3 Days at Long Thin Farm: Farm Life, River Days and Exploring Stilbaai
Updated: 14 hours ago
Planning a few days away? This Long Thin Farm itinerary combines farm life, river days and easy access to the beaches, coastal walks and heritage of nearby Stilbaai.
Around four hours from Cape Town, the farm makes an easy long-weekend escape for local travellers and a worthwhile stop for international visitors exploring the Western Cape and Garden Route.
Long Thin Farm is a working wine and olive farm on the banks of the Goukou River, a scenic 15 km drive from Stilbaai. Its two self-catering cottages are surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and countryside, giving you the freedom to slow down on the farm while still having the coast within easy reach.
Travelling as a couple, with friends or as a family? Here’s one way to spend three days.
Day 1: Settle into farm life
After the drive, there’s no need to go anywhere.
Settle into your cottage, then head out to explore the farm. Walk through the vineyards and olive groves, let younger children make a beeline for the jungle gym, and spend the afternoon down at the Goukou River.
There’s plenty to keep the family outdoors – swim, take out a kayak or SUP board, pack a picnic and find a spot under the trees beside the water.
Long Thin Farm produces its own small-batch wine, olive oil and honey, so the working farm is part of the experience too.
End the day back at your cottage with a braai and a glass of Long Thin Farm wine.
No dinner reservations. No schedule. That’s the beauty of self-catering.
Day 2: Explore Stilbaai – from river to sea
Head into Stilbaai for a day of beaches, rock pools, coastal walks and exploring the town.
For something more active, Geelkrans Nature Reserve offers walking trails through coastal fynbos, sandstone cliffs, beaches and rock pools.
Birdwatchers have plenty to look out for too. More than 230 bird species have been recorded in the greater Stilbaai area across its river, wetlands, farmland, fynbos and coastal habitats.
Discover Stilbaai’s coastal heritage
There’s more to Stilbaai than its beaches.
At low tide around Skulpiesbaai, look out for the traditional stone fish traps known locally as visvywers. Built in the intertidal zone, these stone structures were used to trap fish as the tide receded.
You can also visit the Blombos Archaeology Museum at the Stilbaai Tourism Bureau to learn about nearby Blombos Cave and the archaeological discoveries that have helped researchers understand more about early human behaviour along this coastline.
For international visitors, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Southern Cape. For local travellers, it’s a reminder of how much there is to discover closer to home.
Then, head back to Long Thin Farm for sunset drinks beside the river and an evening at
your own pace.
Day 3: Choose your own pace
After a full day in Stilbaai, keep your last day flexible.
Take a drive to Jongensfontein, head to Geelkrans Nature Reserve for a walk, find somewhere for lunch or return to the beach the kids enjoyed most the day before.
Or, if you’d rather take it slow and relax a little more before heading home, we suggest a slow breakfast on the farm, followed by an easy morning where everyone can do their own thing.
Take one last walk, let the kids play, linger over coffee or simply enjoy the quiet before it’s time to pack up and head home.
Three days can be as active or as slow as you want them to be.
And if three days don’t feel quite long enough, stay for four.
Come to explore. Stay to slow down.
Plan your stay at Long Thin Farm - Book direct & save
Long Thin Farm has two self-catering cottages, each sleeping up to four guests, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and the peace and serenity of the farm. Book directly through our website and enjoy our best available rate.
Book Stone Cottage or Milkwood Cottage and start planning your Long Thin Farm stay.
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