Noordhoek is a seaside town in the
Western Cape,
South Africa, located below
Chapman's Peak on the west coast of the
Cape Peninsula and is approximately to the south of
Cape Town. The name "Noordhoek" was taken from
Dutch and literally means "north corner". It was given this name in 1743 as being the northern corner of the Slangkop farm. The first permanent resident of European origin is Jaco Malan who built his house there. In 1857, the region was divided into six plots, most of which were bought by a single family, that of the de Villiers. Noordhoek nevertheless remains a predominantly rural area where farmers grow vegetables to supply ships calling at Simon's Town. It is best known for its shoreline and its long, wide, sandy beach, which stretches south to the neighbouring village of
Kommetjie. Near the southern end of this beach is the wreck of the steamship "Kakapo", which ran aground in 1900, when the captain mistook Chapman's Peak for the
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope ( af, Kaap die Goeie Hoop ) ;''Kaap'' in isolation: pt, Cabo da Boa Esperança is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.
A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is t ...
and put the helm over to port.
Noordhoek can be accessed either from the scenic coastal road
Chapman's Peak Drive, which leads out of
Hout Bay or via the mountain road
Ou Kaapse Weg which cuts through the
Silvermine Nature Reserve - now part of the
Table Mountain National Park. Noordhoek is a small scattered community of houses, often with sea views and has a large horse population as riding on the long sandy beach is common; the beach is a stretch of fine white sand backed by Chapman's Peak () and the
Table Mountain National Park. Winds are often strong and the sea is cold and wild. The town consists of a riding stables and a scattering of villas in a wide grassy valley with oak trees. In the middle of this valley is the Noordhoek Farm Village, with craft shops, a children's playground, café, pub and restaurant.
Gallery
Noordhoek beach jan2005.jpg, Looking north along the beach. The slopes of Chapman's Peak rise to the right at the end of the sand. The peak in the distance is Karbonkelberg, west of Hout Bay
Noordhoek Sunset.JPG, An evening flight over Noordhoek Beach, with Kommetjie in the distance.
References
External links
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{{Cape Town, communities
Suburbs of Cape Town
Surfing locations in South Africa