Things to Do in Pinelands

This all white minimalist space features innovative exhibitions showcasing some of South Africa's rising young talent as well as established artists. UCA Gallery regularly curates conceptual and visual artists in solo and group shows. Their dual focus is to promote Cape Town talent and bring in other vibrant artists from other parts of South Africa to the Mother City.Need to know? Gallery hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm | Sat 9am - 1pm

A shooting star in Observatory These Four Walls gallery has risen out of its humble beginnings as a series of affordable art exhibitions operating out of a small flat in Woodstock. Thanks to the overwhelming success of these exhibitions, the owners came to realise that there was indeed a gap in the Cape Town art market for a space that offers inexpensive, desirable and beautiful artworks in a semi-informal atmosphere.Our vision is to bring to the buying public a gallery that excels at exhibiting artwork that people want to live with and can afford to own.These Four Walls creates a space that is not completely defined. It is a space that can change and adapt with and to a variety of art and exhibitions in which the overwhelming sense is of honesty and integrity. Two elements which tend to be forgotten in the cut-throat world of art.It is a place to visit, be welcomed, and enjoyed, even if only for a fleeting five minutes.

The Baxter Theatre Centre provides an exciting forum for the celebration of life which is the essence of live theatre, music and dance. It is one of the major live theatre venues in Cape Town and has always been at the forefront of the performing arts both as a popular venue and as a leading producer.The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape Town endeavours to present and host the best of South African performing arts. The objective is to reflect the cultures of all the people of South Africa on our stages and in our galleries. The Baxter Theatre strives to present cutting-edge and major works from South Africa and masterpieces from the international repertoire. Since its opening in 1977 the complex has continued to provide a stage for all types of professional entertainment - music, drama, ballet, opera and intimate theatre. Even through the difficult years of racial segregation its doors remained open to everyone and it thrived, drawing on indigenous talent and creating a uniquely South African theatre tradition.

The legendary Old Biscuit Mill is something of an institution in the Mother City. It has the vibe of a warm-hearted country hamlet situated in the middle of the bustling suburb of Woodstock. This vibrant spot is home to night and day markets, dynamic office spaces, workshops and designer stores, delicious farm-stalls, decadent cafes as well as an awesome line-up of festivals and events. 'The Mill' is also a place where people share, collaborate and show off their heart-felt passion. Explore the Mill and meet some of South Africa’s most talented designers, artists, photographers and connoisseurs of fine taste and décor. Where? 373 - 375 Albert Road, Woodstock

The multitude of Grecian-style columns and host of lion sculptures on the slope of Table Mountain is something of a curiosity. This rather grand, shrine-like structure goes way beyond being a memorial to the imperialist Cecil John Rhodes but it’s a great place to go for tea and take in the magnificent view of bustling Cape Town towards the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland Mountains. Built on the site where Rhodes liked to sit and ponder his future, it was a short ride on his horse from his home at Groote Schuur, where the famous hospital now lies. Rhodes Memorial Restaurant is open 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

The University of Cape Town, fondly called UCT, presides over the southern suburbs and Cape Flats from its lofty position on the slopes of Devil’s Peak on Table Mountain. UCT's setting and beautiful historic buildings make it one of the most attractive universities in South Africa.Famous students who have walked its halls include Prof Christian Barnard, the heart transplant surgeon and three Nobel Prize laureates – the writer JM Coetzee, Prof Alan MacLeod Cormack and Sir Aaron Klug.Visitors often walk from UCT to Rhodes Memorial. Another popular spot is the ‘Jammie steps’ leading up to Jameson Hall. These steps used to be the hub of many heated political protests and debates during the Apartheid regime.

Ratanga Junction, the 'Wildest Place in Africa', opened in 1998 and has been enthralling visitors ever since. Located at Century City in Cape Town, Ratanga offers more than 30 attractions ranging from kiddie and family rides to thrill rides guaranteed to satisfy the most avid adrenaline junkies.One of the most challenging rides is “The Cobra”, a suspended looping coaster which catapults riders from a height of 32m along 780m of track at up to four times the force of gravity and at speeds of close to 100km per hour. Adding to the thrill of the ride is the suspension of riders beneath the track, feet flying free. The ride is not for the faint hearted.Then there is the Slingshot, an ultimate thrill ride. This skycoaster combines elements from skydiving and bungie-jumping. Flying three abreast, riders are strapped into a full body harness which supports them in a prone position. They are then hoisted 10 storeys into the air to the top of the tower with nothing between them and the ground. The flight suits are connected to flight cables and on pulling their own rip cord, riders plunge in a 30m free fall at 80 to 90 km/h towards the ground before swinging upwards in a 180 degree arc and then straight down again.The white-knuckle thrills and spills, of which there are many, are just one element offered by Ratanga Junction. The other attractions are designed to entertain children, families, and those who prefer to take their thrills in more manageable doses. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of live entertainment which changes from season to season and eat at one of the many eateries around the beautifully landscaped park. If you’re looking for a great place to spend the whole day with friends, colleagues or family this is the place to be! The ride park operates seasonally during Western Cape school holidays however the function facilities are open year round for groups of 60 or more.Ratanga Junction also offers a large and unique variety of opportunities for corporate team building, incentive functions and events. Private function venues are available to accommodate groups of between 60 to 250 people and banqueting for up to 750, catering for product launches, corporate functions and other special events for up to 1 100 people seated and up to 7 000 people standing. Ratanga can host almost any function you can dream of from 60 to 7 000 guests.

