Climate, beach and shopping:
Somerset West is located in the Helderberg Basin and it has a Mediterranean type of climate with hot dry summers and cool wet winters. (The winter season, often referred to as the 'Green Season' is short and mild, with temperatures often reaching 22 C° during the day.) Although most of the annual rain falls in Winter, there are often long stretches of near-perfect golfing weather. Average temperatures range from 16-32 C° (60-90 F) in the summer to 7 - 22 C° (44-75 F) in the winter. Erinvale Estate is close to a beautiful beach, which offers safe swimming and wonderful long beach walks. Fresh fish can be bought directly from the fishers. Somerset Mall is a huge shopping centre which caters for most shopping needs. There are supermarkets, clothing boutiques, hairdressers, home decor and of course, restaurants and cinemas. The Cape Town Waterfront is a shopping experience not to be missed, and it is only a 30 min drive away.
Vineyards:
Erinvale is located at the gateway to the Western Cape wine routes. The historic Vergelegen Estate is directly opposite to the entrance to Erinvale, while 5 Erin Oaks looks out over the vineyards of the Lourensford farm. The well known food capitol of the Western Cape, Franschoek, is a leisurely 30 minute drive through the beautiful wine estates. Most of the wine estates offer wine-tasting, and many have wonderful restaurants. Many of the estates also produce fresh farm products, cheese and local olive oils for sale. Don’t miss the wonderful wine and chocolate tasting at Waterford Estate, or the home made breads, cheese and home-cured meat on the menu at Bread and Wine, on the Moreson Estate outside Franschoek. (You can even attend a bread-making class here!) Another wonderful venue for a cheese and wine lunch is at the Goatshed, on Fairview Estate.
Tourism:
Erinvale is ideally located to undertake day-trips. You can visit the fruit-growing regions of Ceres and Elgin, the wild-flower spectacle on the Cape West Coast each spring (August to September), the amazing village of Hermanus, where you can go for whale watching, and Cape Town, where hundreds of tourist attractions try to catch your attention. The adjacent Herderberg (Clear Mountain) nature reserve is popular among walkers and hikers. Here you can find indigenous Cape vegetation. Kirstenbosch, our famous Botanical Gardens can be reached in 40 minutes, and they are a popular summer picnic destinations. For those who want a unique spa experience, the superb Altira Spa at the Arabella Estate outside Hermanus is a must. The Erinvale Hotel, next to the Estate, also offers a day spa. Sunset cruises and deep-sea fishing charters can be arranged at Gordons Bay.
Golf:
The 18-hole par 72 Erinvale Golf course has 6500 m for the championship tees and up to 5130 m for the ladies. The setting, layout and links make it an exhilarating challenge for all skill levels. A spacious club house offers pub meals and quality cuisine, together with a superb outlook over the estate. Erinvale hosted the 1996 World Cup, and 2 SA Opens. A practice range and lessons are available. There are no Caddies. You can carry your own clubs, or hire a cart. In addition to the home course, there are at least 10 top quality golf courses within a 30 - 40 minute drive, offering a tremendous diversity of views and playing conditions. Golf equipment is available for rent.
PLEASE ENQUIRE AS TO ACCEPTABLE GOLF DRESS CODE ON ERINVALE ESTATE. Eninvale Estate offers reduced Green Fees during the 'Green' season, from May to September.
In addition to Erinvale Golf Course, there are at least another 10 top-class gold courses withing a 30-40min drive.
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Other Activities:
Driving Range, Golf lessons,Wine and Olive Oil tasting,Hiking,Shopping,
