Paternoster
Paternoster is regarded as one of the oldest towns on the West Coast, well-known for its abundance of crayfish. It is one of those towns that ooze authentic, traditional West Coast charm. Paternoster is surrounded by fynbos, wheat fields and wild flowers, which makes it a beautiful holiday destination with loads of attractions on offer.
Paternoster is approximately 90 minutes from Cape Town. It is famous for its traditional fisherman’s architecture and gorgeous, 8 kilometre long, unspoiled sandy white beach. With so much beauty surrounding the area it’s no surprise that many artists call this place home, so there are various galleries and shops exhibiting sculptures, paintings and photographs from local talent.
Paternoster is so special; you can virtually see whales and dolphins for at least 10 months of the year. Bird watching enthusiasts will be happy to know that there is an abundance of birds in the area including the endangered black oystercatcher as well as more than 200 other species. Visitors to Paternoster will also enjoy watching penguins and seals playing in the ocean waters as well as experiencing the amazing sight of millions of indigenous flowers that bloom in the spring time.
Other must see places include the Cape Columbine nature reserve. This stunning reserve stretches over an area of 263 hectares along a rocky coastline. A bay forms part of the reserve and offers visitors loads of picnic spots and braai facilities. Don’t forget to take a trip to the Cape Columbine light house, the last manually controlled lighthouse in South Africa. It was constructed in 1936 on Castle Rock and the light actually casts a beam that is visible for 50km.
- Horse riding
- Kayaking
- Art galleries
- Snorkelling
- Diving
- Kite surfing
- Cycling
- Seal and penguin watching
During August and September the spring wildflowers begin to bloom and the landscape is transformed into a colourful carpet of daisies. This is usually the peak of the whale watching season too. During summer time, between January and March, the days are sunny and hot with a cool breeze to keep the heat at bay. During May till June the autumn days are cool, which makes it perfect hiking weather.
- Lots of fresh sea food at the market
- Brightly painted fishing boats
- Daisies everywhere in spring
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