Activities

The Matjiesfontein Bucket List

The ultimate guide to exploring Matjiesfontein.

Matjiesfontein - a quaint and self-contained village at the fringe of the Great Karoo that is rich in history and old world charm. This gem of a town will take you back to the 1800’s with its splendid historical buildings and stories from the Victorian era.

Besides a journey back in time, Matjiesfontein also offers a host of exciting and adventurous activities to complement your stay – The Matjiesfontein Bucket List. From an informative, historical bus tour to mountain biking in the vast open Karoo, you’ll have plenty of new memories to take home.

Your Guide to Matjiesfontein


Tennis with a View

Matjiesfontein has a tennis court available for guests, surrounded by beautiful views of the Karoo. Rackets and tennis balls are available at reception for an intense workout or a friendly game.

Mountain Biking

Bring your bike and ride along the sweeping untouched landscape of the Great Karoo on our 20km mountain biking track, where you will be treated to beautiful views of the Witteberg Mountains.

Swimming

Situated behind the Lord Milner Hotel is our swimming pool, set in sprawling green gardens. Known to be the “coldest swimming pool in Africa”, it will certainly cool you down and makes it one for The Bucket List. Take a dip in those warm summer months or, if you don’t want to brave the cold, sit back and relax on our sun loungers and soak up the beautiful surroundings.


Bus Tour

Take a historical tour around Matjiesfontein in an old red double-decker London bus with town guide and entertainer, John Theunissen, or Johnny as he’s fondly known. Not only will you experience the shortest bus tour known to man, Johnny will keep you in high spirits with his witty charm, Nelson Mandela impressions and hilarious one-liners: “Vat hom Fluffy”, as he delves into the town’s amazing history.
Bus departs from the Laird's arms around 17h30 every day. 

Stargazing

Being situated in the Great Karoo region, Matjiesfontein has one of the clearest skies in the Southern hemisphere, offering a spectacular star gazing experience.

Self-guided Walking Tour 

Try a fun and different way to explore the town’s rich history with VoiceMap – a self-guided walking tour of the town (virtual tour also available). Simply download the app (it’s free) on Google Play or Apple Store - or use the QR code - it uses your location to play audio automatically and includes offline maps. Just put on your headphones and you’re ready to explore and learn about the different facets of Matjies’s history.

Starting at the majestic Lord Milner Hotel, you'll be guided down the main street, through the immaculate gardens, and along the train station, ending up at The Laird's Arms for a well-deserved ice-cold Matjies brew. Click here for more info.

Museums

Pop into the Transport Museum housing a collection of old vintage cars that date back from the 1930s through to the 1960s. Be sure to also visit the Marie Rawdon Museum, which showcases the largest private artefacts and memorabilia collection from the Anglo-Boer War, in the world.