Milnerton Central, Milnerton

Milnerton Central at a glance

Milnerton is a northern suburb of Cape Town perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Situated 12km from the city centre, it offers easy access to the city hotspots and unbeatable views over the bay towards Table Mountain, Signal Hill, and Robben Island. With a beach, lagoon, shopping centres, and a golf course, Milnerton is the perfect place for a well-deserved break.

Founded in 1897 and named after High Commissioner, Lord Alfred Milner, Milnerton is one of the fastest growing areas in the Western Cape. It has notable maritime history and the Milnerton Lighthouse with its revolving electric optic producing over 800,000 candela is worth a trip to the top for the view over the bay. Interestingly, the coastline from Green Point to Milnerton has seen more than 150 shipwrecks - more than any other South African coastline.

Milnerton is famed as a recreation spot with lovely beaches and a lagoon for water sports. Milnerton Beach is set on the Atlantic Ocean and is popular for jet skiing, surfing, body boarding, fishing, prawn fishing, canoeing, and whale watching in winter. Other nearby beaches include Sunset Beach and Dolphin Beach. The lagoon is popular for canoeing, rafting, and bird watching.

Nature lovers will be in their element at Rietvlei Wetland Reserve with over 112 species of birds. Leisure seekers will enjoy a round of golf at the 18-hole Milnerton Golf Course, nestled between the ocean and the Rietvlei River. This links-type course is relatively flat with few trees. In summer, the south-easterly wind (Cape Doctor) can provide quite a challenge. Alternatively, you can indulge in retail therapy at Canal Walk, Paddocks Shopping Centre, or Bayside Mall. On Saturday and Sunday, a lovely flea market is held on the beach road in Milnerton.

Other attractions include, the Milnerton Aquatic Club, SANCCOB sea bird rehabilitation centre, Killarney motor racing complex, South African Air Force Museum at Ysterplaat Air Force Base, and Zonnekus, a beautiful Dutch home built on Woodbridge Island in 1929.

The Milnerton Racecourse Section of the Table Bay Nature Reserve (TBNR: MR) is situated to the east of the residential development known as Royal Ascot in Milnerton. To the east of Milnerton Racecourse are the Gold Circle stables and horse training facilities, and beyond this the semi-industrial area of Montague Gardens. Milnerton Racecourse is approximately 17.6ha in size and is divided into two portions, a northern area and a larger southern area. The two areas are physically separated - in the past by the horse racing track, and today by residential development. Historically, this now remnant natural veld would have been connected to the Rietvlei wetland complex.

Woodbridge Island is not actually an island, but rather the area south of Milnerton Golf Club on the peninsula separating the lagoon from the ocean. Two bridges join Woodbridge Island to the mainland of Milnerton proper. The wooden bridge is now a national heritage site, the bridge went through an upgrade phase and has since been reopened to the public. A newer bridge allows cars to cross to the island. The Milnerton Lighthouse is also a popular landmark found on the island. The beach is a popular recreational area, especially over weekends and public holidays.

Milnerton has a host of leisure activities and attractions for all ages, making it a destination of choice for the entire family.