Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites (black Africans, Coloureds and Indians). Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities.

More info:

Getting around
Use a metered taxi or Uber for taking short trips around Cape Town.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

Where to stay:
While in the Cape Town City Centre, I stayed at the Westin Cape Town Hotel. The hotel is extremely modern, secure, and an easy walking distance to the stunning V & A Waterfront district.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

My room was large and comfortable – with an incredible heated floor! I also enjoyed the hotel’s free wifi and helpful staff who gave us a plenty of assistance in getting around the city.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

The daily buffet breakfast at the Westin was excellent, particularly the fresh fruit and yoghurts and omelette station.
More info: westincapetown.com

See more of Cape Town’s history with a visit to Robben Island.

More info on my stay
I visited South Africa as part of the Australian Society Of Travel Writers’ annual general gathering. While my trip was supported by South Africa Tourism Australia, all opinions are my own.

Street Art in Cape Town: A Walking Tour of Woodstock

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One of Cape Town’s oldest suburbs, Woodstock has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years from a run down town filled with litter, crime and drugs, to becoming a hip neighbourhood with trendy restaurants, offices and boutiques.

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The regeneration of Woodstock comes in part thanks to the Woodstock street art project that began in 2009, where locals like our walking tour guide, Juma, decided to take art from its traditional setting indoors, to the great outdoors. “We wanted to put art on the street to inspire people,” said Juma, as he explained the beginnings of the project at the start of our tour. “This way, everyone owns the art”.

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With the lofty goal to change the neighbourhood through beautiful, socially conscious murals, Juma and his collaborators invited established artists from all over the world to contribute to the project.

Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me

The result is over 100 murals and installations by 40 artists, with topics ranting from the political, such as the tribute to the Sharpeville massacre by Freddy Sam that we see in the parking lot at the start of the tour, to the ecological and educational.

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The murals are painted all over the streets – on fences, houses and shops. “Permission is asked and rarely denied”, says Juma.

Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me

While you can absolutely take yourself on a street art walking tour of Woodstock, the experience is enriched with the correct context applied to each work.

Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.meWoodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me

The success of the Woodstock street art project is evident in the vibrant atmosphere to be found in the streets and converted warehouses, which are filled with young professionals, urban hipsters and plenty of tourists.

Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me

More info:

Juma’s Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour
runs four times a day in summer and four times a week in winter. For an additional cost, participants can paint their own mural in the neighbourhood.

Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me

To book a street art walking tour of Woodstock contact Juma directly on juma.mkwela@gmail.com or +27734004064. Get more details online.

Distance from Cape Town City Centre to Woodstock: 3.5km

Woodstock Street Art Walking Tour, Cape Town via christineknight.me

Getting around
Use a metered taxi or Uber for taking short trips around Cape Town. For longer journeys, such as the Capes and Boulders Beach, either hire a car and self-drive or book an escorted tour. We travelled with the very knowledgable and kind Francois from Hylton Ross.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

Where to stay:
While in the Cape Town City Centre, I stayed at the Westin Cape Town Hotel. The hotel is extremely modern, secure, and an easy walking distance to the stunning V & A Waterfront district.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

My room was large and comfortable – with an incredible heated floor! I also enjoyed the hotel’s free wifi and helpful staff who gave us a plenty of assistance in getting around the city.

Westin Cape Town Hotel via christineknight.me

The daily buffet breakfast at the Westin was excellent, particularly the fresh fruit and yoghurts and omelette station.
More info: westincapetown.com

More info on my stay
I visited South Africa as part of the Australian Society Of Travel Writers’ annual general gathering. While my trip was supported by South Africa Tourism Australia, all opinions are my own.

The Best of Cape Town for Wine Lovers

Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me

The Durbanville Wine Valley is renowned for the quality of wine produced, as well as the delicious food offered at the winery restaurants. I had the pleasure of visiting a few truly unique wineries on my visit to Cape Town, that I would highly recommend to fellow travellers to the regions.

Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me

Diemersdal Wine Farm
Diemersdal sits on an estate that back to 1698 and has been owned and operated by the Louw family. for six generations. The winery specialises in sauvignon, with 6 different versions from the farm’s vineyards available for tasting.

Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me
Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me

The winery also operates the popular Diemersdal Farm Eatery in the estate’s converted stable. Sit down to a hearty family-style meal Tuesday to Saturday and enjoy locally grown and regionally sourced produce.

Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me

Sundays the farm holds their special traditional roast which is reservation only and a bargain at only $22AUD per person.
More info: diemersdal.co.za

Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.meKlein Roosboom
The most unique wine and cheese tasting experience you’ll find on the Cape, Klein Roosboom is a quirky, truly unique place to unwind with friends or on a special date for two.

Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me

Order a delectable cheese and charcuterie platter made from locally sourced produce, paired perfectly with the vineyard’s wine, which is delightfully named after family members. A platter for two will set you back around $17AUD, while the wine tasting is $3 for seven wines, $4 for nine.

Cape Town For Wine Lovers via christineknight.me

If you’re after bit of a romantic atmosphere, book one of the special little nook rooms which look like holes in the wall from the outside, and are cosy on the inside.
More info: kleinroosboom.co.za

Taking the kids with you?
While I did not visit either of these wineries with my child on this trip, I would absolutely take children to either, particularly when dining in. Klein Roosboom even had a small kids’ playground outside.

Have more time in Cape Town and want to sip a few more wines? Check out:

Durbanville Hills
A luxurious winery with an uninterrupted view of Table Mountain.
More info: durbanvillehills.co.za

Groot Constantia
The oldest wine estate in South Africa and home to the delicious Jonkershuis restaurant.
More info on the winery: grootconstantia.co.za
More info on the restaurant: jonkershuisconstantia.co.za

Getting around
Use a metered taxi or Uber for taking short trips around Cape Town. For longer journeys, such as the Capes and Boulders Beach, either hire a car and self-drive or book an escorted tour. We travelled with the very knowledgable and kind Francois from Hylton Ross.

Bliss Boutique Hotel via christineknight.me

Where to stay
I stayed at the brand new, beautiful Bliss Boutique Hotel. This five star luxury hotel has stunning views of Table Mountain, Table Bay, Robben Island and the Atlantic Ocean.

Bliss Boutique Hotel via christineknight.me

Located 20 minutes from the centre of Cape Town, Bliss is ideal for visitors who want to escape the hustle of the city and relax in the quiet neighbourhood of Sunset Beach.

Bliss Boutique Hotel via christineknight.me

The location is also ideal for visiting the nearby Durbanville wine region. Don’t miss the private path to Sunset beach over the sand dunes for an early morning walk. The view is extraordinary.

Bliss Hotel via christineknight.me

Visiting Cape Town and looking for great places to eat? Check out the 2 Food Trippers food guide to Cape Town.

More info
I visited South Africa as part of the Australian Society Of Travel Writers’ annual general gathering. While my trip was supported by South Africa Tourism Australia, all opinions are my own.