The Midlands Meander: 5 Tips for the best Meander trip

(11 April 2015)

I remember going through Nottingham Road on a family holiday when I was younger. Looking back now, I think I was too young to appreciate the Midlands. Last weekend, we took a detour via the Midlands Meander returning from the South Coast. We turned a single-day trip into a two-day trip and stayed over in Mooi River for the night. All in the name of exploring the Meander! It is safe to say that I have a new found appreciation for the Midlands.

We drove through route 4, starting at Piggly Wiggly for breakfast, stopping at Swissland Cheese, The Nottingham Road Brewery, The Junction and the Ugly Duckling (on route 5). In all honesty, I would recommend stopping at all of these, and even possibly taking two days to make your way through this route. My reason for this: there is too much good food to eat!!

Beautiful sights to see

The Swissland Cheese Farm

A very friendly goat at Swissland

Looking at the official map of the Midlands Meander, I thought to myself “There are simply too many places to see and way too much food to eat in one day”. Hence, here is my advice for exploring the Meander in 5 simple tips:

#1 Plan ahead to avoid disappointment

The first thing you should do is get your hands on a map and guide to the Midlands Meander. www.midlandsmeander.co.za has everything you need. All of the places noted on the map are detailed in the guide, explaining what type of venue it is as well as their trading hours. The last thing you want is to arrive in the Midlands to find half of the shops closed for the day. Plan your trip around these days- many shops close for a day or two mid-week.

#2 Do your research

Look through the Midlands guide and make a note of the places you definitely want to visit- check their trading hours and make sure they fit into your plan.

#3 Make time for each route

The Meander has five marked routes, some with more sights to see than others- set aside an entire day for the busier routes (like route 4) and maybe go through two of the quieter routes in a day (1 & 2).

#4 Plan your accommodation wisely

Plan to stay at about two different places in the Meander, each near the start of a route. This will ensure that you do not waste precious meandering time just trying to get to the route. There are plenty of options when it comes to accommodation in the Midlands!

#5 Take your time

There is no need to rush around the Meander. There is so much to do and see that you do not want to have to miss out on a spectacular art gallery or miss some good food at the Bierfassl because you filled up on chocolate-covered goodies at Chocolate Heaven or delicious cheese at the Swissland Cheese farm (yes, I am guilty).

The Midlands Meander is filled with incredible views

At some point I am hoping to take a week-long trip back to the Midlands to explore its every corner. When this happens, I will most certainly be documenting every stop and every mouthful.

Have you been to the Midlands Meander recently? What are your favourite places to visit?

Dunkeld Country Estate, Dullstroom

 (16-19 January 2015)

When planning a weekend getaway or a week-long family vacation, many of us city slickers tend to look for something far from the city, close to nature with stunning scenery and solitude. Dunkeld Country Estate in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga has it all. It simply can’t get any better than that! Offering 25 dams for fly-fishing, numerous other activities, 3-5 star accommodation options that is only a 2½ - 3 hour drive from Johannesburg- could you ask for something better?

Dunkeld Country Estate is run by the Go Touch Down resort group who manage a number of other resorts around the country. Peacefully situated on the outskirts of Dullstroom, Dunkeld is the epitome of tranquillity and solitude. Dunkeld offers 2-sleeper rooms at the lodge- a bed & breakfast experience for the businessman passing through, or the lone-fisherman planning a weekend full of trout fishing. For couples and family groups whether looking for an adventurous or relaxing holiday, the self-catering chalets are perfect. Dunkeld also books out units to The Holiday Club members, so if you have some unused Holiday Club points- you know what to do (or rather, where to go)!

The estate has recently expanded onto the neighbouring property- a development now known as the Dunkeld Equestrian & Spa. This new development offers 5-star cottages with panoramic views of the paddocks and stable. The equestrian centre also boasts a new restaurant- The Sporting Horse and is home to number of thoroughbred and warm-blooded stud horses. Guests can look forward to a world-class spa facility that is soon to be built at the equestrian centre.

For the adventurous holiday-makers, the activities at Dunkeld are endless! From fly-fishing, hiking and mountain bike trails, bicycle rentals, tennis, beginner and advance horse rides and archery to pony rides and feeding the horses, jungle gym and jumping castles for the kids. The entertainment centre boasts a lovely indoor heated pool to be enjoyed by all, as well as adventure putt-putt, a pool table and table tennis. For guests seeking relaxation, a stop at the Serenity Spa for a massage or facial is a must! They also offer a number of wraps, manicures and pedicures. The Jazz Bar is open seven days a week as well as The Black Swan and Sporting Horse restaurants for an afternoon cappuccino and a lovely cooked breakfast, lunch or dinner.

