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If you're looking for somewhere a little bit different to explore, then the Green Point Park and Biodiversity Garden is well worth a visit. This green space in the middle of Green Point is a beautiful setting for a walk, a picnic or a bike ride for the kids - all in a safe and contained environment.
The park has been created from the land which was pretty much a building site during the construction of the Cape Town Stadium for the Soccer World Cup in 2010. Now that the hype has died down, this piece of land has been developed into an amazing open space suitable for everyone to enjoy - and reminiscent of something you would expect to find in a first world city.
We arrived one chilly Saturday lunchtime, kids and scooters in tow and were as delighted as our little girls with what we found. The park is open from 7am to 7pm with security visible at all times, making you feel extremely safe. We opted to stop off at Newport Deli en-route to collect some coffees and a couple of their 'to die for' chocolate croissants. There are in fact a number of great deli and coffee spots in the area from which to pick-up some take-away picnic items.
The park is beautifully laid out with pathways, water features, lawns, an amphitheatre, skating area, exercise zone and lovely intimate benches and shaded picnic spots. The park is filled with some 300 local Cape plant species and is divided into three sections - 'People and Plants', 'Wetlands' and 'Discovering Biodiversity'. Dotted throughout the garden, and a highlight for our whole family, are beautiful metal works and beaded sculptures of wildlife, birds and insects. Commissioned by local artists through the Streetwires organization they include brightly coloured sunbirds, chameleons and lizards, a gorgeous dotty ladybird and many more.
The park is as yet, relatively 'undiscovered'. On the day we visited, we came across other families, couples and tourists who were all as pleasantly surprised as we were to have come across this gem. As locals, we frequent the Mouille Point area and often choose to take a walk along the beachfront enjoying the wonderful salty air and sea views. That being said, the Green Point Park, just a stones throw away offers a completely different but equally enjoyable experience with the Cape Town Stadium and Signal Hill creating a striking backdrop.
Plenty of water features and drinking fountains will no doubt offer a wonderful cooling effect during the summer months and the lush lawns are perfect for kicking off your shoes.
The pathways are broad allowing for wheelchair and pram access and it's also worth mentioning that there are excellent bathroom facilities also with disabled access and baby changing stations.
There are two entrances to the gardens, one in Bay Road in the vicinity of the Green Point Lighthouse and one along the 'fan walk' on the Virgin Active gym side. Dogs on leashes are allowed, and on the humorous side, one of the many signs within the park states that "Unsupervised children will be sold to the circus".
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