A world away. Close enough to everything, yet far enough to breathe…

People often ask where Spier is. The answer is deceptively simple: 25 minutes from Cape Town International Airport, on the R310, on the edge of Stellenbosch and, in the heart of South Africa’s Cape Winelands. But that unique geography tells only part of the story. What Spier’s location offers is something far more interesting: a scenic base from which to experience one of the most culturally diverse corners of the African continent, with the luxury of somewhere to return to.

Stellenbosch is South Africa’s second-oldest town, established in 1679. The wine industry that took root here (second only to Cape Town’s in age) now stretches from the ocean to the region’s mountain ranges, river basins and wide, open plains. If you know anything about South African wine, you will already be familiar with Stellenbosch. If you don’t, you’re about to make a brilliant discovery.

Draw a rough circle around Spier on a map, and what you’ll find is extraordinary. A scenic 45-minute drive to the northeast is Franschhoek, a valley of Franco-Huguenot heritage, award-winning restaurants, and more vineyards. 

To the west, Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula pull in a different direction entirely. The city is close enough for a full day out: Table Mountain by cable car, Cape Point, the Atlantic seaboard, Boulders Beach and its famous penguin colony; yet far enough that you return to the luxury of space and profound peace of our farm in the evening. 

To the south, along a spectacular stretch of coastline, lies a different kind of Cape entirely. Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, and the whale-watching waters of Walker Bay. This is the Overberg: quieter, wilder, and quite unlike the Cape Winelands in feel. Between June and November, southern right whales gather offshore, making it one of the world’s most accessible land-based whale-watching destinations.

For guests with limited time

For short stays, Spier asks nothing more of you than to arrive and settle in. Our hotel has 80 rooms and two private villas, spread across rewilded gardens along the Eerste River. On the farm, there is wine tasting, three restaurants drawing on seasonal produce grown right here, a botanical-led spa anchored by the Cape Herbal Bath House, an extensive contemporary South African art collection, and walking and biking trails. Bridges across the river link the hotel and farm werf to the Wilds, a restored wetland sanctuary of indigenous fynbos and protected renosterveld. You could spend two full days without leaving the farm and have an immersive, authentic Cape experience – Spier is as rewarding a destination as any you’ll find in the Cape Winelands.

For guests with more time

The farm becomes your private, peaceful base from which to explore the entire region, one day at a time. From Spier, the Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain are a full day well spent; so too is the whale-watching coastline of Hermanus and Walker Bay. Our team’s top pick of wineries in the morning, followed by Stellenbosch’s oak-lined, art-filled streets and vibrant restaurant and wine bar scene in the evening. You could easily head to Franschhoek for a leisurely lunch and be back for a sundowner at Spier Hotel’s guests-only rooftop bar, followed by a small-plates dinner at Veld or a light bite at Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery. Add in a helicopter transfer to cover more ground with the advantage of a breathtaking aerial perspective of the ‘fairest Cape’, as it has long been known.

For travellers arriving from – or departing to – a southern African safari, Spier offers something invaluable: a soft landing, space to move, and time to breathe out. Compared to the rigour and excitement of the bush, farm life feels like a reset – relaxed and freeing. And beyond Spier, Cape Town’s innovative, local provenance-led food culture beckons, along with its rugged landscapes offering unfiltered nature and outdoor adventure. 

If there’s one piece of advice we’d offer, it’s this: give the Cape more time than you think you need. Whether that means five nights at Spier, or a split between the Winelands and the city, it’s the part of the trip that tends to linger longest.

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