Waterworks museum and hike
The waterworks museum can be found on the northern side of Table Mountain between the Hely Hutchinson and the Woodhead dams. The museum was established in 1972 by Terence Timoney who was a retired waterworks engineer. On display are memorabilia from the construction of the dams on the mountain. The display includes a beautifully restored narrow-gauge steam engine.
The water treatment plant on Table Mountain is being preserved and maintained with great attention to detail while still in daily use. They process 24 megaliters of drinking water per day which arrives via the Apostles Tunnel from the Hely Hutchinson and Woodhead Dams the entire water delivery process is gravity-driven, therefore no pumps are necessary.
The hike begins below the Hely Hutchinson Reservoir wall. To get here you turn left after leaving the cable car station. The endpoint is Constantia Nek via the museum.
Four pathways meet after about 10 minutes walk from the cable car, you will need to follow the route on to Maclears Beacon and then on towards Echo Valley and the Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir. This takes about 20 minutes. You then make your way for another five minutes or so towards the opposite slope where you can enjoy a fantastic view over the Hely-Hutchinson and Woodhead reservoirs.
The Waterworks Museum is below the Hely Hutchinson Reservoir wall and to get there, follow the path then make your way over a rocky stretch. Follow the concrete road to the Museum
The journey to Constantia Nek will take about two hours If you are carrying on that way. It takes about two hours, to resume your walk either by climbing onto the wall of the reservoir or on the road below the wall.
The more scenic route is the path on top of the wall, but either road will take you to Constantia Nek, and you join up with the lower road at the end of the dam wall. Follow the road for about two hours until you reach the end at Constantia Nek.
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
