Noordhoek, Cape Town

Noordhoek
Noordhoek Show map of Western Cape Noordhoek Show map of South Africa Noordhoek Show map of Africa  Noordhoek shown within Western Cape
Location within Cape Town  Noordhoek
Coordinates: 34°06′14″S 18°21′36″E / 34.104°S 18.360°E / -34.104; 18.360Coordinates: 34°06′14″S 18°21′36″E / 34.104°S 18.360°E / -34.104; 18.360
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
Municipality	City of Cape Town
Area
• Total	29.05 km2 (11.22 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	31,980
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	67.3%
• Coloured	2.3%
• Indian/Asian	0.4%
• White	24.6%
• Other	5.4%
First languages (2011)
• Xhosa	47.4%
• English	28.5%
• Afrikaans	4.8%
• Sotho	1.1%
• Other	18.2%
PO box	7979

Noordhoek is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, located below Chapman's Peak on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, approximately thirty-five kilometres to the south of the city itself. The name "Noordhoek" was taken from Dutch and literally means "north corner". It is best known for its picturesque shoreline and its long, wide, sandy beach, which stretches south to the neighbouring village of Kommetjie. Near the southern end of this beach is the wreck of the steamship "Kakapo", which ran aground about a century ago when the captain mistook Chapmans' Peak for the Cape of Good Hope and put the helm over to port.

Noordhoek can be accessed either from the spectacular scenic coastal road, Chapman's Peak Drive, which leads out of Hout Bay or via the mountain road Ou Kaapse Weg which cuts through the beautiful Silvermine Nature Reserve - now part of the Table Mountain National Park. Noordhoek is a small scattered community of nice houses, often with sea views and has a large horse population as riding on the long sandy beach is a great attraction. Many artists live in Noordhoek.

Looking north along the beach. The slopes of Chapman's Peak rise to the right at the end of the sand. The peak in the distance is Karbonkelberg, west of Hout Bay

Noordhoek Beach from Chapman's Peak Drive with Kommetjie in the distance

An evening flight over Noordhoek Beach, with Kommetjie in the distance.

A panorama