Boulders Beach is part of Table Mountain National Park and offers three pristine beaches and boardwalks and is home to a colony of endangered African or Jackass penguins in Simon's Town. The delightful sandy coves of Boulders Beach are hidden by namesake huge boulders, which make the protected and patrolled beach ideal for families.
Boulders Beach is located 45km south of the centre of Cape Town, 3km south of Simon's Town and north of the Cape of Good Hope within the boundaries of Table Mountain National Park. The sandy coves and patrolled beach offer excellent swimming conditions with calm, warm waters because of the protection from the elements by the big boulders surrounding them. The area also provides the opportunity to stay at B&Bs for a longer trip, dine at restaurants or enjoy picnics on the beach.
The main attraction and a popular tourist drawcard at Boulders Beach is the Boulders Penguin Colony at Simon's Town which is home to around 2,100 endangered African or Jackass penguins – so named for their braying noise. The three boardwalks were built to protect this land-based colony of birds which look cute and curious, but should not be touched or fed. There are penguin-viewing platforms for up-close looks or photos of the birds, and an off-limits breeding beach for these feathered friends.
To visit Boulders Beach, it's a 45-minute to one-hour drive from the centre of Cape Town to Simon's Town via the M4. A train also runs from Cape Town to Simon's Town. The daily tariffs (national park conservation fees) for Boulders Beach are R45 for adults and R20 for children under 18 years.
