New Hanover, Natal Midlands
New Hanover is a small farming community town just north east of the Albert Falls Dam. It lies on Route 33 between Pietermaritzburg and Greytown.
There's little to the town to merit a stop. A general dealers called Mafutas, which does have a Standard Bank ATM, might warrant a detour but otherwise there is only the local independent preparatory school, a post office, a community centre and the odd shop.
In the old days when New Hanover was originally established, the town would have functioned as a necessary halfway coach stop, with tired travellers staying overnight at the Travellers Rest Inn, recently restored and renamed The Travellers Rest.
New Hanover is not the only village in the area of German origin. Wartburg, Harburg, Lillienthal, Kirchdorf, Hermannsburg and Shroeders are all in the Midlands. And whilst this Wartburg lacks the World Heritage Site and castle that its European counterpart boasts, there are other beautiful places to visit in the area.
Karkloof Nature Reserve, just 48km north west of New Hanover, is a birder's paradise, due in no small part to the mistbelt forest, mistbelt grassland and indigenous forest of the 2800ha reserve.
The added bonus is sightings of several highly threatened species – the Cape parrot, southern ground hornbill, all three crane species, oribi and the Karkloof blue butterfly, as well as several grassland flowers and indigenous trees.
Include a stop at Albert Falls Dam and game reserve for the variety of birds, fishing or motor-boating.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Far Away Place Dashy House
Far Away Place Dashy House accommodation offers beautiful views of our dam and an ideal spot for trout fishing. The property offers a large pine ...
Bramleigh Farm
Bramleigh Farm can be found on a farm, tucked away on a secluded hillside and part of the Lion's Bush conservancy. This country getaway has no TV...
Loxley House Luxury Guest House
Loxley House offers an exceptional standard of accommodation, in a quiet and tranquil setting. We have 15 spacious, en suite, garden-facing suite...
Thorn Tree Lodge
Thorn Tree Lodge is located in Hayfields, Pietermaritzburg. The lodge offers accommodation in twenty one rooms and is set in an indigenous garden...
Hawklee Country House
Hawklee Country House is located in Fort Nottingham and offers accommodation in cosy cottages close to all amenities of the Midlands Meander. Fro...
Gowan Valley Guest Farm
Gowan Valley Guest Farm is located in the heart of the Natal Midlands. Meander down into the valley of peace and quiet, where you can relax and u...
Lincoln Cottages
Lincoln Cottages is nestled amongst indigenous Acacia trees in the tranquil suburb of Lincoln Meade, and offers an ideal base from which both the...
Old Homestead At Invermooi
Old Homestead at Invermooi offers Nottingham Road accommodation with panoramic views of the Drakensberg Mountains, in a tranquil country setting,...
Noteworthy attractions
Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve
The source of the uMngeni River lies in the uMngeni Vlei area, an ancient wetland bounded by hills. From here it meanders eastward through undula...
Midmar Dam Nature Reserve
The large stretch of fresh water from the uMngeni, coupled with 1000 hectares of game park that contains red hartebeest, blesbok, reedbuck, black...
Bosch Hoek Golf Club
Bosch Hoek Golf Course in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands must qualify as one of the most picturesque layouts in the country. The estate is convenient...
Gowrie Farm Golf Course
Gowrie Farm Golf Course, one of KwaZulu Natal’s finest golf courses, was built in the traditional way with push up greens and rugged bunkers. The...
Maritzburg Golf Club
The Maritzburg Golf Club in Pietermaritzburg is one of the oldest golf clubs in South Africa, dating back to 1886. It has lush, smooth cynodon gr...
Sakabula Golf Club
Sakabula Golf Club is a unique combination of agricultural smallholdings around a delightful 18-hole, par 73, golf course in a scenic rural envir...
Victoria Country Club
Less than five minutes from the CBD of Pietermaritzburg, the Victoria Country Club is superbly located in the scenic parklands adjoining the Quee...
Battlefields Route
The KwaZulu Natal hinterland has witnessed some of the most brutal and significant battles to be fought in South Africa. These historical sites f...
Midlands Meander
The enchantment of the Midlands has long inspired many a visitor and resident to creativity and as a result, local artists, potters and weavers c...
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