Headquarters of the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province Rugby squad, the grand old Newlands Rugby Stadium is one of the three oldest rugby stadiums in the world. Set in the ultra-green suburb of Newlands, Newlands Rugby Stadium has a capacity of 51 000 with steeply elevated stands affording maximum visibility and electrifying viewpoints. Cape Town's three Premier Soccer League clubs also utilize the facilities for their inter-club matches.

Fondly called Newlands Cricket Ground by locals, Sahara Park Newlands in the Southern Suburbs is something of an institution in the Mother City. Considered one of the most stunning cricket venues on the globe, Sahara Park is home to the Cape Cobras and is a regular Test Match venue, carrying a seating capacity of 25 000. The beautiful grounds neighbour Newlands Stadium and are backed by gorgeous views of Table Mountain and Devil's Peak.

Conveniently situated in Canal Walk Century City, the MTN Sciencentre is one of the Mother City’s top edutainment spots and South Africa's first world-class interactive science centre. Kids young and old can have heaps of fun while learning about the mysteries of scientific discoveries and technological innovations. Over 280 exhibits are all interactive and many involve quite physical participation. There’s also a camera obscura, computer rooms, laboratories, an auditorium and exhibition hall. This is definitely an awesome spot to bring the whole family or leave the kids while shopping! The MTN Sciencentre's events programme is usually jam-packed and worth keeping your eyeballs on. 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy so all star gazers and aspirant astronomers will have loads of cosmic edutainment! A registered non-profit organization (031-701-NPO), all MTN Sciencentre entry fees directly support exhibits and educational programmes. Need to know? Opening times: Sunday to Thursday - 9am – 6pm, Friday & Saturday - 9am – 9pm. Open all public holidays except Christmas Day. Entrance fee: Under 3 - FREE, Youth (3-18) - R28, Adult - R22, Pensioners- R10, Poly Deal - R86 (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children) Additional Youth on Poly Deal - R24. Tickets are valid for the whole day and you can exit and re-enter as many times as you like on the day.

Uniting the world's most wanted brands with shopping convenience, leisure and superb entertainment and a magnificent setting, Canal Walk Shopping Centre attracts millions of visitors every year.Over 400 stores offer the hottest local and global brands and the widest selection of speciality stores in the southern hemisphere. Grandiose architecture, spacious interiors and a vast array of exclusive retail opportunities make it a very persuasive choice for lifestyle shopping experience.Visitors can enjoy stunning views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Grand Canal from the trendy outdoor terraces of Canal Walk's restaurants, cafés and coffee shops.After doing some serious shopping, guests can relax at one of the numerous eateries serving a wide range of delicacies. The Skywalk and Food Court also provide a good selection of speciality stores. La Piazza offers destination dining with superb views.Getting there is easy. It’s just a 10-minute drive from Cape Town’s City Centre and has direct access from the N1 highway. 6 500 parking bays provide secure parking, mostly undercover. Canal Walk is open daily from 09:00 – 21:00.

Kenilworth Center is a conveniently located shopping mall off the M5 freeway. Nestled centrally in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town it attracts shoppers from the cosmopolitan surrounding area. You can shop away with over 120 stores to visit.

Cavendish Square Shopping Centre offers the perfect excuse to go shopping! This award-winning shopping mall is considered the premier fashion destination in the Southern Suburbs. Encompassing more than two hundred and fifty of the most elite stores in the country. Shoppers can find a wide selection of restaurants, 16 cinemas, including foreign feature films and 5 Forex Banks all conveniently situated in a safe and secure indoor shopping environment.The most recent development to the centre is Cavendish Connect. This exciting redevelopment has stores spilling out across Dreyer Street, transforming The Link into Cavendish Connect and adding many more stores. The new development now brings you international concept stores, fashion boutiques, trend-setting lifestyle emporiums and a range of mouth-watering restaurants and cafes.When its time to take a break, shoppers can now also sit beneath the maples in Dreyer Street, the green hub of Cavendish cafe culture or walk across to Connect by sky bridges linking the first floors of Cavendish Square and Cavendish Connect.Cavendish also recently launched a fully re-loadable gift card that takes the hassle out of choosing what gift to buy; shopping has just been made so much easier!Trading hours: Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 19:00, Sundays 10:00 – 17:00, Public Holidays 09:00 – 19:00.

