Remember November in Fish Hoek and Get Away Before Christmas

There is so much to do in False Bay, Cape Town’s Deep South, this November. Base yourself at Seaside Cottages and set off from Fish Hoek to try our top activities!

1. Cruising False Bay: Wildlife, Wonder & Water Adventures

False Bay emanates a quietly enchanting energy thanks to its wide horizons, calm sapphire ocean, and charismatic sealife. Awaken your child’s inner explorer when you arrive to unlock Cape Town's treasures. Start your quest with a daily cruise on board a Simon’s Town Boat Company vessel. Meet longtime ocean-lover, Dave Hurwitz, who can boast more than 23 years of maritime expertise and shares the infinite magic of this historic bay.

From the crest of a wave, you may meet Cape Fur seals flipping through the waves, tuxedo-clad penguins gliding past with purpose, and, if you’re lucky, rare whale species cruising not far from the boat. The sheltered bay offers generally safe rides for even the littlest adventurers. Sunset cruises are especially breathtaking. Think water that turns molten gold, shadows stretching over the mountains, and that refreshing sea breeze that has a way of unravelling the whole year’s stress. If you’re around in winter, the bay hosts its own VIP line-up: Blue whales, Humpbacks, Southern Rights, plus surprise visits from killer whales about ten times a year.

2. Seal Island: A Wild Ride to Cape Town’s Furriest Neighbourhood

For families craving a proper splash of adventure, the Seal Island Cruise is a winner. You’ll zip 16 km offshore to a raw, rugged island that feels like a secret world, home to roughly 75,000 Cape Fur seals, countless seabirds, and the fascinating rhythms of nature playing out far from human interference.

Kids love this trip: the noisy, playful seals, the open ocean, and the marine guide who keeps everyone entertained with fun facts and stories. In winter, great white sharks have been known to patrol the area, turning the island into a scene straight out of a nature documentary.

3. Cape Point by Boat: A Fresh Spin on a Famous Landmark

The Cape Point trip is a family-favourite for good reason. It’s fresh, active, and absolutely packed with scenery. Your journey begins at Simon’s Town pier, then sweeps past Boulders Beach, where penguins bob around in the water like monochrome rubber ducks. After meeting the small seal colony at Partridge Point, the boat glides along the cliffs and secret caves of Cape Point, one of the most dramatic coastlines in South Africa. On perfect weather days, the skipper might even nose the boat into a sea cave for an unforgettable moment. Spot a school of dolphins or an otter sunning itself on a rock on the way back as white-capped waves splash and serenade you.

Outdoor Family Fun Along the Southern Peninsula Coast

Planning activities for kids is usually a mission - but not along the False Bay coastline outside Cape Town. Here, every little village has something joyful to offer. Let’s start your November adventure:

1. Surfing in Muizenberg: Waves for All Ages

No visit to Muizenberg is complete without the iconic surfing lesson. With options for tots (from age 4), teens, adults, groups, and total beginners, it’s one of the best all-ages adventures on the peninsula. Qualified instructors handle everything, from balancing on the board to big cheers when someone finally stands up.

Quick tip: wipe the sunscreen off your hands beforehand—slippery hands and surfboards aren’t friends.

2. Silvermine: Hiking, Climbing & Summer Splashing

Silvermine is the Cape Peninsula’s outdoor playground. Tucked along Ou Kaapse Weg, it gives families the perfect mix of sunshine and scenery.

Hike to Elephant’s Eye Cave: A gentle, three-hour round trip with some of the best views in Cape Town.
Try beginner-friendly climbing: Safe for fit kids 13+, as long as you bring a guide.
Swim in Silvermine Dam: Cool water, fynbos fringes, picnic spots,
A wheelchair-friendly path around the dam and a compost toilet, too.

It’s one of those places where kids and dogs run wild, adults relax, and everyone ends the day sun-tired and happy.

3. Save Our Seas Shark Centre, Kalk Bay: Fascinating & Fun

This quirky, hands-on marine centre has all the charm of a science museum - just smaller and far more personal. Children can play shark bingo, spin the shark-tooth wheel of fortune, explore preserved marine specimens, and try their hand as “marine scientists” at the interactive touch-screen table. Some programmes even include a wander across the road to the Dalebrook tidal pool to learn about local sea creatures.

4. Horse Riding on Noordhoek Beach: A Storybook Experience

A 1.5-hour guided ride takes you through wetlands and along the sweeping white sands of Noordhoek Beach—backdropped by Chapman’s Peak and The Sentinel. Riders 12+ can join, even beginners, and along the way you’ll pass the historic shipwreck of the Kakapo. The horses are gentle, the scenery magnificent, and the photographs unforgettable.

5. Boulders Beach: Penguins, Paradise & Perfect Family Hours

This sheltered, postcard-perfect beach feels like a secret cove created just for children. Warm water, smooth boulders to climb, shallow pools to explore, and—of course—those adorable African penguins who waddle, swim, and occasionally zoom right past you like tiny torpedoes. Boulders Beach is one of the most wholesome, heart-lifting family outings on the peninsula.

6. Simon’s Town Scratch Patch: Gems, Golf & Glittering Treasures

A classic Cape adventure that never ages. Kids can scoop shimmering gemstones by the handful, explore enchanting rooms filled with colourful rocks, and discover two extra attractions:

Cave Golf: An 18-hole indoor course swirling with UV-lit tunnels, rock walls, and imaginative underground twists.
Mineral World: A glittering shop filled with stones, sculptures, jewellery, and special keepsakes. It’s the perfect place for little ones to pick a souvenir—and for adults to find something beautiful too.

Fish Hoek and Seaside Cottages in November

Feel Fish Hoek’s old-fashioned coastal charm with its glorious mountains rising in gentle folds, sun-washed beaches, and warm-water ocean that families adore. Explore the beautiful, protected bay - one of Cape Town’s safest swimming spots. Picture surfers, bodyboarders, kayakers, and small children building sandcastles where the waves curl softly.

Take a stroll from your perfect self-catering cottage at Seaside Cottages and find a restaurant, takeaways, and a playground. Shark spotters and lifeguards keep watch during the season. Join locals with ice-creams and cappuccinos on their favourite pathway, Jager’s Walk, as it winds along the rocks beside aqua pools and sea spray.

Look out for Southern Right whales gliding into the bay, often close enough to spot from the shore. Stroll into the town to wander into quirky shops, relaxed restaurants, and barbers. Above it all, the mountains hide ancient sandstone caves, including Peers’ Cave, where a 12,000-year-old skeleton known as the Fish Hoek Man was discovered. The local museum offers guided walks and stories that bring this history to life.

There is so much to do in November at Seaside Cottages. It's the lull before the storm, the peace before the crowds and the time you need before Christmas holidays take hold! Contact us today to hear about our rates. Join us this November in the Deep South of Cape Town.