On the water
The Breede River runs the length of the valley. Viljoensdrift puts a boat on it — fill a basket at their deli and take lunch aboard. River cruises and boat trips are the valley’s most reliable way to spend a hot afternoon.
Area guide
Things to do near Robertson, on Route 62
Robertson is the largest town in the Langeberg and the western gateway to Route 62. The local tourism bureau calls this the valley of wine, horses and roses, which covers most of it: the Breede River runs the length of the valley and the mountains close it in on both sides. This is what there is to do once you are here, drawn from the farms and outings we send our own guests to.
Wine and olive farms
Sixteen farms worth building a day around
Robertson and the neighbouring Klaasvoogds valley are dense with cellars, olive farms and places to eat. Most are a short drive from the middle of town, and several do more than pour: blend your own red, take lunch on the river, or walk a cellar.
Robertson
- Springfield Estate Wine tasting
- Bon Courage Tasting, with a restaurant on the estate
- Excelsior Wines Blend your own red, bottle it, then design and print the label
- Viljoensdrift River cruise — fill a basket at the deli and take lunch aboard
- Esona Boutique Wines Tasting across different glasses, an underground cellar and a bistro
- Silverthorn Wines MCC tasting and appreciation, plus a cellar visit
- De Wet’s Hof Best known for its Chardonnay
- Van Loveren Cellar and garden tours, wine pairings and a restaurant
- Four Cousins Beer, whisky, gin, wine and brandy tasting, pairings and a restaurant
- Zandvliet Wines Wine and gin tasting
- Graham Beck MCC tasting with platters
Klaasvoogds
- Marbrin Olives Olive tasting
- Owl’s Rest Lavender and olive farm, with tastings and platters
- Kranskop Wines Tasting with cheese platters
- Mo and Rose Light lunches
- Cactus Garden A garden to wander, next door to Mo and Rose
Someone has to stay off the tasting. Danie and Helga at Robertson Tours put together bespoke days around the valley and do the driving — info@robertsontours.co.za.
Beyond the cellars
River, saddle, trail and a very long drop
In the cellars
Several estates run cellar tours rather than counter tastings, and the tourism bureau lists multi‑day guided wine walks that string tastings together with nature and a good deal of walking.
On foot and on horseback
Guided horse trails, hiking and birding are all on the bureau’s list, along with golf. Robertson is, after all, the valley of wine, horses and roses.
Straight down
Skydiving, for anyone so inclined. It is on the official list, which we mention mostly because it surprises people.
In town
What is walkable, and what is on while you are here
The bakery next door
De Bakkerij is on Truter Street, five metres from our front door. Kitchen sounds and smells start around 6am, Monday to Saturday, which is either a feature or a reason to shut the window.
Shops and cafés
Shops, wine boutiques and cafés are within walking distance of the house, so a day here does not have to involve the car at all.
What is actually on
Markets, shows and festivals move around the calendar, so a page like this one cannot keep up. The Robertson Tourism Bureau keeps the events calendar. Their office is in town on the corner of Reitz and Voortrekker Streets, about a kilometre from the house, open on weekdays.
Further along Route 62
Route 62 carries on east through Ashton to Montagu, and McGregor sits down a dead‑end road to the south. Both are comfortable half‑day trips from Robertson.
Getting here
Robertson is a little under two hours from Cape Town
About 160 km east of Cape Town: the N1 through the Huguenot Tunnel to Worcester, then the R60 down the Breede River Valley, which runs straight into Robertson. The full directions, including flying in and where to park, are on the Bella Casa home page.
Where to stay
Bella Casa, 40 Truter Street
We wrote this guide because our guests kept asking for it. Bella Casa is a three‑bedroom self‑catering farmhouse in the middle of Robertson, sleeping six across four beds and three bathrooms, with a private pool, braai and garden — and De Bakkerij next door.