Blue Hills

Blue Hills, Midrand

Drive along Woodmead Drive in a northerly direction from Sunninghill and you will, more or less, hit Blue Hills - a fairly new suburb in those parts of Midrand that still manage to evade excessive development.

Properties here are large, horses are stabled close by and the Kyalami Country Club lies immediately west of here, adding further to the country element of the neighbourhood. There are wonderful views from here, perched as Blue Hills is on what passes for a hill in Johannesburg. Johannesburg has been described more than once as the largest man-made forest in the world and it isn't hard to see why from Blue Hills, the suburb which, at a guess, is named such because of the vista the hills create when looking at it from the city.

If you plan to stay, work and play in Midrand then Blue Hills, nestled between Main Road and the N1 is ideal. It even has its own golf estate and other little areas with names like 'Country View' and 'Kosmosdal', which gives you an indication of the prettiness out here.

You're also placed close to the Western Bypass, making getting onto the M1 and N3 so easy that travelling on the outskirts of Johannesburg are elementary, my dear Watson. Reaching Sandton involves a little more effort but is a mere coast along Main Road, which becomes Woodmead Drive and takes you to the busy metropolis where you can shop 'til you drop at Sandton City and the Square.

What to do in your spare time? Your weekends should be full as you've easy access to the Cradle of Humankind, Irene and the wonderful weekened market that happens at Jan Smuts House, Hartebeespoort Dam and the beautiful Magaliesberg range of mountains.