Newlands Forest

Newlands Forest is a conservancy area on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. It is popular with locals for hiking, jogging picnicking, and dog walking. An info signpost details the various trail routes. There are easier ones that are made up of interlinking paths that cross several streams. Some of these head up towards the main contour path. This path follows around the base of Table Mountain from Tafelberg Road in the City Bowl to Constantia Nek, Hikers use the forest as a starting point for four trails that lead up Table Mountain. These trails include Skeleton Gorge, Newlands Ravine, and Nursery Ravine. These trails are quite strenuous. The forest itself is a mix of pine and gum plantations with some remnants of the indigenous forest including silver trees plus small creatures such as lizards and frogs to birds. Within the forest hidden off the Skelmkoppad route. You will find Paradise”, an old woodcutter’s cottage where Lady Anne Barnard later stayed. The Fernwood track passes an elevated picnic spot on a deck and the Woodcutters Path leads to Rhodes Memorial. Dogs are permitted to be off-leash once on the trails. Dog walkers pay a small fee at the gate for the day.

The following are less strenuous walks for the whole family

The Main (Fernwood) Trail

This trail takes about 3 hours. Take the Newlands Forest turnoff from the M3 Find the parking area. Follow the tar road, turn left, and continue along this road. There are plenty of routes that turn off this path. Keep going as the road (‘Skelmkoppad’) curves up through the trees. Here you will see Paradise Cottage. Otherwise, you can keep going on the road until it opens into a clearing, where you can see the gum tree plantation across the valley. Here you can take the route to the left, leading onto Fernwood Track. You could opt for a smaller trail that will lead you up to the contour path. From there, follow the contour route to the right. There’s a great picnic spot elevated off the path that has a tree growing through its middle.  Directly opposite this is a trail that heads up Newlands Ravine. When you are ready to return, you can simply pick one of the many paths available to lead you down again.

The contour path is an 8km long walk that ends at Rhodes Memorial, via Kirstenbosch, Skeleton Gorge, or Nursery Ravine

Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch. 

For this moderate 3-hour hike start at Constantia Nek and continue along the tar road on the Wynberg side, This leads to a gravel road which continues through the pine trees, towards Kirstenbosch. Then there is a path, which leads to some log steps. Follow these steps up and you will find a sign pointing out the contour route. Follow this trail into Skeleton Gorge. You can then make your way down Smuts’ Track into Kirstenbosch.

Newlands Forest to Rhodes Memorial 

Follow the Fernwood trail up to the contour route for this moderately difficult 2-hour hike. then Keep along the path that snakes along the mountain, through the trees. When you reach the second turnstile, take the path that heads down, leading you to the Rhodes Memorial. There is a restaurant here

An easy, two- to three-hour hour hike through Newlands Forest can lead to the Cecilia Waterfalls and rock pools; they’re shallow but cool. Walk the Rooikat Ravine, around Cecilia Ridge, and into Cecilia Ravine.

The Newlands forest braai area is under the shade of pine trees, with several hikes leading from the picnic area. Alcohol is prohibited. The braai area is open daily from 08h00 – 17h00 but closed during the winter period (June – September). Remember to extinguish the fire thoroughly before you leave.

NB: Children from ages 10 and up are permitted in the forest. Dogs are also welcome but must be kept on a leash for the first 5 minutes until you’ve reached the top of the road from the parking lot.

Plantation office (021 712 7471, weekdays only).

Important numbers to have when visiting Table Mountain National Park venues

• Emergencies:021 480 7700
• Medical emergencies from a cellphone:112
• Table Mountain National Park: 021 957 4700/ 0861 106 417
• Wilderness Search and Rescue: 021 948 9900