THE picturesque Boland town of Wellington with its beautiful historic buildings, gracious hospitality and an array of tourism attractions is an inviting destination for a crisp winter’s day.
Pop in at the visitors’ information centre next to the majestic Dutch Reformed church at the top of Main Road for recommendations. A good starting point to familiarise yourself with the town, would be the Wellington Heritage Trails’ free downloadable audio tour.
This self-guided Wellington Heritage Trail tour will give you a glimpse into the colourful history of the town featuring wagon makers, wine pioneers and female educators, all of whom played an integral role in the town’s history. An experienced virtual tour guide provides entertaining commentary on the historic attractions and cultural diversity that makes the town and its people come to life. It’s as easy as downloading the free VoiceMap App on your smartphone – available in Afrikaans, English and German.
The aptly named Perfect Place is indeed worthy of a visit for a sweet indulgence or country-style lunch. Visitors can also grab a take-away coffee and further explore the quaint town.
If you are keen to explore some of the off the beaten track wine farms, the historic Mont du Toit Kelder should definitely be on your list. Tastings are by appointment only.
A visit to Wellington would not complete without experience the exceptional dining offering at the Oude Wellington. This quirky restaurant is located inside a Cape Dutch style barn dating back to 1795 at the base of the Bainskloof Pass. It offers the perfect setting for a cosy lunch featuring Dutch and Indonesian inspired dishes prepared by John Tecklenburg.
Enjoy daily changing specials, soups and desserts prepared by Susanna Tecklenburg. The hands-on couple will ensure an unforgettable experience. Seating is available in the shade of the enormous oak trees or inside the distilling cellar with big barrels and cosy fireplaces. The working brandy distillery produces pot still brandy and grappa every year.
For the finest high quality leather products at a reasonable price, you have to add Redemption Fine Hand Crafted Leather on the Altebly family estate to your list. The owners and their knowledgeable staff are happy to offer advice and assist visitors. The wide selection of leather products includes shoes, sandals, belts, bags, wallets, key-rings, hats and whips. Every piece is crafted with love, care and for durability.
The Roos family took ownership of the distillery in 2018 and master distiller Quinn Roos adds his own distinctive and unique style to the current Jorgensen’s Distillery line-up with his Wild Rose craft range. This premium, small batch distilled range honours the kaleidoscope of African botanicals and includes a fynbos, hibiscus, pepper and blue pea gin. Tastings by appointment only.
Visit the Wellington website here, at and follow its various social media platforms at @Visit Wellington ZA for the latest news and updates.
FEATURED IMAGE: Bains Kloof pass on the R301 connects Ceres to Wellington.