Castle Rock, False Bay
The average Capetonian doesn't even know of the existence of Castle Rock, which lies in a marine reserve just south of Millers Point as one leaves Simon's Town on the Cape Peninsula. The advantage, of course, to venturing out this far along the cape is the dearth of crowds, traffic and noise that might accompany you elsewhere in Cape Town.
This part of the bay has some of the most magnificent views over False Bay, ones that are truly uninterrupted and will remain so because of the conservation area of which they are a part. There is a wild magic about the area where sea and sky appear to merge and all that is between one and the waves are pretty rock pools. One immediately feels remote from civilisation, despite the proximity to Simon's Town.
Castle Rock is unsurprisingly also one of the best dive sites in False Bay with an incredible fish life. You are almost guaranteed to spend most of the dive in the company of red roman fish and sight stump nose and hottentots amid the jumble of rocks that teem with life. It is touted as an excellent night dive, if one can brave the waters here.
And you're by no means sequestered in your private oasis, despite the obvious serenity, as there is plenty else to do. Boulder's Beach penguin colony is but three kilometres away, where one can swim with penguins in the protected bay; Simon's Town is moments away and other villages like Fish Hoek and Scarborough are only 15 minutes in either direction. And of course the Cape Point Nature Reserve is virtually on your doorstep.
Travellers' Reviews
1 Review from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.
Verified review
This is a wonderful destination if you're looking for a great view and a little R&R and IF you don't mind frequent visits by baboons, which can hamper one's style a little (though needn't ruin your holiday if you are vigilant). I love that it's a short drive to Simonstown, so although you're away from the hustle and bustle of small-town life, you're still close enough to pick up tomato sauce or firewood or anything else you may have forgotten to pack.
Stef (Cape Town)
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options

Fisherman Self Catering Cottage
Fisherman Self Catering Cottage is a quaint, one-bed roomed cottage, offering Cape Town self catering just outside Simon's Town. Here you can enj...

Central Hotel Guest House
Offering bed and breakfast accommodation, the Central Hotel Guest House dates back to 1828 and forms part of Simons Town's historical mile. After...

Above the Sea
Above The Sea is situated in Fish Hoek on the beautiful False Bay coast. This prime location ensures breathtaking sea views and is walking distan...

Seaview Self Catering
Seaview Self Catering offers accommodation in Simons Town at the Boulders Beach Hotel. With our close proximity it's easy to have the beach to on...

Chartfield Guest House
Chartfield Guesthouse is nestled in this quaint seaside village where the pace and charm is reminiscent of a bygone era while every modern conven...

Baytree Apartment
Baytree Apartments offer guests comfortable accommodation in a holiday apartment in Kalk Bay. This lovely location has easy access to a range of ...


2Oceans Apartments
Located between two oceans in the wind protected Fish Hoek valley, 2Oceans Apartments offer two tastefully decorated self-catering studios only 3...

Rocklands Seaside B&B
Wake up to the sound of the ocean, fill your lungs with clean, fresh air and watch the whales from your room in season (August to November). Take...
Things to do in the area

Cape Peninsula E-Bike Experience
Exploring a destination on a bicycle combines fun, fitness and a comfortable pace. Exploring Cape Town on an electric bike means even more fun an...

Smitswinkel Bay Beach
The Smitswinkel Bay Beach can be found, although not that easily as it isn't very easy to access, just past Simons Town and next to the Cape Poin...

Thomas T Tucker Shipwreck Hike
Start: Olifantsbos, Cape Point Nature Reserve Finish: OlifantsbosDuration: 3 km, 2 – 4 hoursFitness: moderateOur tip: perfect to do with children...

Fish Hoek Museum
The guest houses in Fish Hoek offer charming accommodation just outside Cape Town, and are surrounded by gorgeous beaches, quirky shops, and some...

Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach near Simon's Town is a must for many reasons. It is tranquil, speckled with dramatic rounded boulders, lapped by the turquoise of ...

Cape Peninsular Loop
The one great payoff, besides the incredible all-round sea views, of having a peninsular in the city of Cape Town is the non-stop drive on which ...
Noteworthy attractions

Cape Town Beaches
The Mother City has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and something to offer everyone. It is no surprise that South Africa was one ...

Long Beach Mall
An outing to one of the most beautiful areas in the Cape would not be complete without a visit to the Longbeach Mall. Take a trip out this way an...

Cape Point
Bartholomeu Dias, the Portuguese seafarer, was the first to sail around the Cape. This was in 1488. On his return voyage, which must have been pa...

Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
Part of the Table Mountain National Park that extends from Signal Hill in the north all the way to Cape Point in the south, the Cape of Good Hope...

Silvermine Nature Reserve
The park straddles the mountain, from the winding Ou Kaapse Weg (Old Cape Road) on the Tokai, Constantia and Westlake side of the mountain, over ...

Clovelly Golf Club
Clovelly was designed to be secluded from the everyday noises of passing cars and local railway tracks to truly entrench your senses into your ga...

Westlake Golf Club
Against the amethyst slopes of the Silvermine mountains lies one of Cape Town's Premier Courses - Westlake. This easy to walk, 18 hole Par 72 gol...

False Bay Coast Beaches
Where? The western coast of False Bay, from Cape Point to start of Helderberg. Includes: Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Boulders. Go there for swimming, ...

Cape Point Wine Route
It was only in 1998 that the new Cape Point Wine District was declared and the Cape Point Vineyards are still relatively new on the tourist itine...
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