A quick drive in the Western Cape during the summer can feel like a complete getaway. You don’t need a busy schedule or a week off to feel like you’ve been away. Sometimes choosing the correct path is all that’s needed.
The point is demonstrated by these two drives from the Western Cape. Using Clarence Drive, one can follow the untamed False Bay coastline from Gordon’s Bay to Betty’s Bay.
The other is the Chapman’s Peak micro itinerary, a traditional Cape Town icon presented at a leisurely pace. Both are perfect for quick add-ons to a longer summer vacation or day trips that feel like mini-holidays.
Drive one: Gordon’s Bay to Betty’s Bay via Clarence Drive
Clarence Drive/Gustav Ludick/Wikimedia Commons
Why this drive works as a mini holiday
Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Betty’s Bay is often called one of the most scenic roads in the country, and it earns that reputation quickly. The route clings to cliffs above False Bay, with long open views, dramatic bends and enough natural stop points to turn a short drive into a full day out.
It works because the pace changes naturally. Bustling seaside town, empty coastal road, quiet village, protected beaches. Each stop feels distinct, like ticking off several destinations in one go.
Start in Gordon’s Bay with a slow seaside morning
Begin early if you can. Gordon’s Bay is best in the morning before the beachfront gets busy, and the bay lies calm and glassy.
Mini holiday ideas in Gordon’s Bay include a beachfront walk, an early swim in the sheltered bay, or breakfast at one of the cafés overlooking the water. It is a gentle, familiar start that eases you into holiday mode before the road turns wild.
If you want to stretch your legs properly, the promenade makes for an easy stroll with mountain views framing the curve of the bay.
The Clarence Drive stretch where the road becomes the destination
Once you leave Gordon’s Bay, the drive itself becomes the highlight. Clarence Drive hugs the coastline with sheer drops to the ocean and frequent lay-bys that invite you to stop.
This is where you should slow down and treat the drive as part of the experience, not something to rush through. Pull over at scenic viewpoints for photos, watch the waves break far below, and in winter keep an eye out for whales moving through False Bay.
Pack a picnic or simple snacks because this stretch is made for impromptu pauses. Even a short stop here feels like you have arrived somewhere special.
Rooi Els for quiet beaches and coastal calm
Rooi Els is small, understated and easy to miss if you are not paying attention, which is exactly its charm. The beach is rugged and often windswept, backed by mountains and fynbos rather than shops and restaurants.
This is a good place for a barefoot beach walk, rock hopping along the shoreline, or a simple picnic with uninterrupted ocean views. There is very little commercial development, so it feels peaceful and unspoiled.
Rooiels is ideal if you want a pause that feels remote without being far from Cape Town.
End in Betty’s Bay with penguins and protected coastline
Betty’s Bay makes a fitting final stop because it offers both wildlife and space to linger. The highlight for many visitors is the African penguin colony at Stony Point Nature Reserve. It delivers the same magic as Boulders Beach with far fewer crowds.
Beyond the penguins, Betty’s Bay is about open beaches, rocky coves and a slower rhythm. It is a lovely place for a late lunch, a long beach walk or a final swim before heading back.
If you want to extend the mini holiday, this is also an easy overnight stop with self-catering options close to the sea.
Drive two: The Chapman’s Peak micro itinerary
Chapman’s Peak/Martinvl/Wikimedia Commons
Why Chapman’s Peak deserves to be done slowly
Chapman’s Peak Drive is often treated as something to tick off quickly, but it works best when you give it time. Done as a micro itinerary, it becomes a layered experience that blends scenery, food and beach time into a compact coastal escape.
This drive is ideal if you only have half a day but still want that holiday feeling.
Start in Hout Bay with harbour energy and seafood
Begin in Hout Bay, ideally late morning or around lunchtime. The harbour area offers casual seafood spots and an easygoing buzz that sets the tone for the drive ahead.
Take a short wander around the harbour, watch the boats come in, and enjoy a relaxed meal before getting back in the car. Starting here makes the drive feel anchored in local life rather than just scenery.
Chapman’s Peak Drive for clifftop drama and photo stops
The Chapman’s Peak section itself is only a few kilometres long, but it packs in some of the most dramatic coastal views in the Western Cape.
Drive slowly, stop at designated viewpoints, and take time to soak in the scale of the cliffs dropping into the Atlantic. In the right season, you might spot whales or dolphins from the road.
This stretch works beautifully in the late afternoon when the light softens and the ocean turns deep blue.
Finish in Noordhoek with beach walks and farm village treats
End your micro itinerary in Noordhoek. The wide, wild beach is perfect for a long walk, especially in the late afternoon when the wind drops and the sand cools.
After the beach, head to Noordhoek Farm Village for coffee, pastries or an early dinner. It is relaxed, family-friendly and an easy place to ease out of holiday mode before heading home.
Tips to make these drives feel even more like holidays
Go early or go late
Early mornings and late afternoons avoid traffic and give you better light, calmer beaches and more space at viewpoints.
Pack for pauses
Bring towels, swimsuits, snacks and water. These drives reward spontaneity, and being prepared makes it easier to stop when something catches your eye.
Let the day unfold
The key to both routes is not overplanning. Choose a starting point, know your general direction, and allow the stops to shape the day.
Why these routes belong on your summer list
Both of these drives offer that rare balance of ease and escapism. They are close enough for a day trip but rich enough to feel like you have travelled far. In a Cape summer, that is sometimes the best kind of holiday there is.
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