The Mother City's 'One-Stop-Shop of Creative Excellence' is situated between Table Mountain and Table Bay. The Artscape Theatre Centre is home to the Artscape performing arts company and includes the Opera House, Theatre, Arena, Piazza and News Café. Originally established 40 years ago as the official performing arts council for the Western Cape, Artscape has today developed into a vibrant, multi-functional creative arts centre, offering exceptional venue facilities and specialist theatrical services. With its close proximity to Cape Town's central business district, the new International Convention Centre and the V&A Waterfront, Artscape is ideally situated to serve the Cape's performing arts, film, tourism, entertainment, conference and exhibition industries. Artscape Opera House auditorium is the largest theatre in the Western Cape and seats 1187 and offers a variety of productions from contemporary opera to ballet, large scale musicals to semi-staged orchestral performances. Artscape Theatre auditorium seats 540 if the pit is not utilised. The size of the orchestra pit determines the number of seats. The Artscape Arena theatre was originally the right side of Artscape Theatre. The raked auditorium can seat up to 140 people. A cosy bar at street level offers opportunities for intimate art exhibitions and private parties. DF Malan Street, Foreshore, Cape Town +27 (0) 21 410 9800

A unique combination of cultural and military history, exhibitions and military ceremonies awaits you at the Castle of Good Hope. Also experience the dungeons, dolphin pool, blacksmith, cannon fire, horse and carriage rides and above all the tranquil atmosphere of the Castle of Good Hope.Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie), this pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built in 1652 by Commander Jan van Riebeeck, founder of the maritime replenishment station at the Cape of Good Hope. The oldest building in South Africa, it is steeped in history but moving with the times.The Castle lends itself to many present day activities, such as open air concerts with Table Mountain as a backdrop, film and fashion shoots as well as a variety of venues for corporate functions and conferences.Guided tours are conducted by Castle guides from Monday to Saturdayat 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Traditional ceremonies take place during weekdays.The Key Ceremony was performed in the Castle from its earliest days and depicts the unlocking of the Castle of Good Hope. This ceremony takes place at 10:00 and 12:00 during weekdays.The firing of the signal cannon directly after the Key Ceremony is symbolic to indicate the significance of cannons at the Castle of Good Hope.The Castle Guard performs both these ceremonies. The Castle of Good Hope opens daily at 09:00 and closes at 16:00.

An exciting new theatre in Cape Town’s legendary District Six, The Fugard, is home to the internationally acclaimed Isango Portobello Theatre Company - an exciting example of what can transpire when local talent and vision meets committed international support.The Fugard is located in the historic Sacks Futeran building with the original decommissioned Congregational Church Hall in Caledon Street as its entrance. The theatre is named in honour of Athol Fugard, South Africa’s greatest playwright who will be present at the inauguration. The 270 seat theatre complex, including a rehearsal studio, foyer space, dressing rooms and office space, is a transformation of two warehouse spaces and the original Congregational Church Hall.

Retro décor, spaciousness and the hippest bands have earned The Assembly its reputation as one of the hottest nightspots in the Mother City. Catch anything from live electronics, punk, rock, indie, jazz, ska, pop, comedy or the coolest new acts at The Assembly! The enormous pimped loft has a great vibe with awesome lighting, seating and a huge bar. You'll always find the hip set here and the venue is often used for big parties.

Widely regarded as one of the leading convention venues in the southern hemisphere, the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) couldn't be more appropriately positioned. Situated in the heart of the City Centre against the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain and next to the V&A Waterfront, it is a place where people from all walks of life are brought together. The CTICC is an International exhibition and conference venue featuring auditoriums, exhibition and trade show space, grand ballroom, meeting suites, galleries, conservatories and landings as well as the largest, most advanced kitchen facility in the Western Cape.

The Paddocks Shopping Centre is perfectly positioned and just a short drive from Century City, Canal Walk and the Cape Town CBD and is positioned close to the upcoming and densely populated area of Royal Ascot.It is conveniently located on the West Coast for easy access and an enjoyable experience for all. The Paddocks Shopping Centre is characterised by its high shop fronts allowing for fantastic views of Table Bay, Table Mountain, the harbour and Robben Island.Some of the tenants include Woolworths, Super Spar, Standard Bank and a variety of fantastic restaurants including Bihari Indian Restaurant, The Dros Restaurant, Mugg 'n Bean and Cape Town Fish Market. The Paddocks Shopping Centre offers covered and uncovered free parking.Need to know? Monday to Friday 09:00 - 18:00, Saturday 09:00 - 16:00, Sundays and Public Holidays 10:00 - 14:00.

Keeping a century-long tradition alive, the friendly Adderley Street flower sellers bring vibrancy and character to the inner city.Known for their cheeky wit and striking array of blooms – it’s always a worthwhile stop on a walkabout of the city. You’ll be coerced to grab a bunch or two but their wares are typically inexpensive, fresh and make a great gift for someone special or just yourself.The happy sight of freshly cut flowers includes numerous exotic blossoms as well as fynbos species such as king and pincushion proteas, depending on the season.Situated in the old market place in Cape Town’s main road, you will find the flower sellers between Strand Street and Darling Street. The market is within easy walking distance of Greenmarket Square.