Wellington is located an hour’s drive from Cape Town and offers a wonderful weekend getaway to the winelands. Wellington has a cute town with many wonderful foodie spots, plenty of wine farms to fill a weekend with wine tasting and the Bainskloof mountains for gorgeous hikes.
We got married in Wellington at the most gorgeous wedding venue: Au d’Hex Estate so it holds an extra special place in our hearts. Here is my guide to spending a weekend away in Wellington.
Where to stay in Wellington
Untether on Olive View
We stayed at Untether on Olive View for our weekend in Wellington. It provides the perfect luxury mountain cabin for a chance to disconnect to reconnect, rest and recharge. We stayed in the Romeo cabin and loved the incredible privacy and mountain views. They have a pizza oven and offer meal kits which you can order ahead of time to take all the stress out of a weekend away.
Book here: Untether on Olive View
Mount Bain Cabin
Mount Bain Cabin is a GORGEOUS mountain getaway spot nestled in the Bainskloof Mountains above Wellington. It has stunning mountain views, a beautifully curated cabin with a fireplace, hot tub and plunge pool. There are a multitude of hiking routes in the area, one in the reserve that leads to a waterfall. It is the perfect secluded romantic getaway. I haven’t stayed here but would love to.
Book here: Mount Bain Cabin
Stonewood Mountain Cabin
This one is PERFECT for a friend’s weekend away to the mountains. Stonewood Mountain Cabin sleeps 6 and has really beautiful wooden interiors with so much attention to detail. It is located inside Mount Bain Private Nature Reserve which has many hiking trails. It is also one of the more affordably priced cabins for a larger group. I haven’t stayed here but would love to.
Book here: Stonewood Mountain Cabin
Where to eat in Wellington
Fifty Five Croissants
We absolutely love Fifty Five Croissants in Wellington. They serve up the most divine brunch with incredible croissant combos. They are located in the heart of Wellington and you’ll sit beneath ancient oak trees looking at the beautiful Cape Dutch Style buildings of the main street. Pop in next door to buy yourself some freshly cut blooms.
Trading hours: Monday – Friday | 7 AM till 3PM Saturday 8 AM till 2PM
Festa
Festa is a laid-back foodie gem at the foot of Bainskloof in Wellington next to the Kleinevalleij wedding venue. The head chef Jacques, also owns a wedding catering company, Taste Ateljee, which caters for weddings at Au d’Hex Estate and Kleinevalleij. We went for brunch and loved their shakshuka and avo toast with pesto, bacon and paoched egg. They also offer delicious looking cocktails and a beautiful outdoor seating area with gorgeous mountain views.
Trading hours:
Wednesday – Sunday 9:00am -16:00pm
Thursday & Friday Evenings 16:00pm – 22:00pm
What to do in Wellington
Hiking in Bainskloof
Bainskloof offers some stunning hiking trails, natural pools and waterfalls. Read my blog on hiking the Bainskloof Waterfall trail for all the information you need to do this Bainskloof Waterfall Hike.
Go Winetasting
Wellington is known for its incredible wines and you can’t visit Wellington without enjoying some wine tasting. Favourites to visit include Bosman Family Vineyards, Imbuko Wines, Diemersfontein and Val du Charron. For a complete list of the 10 Must-Visit Wine Farms in Wellington check out the Inside Guide’s article.
Cape Town Fynbos Experience
if you’re looking for something unique to do in Wellington then check out the The Cape Town Fynbos experience. This is a guided tasting experience along an ancient flavour ‘trail’ of aromatic infusions made from eleven of the 7000 species in the Fynbos biome. The programme runs from 10h00-14h30 and includes a scenic stroll on this private Wellington estate, a haven for critically endangered Swartland renosterveld as well as a lunch of experiemental tapas accompanied by the South African Fynbos range of seasonings and botanical infusions. Book this experience here.
Wellington is the perfect weekend getaway and provides a much-needed break from the city! Looking for more weekend away ideas? Check out my weekend away guide to McGregor, Swellendam, Arniston, Cederberg, Tulbagh, Hermanus or browse my guide to The Best Cabin Stays and Hot Tub Stays in the Western Cape.