As if that isn’t enough to keep you busy, the town of Dullstroom offers plenty of shopping opportunity- whether it is cheese, handcrafted chocolates or some arts and crafts you are looking for- you are sure to find it. Best not forget to stop in at the famous Harrie’s Pancakes for a bite to eat.

My family and I spent a weekend at Dunkeld recently, and I was seriously impressed to say the least! The staff were absolutely amazing- by far the friendliest staff I have ever encountered at a holiday resort.

We were fortunate enough to have our reservation upgraded from one of the self-catering chalets on the main estate to a luxury cottage on the Equestrian Estate. It was exquisite! The panoramic views of nature and the paddocks were breath-taking! The combination of white fences, rolling hills and beautiful horses made the 5-star accommodation just that much better. Could I go so far as to call it 6-star?

At Dunkeld I felt as if I could have been dreaming. From the eerie feel of the forest as you enter to property to the tranquillity one can feel at the dam’s edge to the vast open land on the Equestrian Estate- it is simply magical! The Serenity Spa provided me with a much-needed relaxing massage that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for pure relaxation. We stopped in at the Black Swan restaurant for breakfast before we hit the road to go home- all I can say is their cappuccinos are to die for and the French toast was the best I have had in a very long time.

I was slightly disappointed that I wasn’t able to experience everything at Dunkeld on our weekend getaway. Maybe a full week stay sometime soon is in order?

My advice for visiting Dullstroom: Regardless of the season, pack clothing for all seasons. The Dullstroom climate is somewhat temperamental and you could experience all four seasons in the space of a few hours.

Our luxury cottage and beautiful view of the paddock and Equestrian centre

The Happy Fisherman

Sunnyside Farm, Free State

(9-11 January 2015)

I was fortunate enough to be taken away for a weekend (although it was for a business meeting) to celebrate my birthday and anniversary by my wonderful boyfriend.

We got to stay in a rustic fisherman’s cabin on the banks of the Vaal River. It was incredibly tranquil and serene. JJ spent the better part of the weekend fishing, while I had the opportunity to relax with my book and even take an afternoon nap! The cabin is part of a guest farm called Sunnyside. They also have a luxury tent and three chalets. The farm is situated on the Free State side of the Vaal and is in close proximity to both Vredefort and Parys.

We took a lazy drive through to Parys to pick up some earthworms, fishing supplies and snacks. The town is full of places I love to explore! Quaint coffee shops, art galleries, antique shops, and crafty stores- all the things I love. I feel that Parys, being the small Free State town that it is, doesn’t get enough credit for its beauty. The surrounding area is a World Heritage Site- the Vredefort Dome, which is responsible for the gold mining in Johannesburg, and ultimately the reason Johannesburg exists at all.

On Sunday morning we decided to take a hike up the koppie in front of our cabin. It was a relatively easy hike for me (now that is saying a lot!). It was well worth the effort in the early January heat. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday gift- being able to look out over the farm and the river. It was an incredible view and there is just something about standing on top of a koppie looking out over the vast scenery that gives me chills.

I look forward to visiting Sunnyside again to discover more of what the nature of the Vaal has to offer!

New Beginnings

Hello Blog-o-sphere!

It has been well over a year since I last blogged, and in all honesty, I really did miss it. However, my education had to come first and now I happy to announce that I have a Bachelor’s Degree!! And that is exactly the reason I’m back to blogging. A new blog, a new adventure (or should I say adventures).

My plan for this new blog is to document my travels and help to launch a career as a freelance writer. Recently I have had the opportunity to visit a guest farm and holiday resort to write a review for a fishing magazine. I am hoping that this is just the beginning and that bigger and better things are on the horizon.

So here is a little bit about me...

Born in Roodepoort in 1993, I grew up in an Anglican home with strong morals and values. I was always a very creative child and loved music, and writing poems and songs. I attended a number of schools before matriculating in 2011 at St Ursula’s School in Krugersdorp. I attended the University of the Witwatersrand where I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Psychology and Media Studies. I have worked as a salesperson for a SandArt franchise and as a tutor with Penguin Tutoring Co. At this point in my life, I am at a crossroads as I wait for a possible place in an honours programme at Wits. But for now, I am all for doing something I love and have always been passionate about- WRITING!

Here’s to a new and successful year!