WEST COAST SPOTLIGHT
Nuwerus is all heart and quaintness.
At the southern gateway to the Hardeveld, Nuwerus harnesses its sunny climate to produce one of the West Coast’s most joyous floral panoramas in spring. Flowers aside, this hamlet, 70 km north-west of Vanrhynsdorp on the N7, has compelling examples of Victorian architecture, as well as the only complete corrugated iron house in the country. Adding to its rural charm are adjoining paddocks with horses, sheep, chickens and geese.
Village amenities comprise a post office with Johanna’s convenience store inside, a school, church, police office, bottle store and three guest lodges. Ten kilometres from town is Meerhoff’s Castle and fountain – an overnight stop in 1662 for surgeon Pieter van Meerhoff while enroute to Monomotapa.
The 650 residents are friendly to a fault, happily engaging with strangers. Of note are accolades given to local shop owner Johanna van Wyk, who’s shown her kindness and hospitality to many a weary traveller. And mention also must be made of the town’s legendary rugby team.
When the 100-km postal trip from Vanrhynsdorp to Garies became too daunting for one set of horses, stables were built on Mr B Schreuder’s farm Erdvarkgat (aardvark burrow) to swop nags (the date is a mystery). As a new place of rest for both horses and riders, it subsequently was named Nieuwe Rust when the post office was built. In 1940 the name was modernised to Nuwerus. The end of an era dawned when the last postal trip on horseback was undertaken in 1952.
For those who enjoy roads less travelled, the raw beauty of Nuwerus is balm for the soul, while its people revives one’s love for mankind.
1 – 17 Hand-forged metal furniture & sculptures by Conrad Hicks at his IMPLEMENT exhibition – 9am – 6pm, Southern Guild, Silo 5, Silo District, V&A. Cost is free
1 – 27 See THE TROLLEY DOLLIES: NON-SPECIFIC Wed – Sat for stand-up comedy & gourmet tapas – 8.15pm, Gate69, 87 Bree St, 021 0351627. Cost R520 – R599
1 – 28 Laugh like crazy at JIVE CAPE TOWN FUNNY FESTIVAL – 8pm, Baxter Theatre. Cost R160 – R190
1 – 31 Hop on and off on the FRANSCHHOEK BREW HOPPER, which takes you to 3 craft breweries in Franschhoek: Tuk Tuk, Hey Joe & Franschhoek Beer Co – 11am – 4 pm, 54 Huguenot Rd, ph 072 7353035. Cost R99 pp
1 – 31 A 5-day edu-play and life skills experience for kids aged 4 – 14 at THE TREE HOUSE – Boschendal Wine Estate, Franschhoek, 021 8704211. Cost on request.
1 – 31 WINTER WELLNESS SPECIAL with various indulgent treatments & complimentary refreshments – 8am – 8pm, One&Only, Dock Road, V&A, 021 431581. Cost R1 080 – R1 870
10 – 14 Mickey & Minnie Mouse bring the Disney kingdom to SA in DISNEY ON ICE: MAGICAL ICE FESTIVAL – various times, Grand Arena, GrandWest. Cost R50 – R495
11 – 13 TOPS AT SPAR WINE SHOW has live music and a picnic vibe with cellar door prices for wines – Sun Exhibits, GrandWest, 021 8243133.
20 Holistic courses in wild food, indigenous edibles, self-sufficiency and the Slow Food movement at FYNBOS FORAGING – 10am, Good Hope Gardens Nursery, Plateau Rd (M65), Cape Point, 072 2344804. Cost R650
20 Naturally brewed beers from 5 Western Cape breweries at WINTERFEST EXTREME BEER FESTIVAL – 11am, Triggerfish Brewing, William Russell Quinan Blvd, Paardevlei. Cost R60 – R80
31 Performers bring nostalgia and re-interpretations of timeless music into a theatrical setting in HERE’S TO YOU – SIMON & GARFUNKEL TRIBUTE – 8pm, Theatre On The Bay. Cost R150 – R300
31 Manny Walters and Luh’ra in the AFTER DARK MUSIC SERIES at the Aquarium – 7pm, Two Oceans Aquarium, Dock Rd, V&A, 021 4183952. Cost R295
