About the Helderberg Region

The Helderberg region of the Western Cape is renowned for wine estates, nature reserves and family-friendly beaches. The region consists of Somerset West laying at the foot of the Hottentots Holland mountain range, and the towns of Strand and Gordon’s Bay on the shores of the False Bay coast.

With the Hottentots Holland and Helderberg Mountain ranges as backdrop, the Helderberg region is one of the most visually dramatic regions in the Western Cape. From the mountains, the valley descends into vineyards and finally on to a coastline swept with warm waters and white, sandy beaches.  The Helderberg Wine Route is a subsidiary of the Stellenbosch Wine Route and wines produced here are distinctly influenced by cool sea breezes and ideal soil conditions. The Helderberg Nature Reserve offers picnic spots, hiking trails and a variety of wildlife.

The Helderberg region boast three excellent golf courses, including the Gary Player designed Erinvale Golf Course. Other activities on offer include hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and various family activities such as picnics at the Helderberg Nature Reserve. Local media in the region include the District Mail, a local newspaper, and Radio Helderberg.

Suburbs in the Helderberg region include:

Gordon’s Bay
Gordon’s Bay is a harbour town situated in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is the smallest of the three towns located in the Helderberg region and is only 50km from Cape Town. Gordon’s Bay is named after Colonel Robert Gordon, who was the Dutch garrison commander when the British captured the Cape in 1795. Gordon’s Bay consists of the old village, situated around the old harbour and Bikini Beach, the mountainside on the lower slopes of the Hottentots-Holland mountains overlooking False Bay, and the low-lying suburbs close to the main beach, making up the most recent expansion of the town… read more

Somerset West
Somerset West is situated in the Helderberg area of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It lies only 50 kilometers from Cape Town central and is overlooked by the Helderberg mountain and Hottentots Holland range of mountains. Somerset West is surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains between the Cape Winelands and False Bay. Somerset West was originally a cattle post established by Dutch soldiers in 1672. The town developed around the Lourens River and the farm Vergelegen… read more

Strand
Strand is siutated in the Western Cape of South Africa on the eastern edge of False Bay, at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains. It lies 50 km southeast of Cape Town, between Macassar an Gordon’s Bay. Strand was originally established in 1714 as a holiday and fishing resort.  The 5 km of White sandy beach and views of the Cape Peninsula is Strand’s main attraction. Strand lies within easy access of the Wine Route, Somerset Mall, Stellenbosch and the scenic coastal drive past Gordon’s Bay to Betty’s Bay with perfect viewing points during whale watching season… read more