Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. Starting at Hout Bay, skirting around the coastline to Noordhoek beach.
The road which spans 5.6 miles (9 km) has 114 winding curves and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Start your day at Hout Bay with a quick boat trip to Seal Island – home to a lively colony of Cape Fur Seals. Drive along the picturesque Chapman’s Peak Drive and end the day at the secluded Noordhoek beach, where you can walk to the rusted remains of an old shipwreck.
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is a small harbour town, around 20-minutes from Camp’s Bay in Cape Town. Before driving Chapman’s Peak, take a boat trip to Duiker Island, also known as Seal Island.
The island is home to a colony of Cape Fur Seals; a subspecies of Fur Seal found in abundance along the southern coast of Africa. The boat will take you around the island where you can view the seals swimming and playing in the water from the boat. You will also be rewarded with stunning views over the bay.
There are three boat companies that offer boat trips to Seal Island from Hout Bay harbour. Circle Launches – dubbed the original seal island cruise, Nauticat Charter and Drumbeat Charters South Africa. Tours last around 45 minutes and cost between R120 -150 (around 5-6.5 GBP or 7-8 USD). You can buy tickets online on the companies’ respective websites, or at the ticket offices at the harbour. I went with Circle Launches in July of 2025 and highly recommend.
The seas can get windy and choppy, make sure to confirm boats are going out to avoid disappointment. If you are prone to seasickness, take motion sickness tablets well in advance.
If the seas are too rough, or you simply want to watch them for longer, you can often see the seals swimming around the harbour. When I was there, locals were enticing them out of the water with food to take photos with tourists. Alternatively, you can see them from a viewing platform in front of the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
You Can Read My 7 Day Cape Town Itinerary here.
Chapman’s Peak Drive
Next up is the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive which takes you from Hout Bay to Noordhoek Beach. The drive is only short but make sure to take your time savouring the views and taking plenty of photos at the viewpoints.
The drive is a toll road and costs R66 (around 3 GBP or 4 USD) for most cars one-way. The full list of tariffs is listed on the Chapman’s Peak Drive website. You can also pay with international cards which can’t be said for a lot of toll roads in South Africa.
It’s worth noting that you can drive the first 3km of the road for free, just obtain a day pass from the toll booth along the road. This allows you to visit the viewpoints and picnic areas close to Hout Bay. The day pass is only valid during daylight hours, make sure to retain your ticket as it will be checked by attendants.
The road may be closed during severe weather conditions; you can check the status of the road on the Chapman’s Peak Drive website.
If you are visiting in whale watching season, don’t forget to bring your binoculars, you might be able to spot some whales along the drive.
Noordhoek Beach
Chapman’s Peak Drive ends at one of Cape Town’s hidden gems – Noordhoek Beach. The beach which stretches around 8km can only be described as wild, unspoilt and quiet.
Although swimming isn’t advised because of the rough seas, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy.
Walking to the Kakapo Shipwreck is definitely a highlight. In May 1900, the ship which was sailing from Swansea, Wales to Sydney, Australia stopped in Cape Town to refuel but ended up stranded on this beach. The walk to the shipwreck offers stunning views and the quiet isolation only makes it more atmospheric.
There are signs along the beach about safety and security, encouraging visitors to travel in groups. These signs did initially rattle me, especially after googling past incidents at the beach. Despite this, I had no problems during my visit in July 2025. However, I would recommend being cautious. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and try not to visit alone.
Horse riding is popular at Noordhoek beach, as it is one of the few places in Cape Town where you can ride a horse on the beach. Several local stables are available where you can book horse riding experiences.
Chapman’s Peak Drive Final Thoughts
This day trip from Hout Bay, along Chapman’s Peak Drive and to Noordhoek beach was unexpectedly one of my favourite days in Cape Town. Although Chapman’s Peak Drive is commonly featured in lists about the “top things to do in Cape Town”, I found that Hout Bay was less mentioned, and Noordhoek beach barely at all.
If you’re looking to get away from the crowds and do something a bit different in Cape Town, then this is the activity for you.
If you’re short on time, then you can combine this day’s activities with a Cape Peninsula day trip. When driving back from the Cape Peninsula, take the Chapman’s Peak Drive back to Cape Town. You might not not have time for a boat trip to Seal Island, but you will experience some stunning sunset views.
My recommendation would be to enjoy it over two days, take a Cape Peninsula day trip one day, and do this drive another. I hope you enjoy however you do it!
You can read my guide to the Ultimate Cape Peninsula Day Trip here.