It’s winter in the Mother City and that means rain, wind and almost unbearable conditions on some days. Luckily, the Aquarium is open come rain or shine and with these extra-long winter holidays, kids rule. With five weeks to fill with activities, why not take in the Cape Town Big 6 (a collaboration of six major attractions in the Peninsula) and enjoy our pocket-friendly winter offers?
The Aquarium’s Take 4 promotion – where two adults and two children pay just R200 – is perfect for families and parents, aunts and uncles, or au pairs wondering how they’ll keep the kids busy. The other Big 6 destinations are Table Mountain Cableway, Cape Point, Robben Island Museum, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and the Constantia Vineyards.
Take in panoramas of curious and captivating creatures in our world-class exhibits. Apart from standing mesmerised, you can also explore the Touch Pool, the puppet shows at the AfriSam Children’s Centre, enjoy feeding times at the I&J Predator Exhibit and Sappi River Meander and much, much more. Our Take 4 offer runs until 31 October 2010, and is valid over weekends, public holidays and school holidays – which started this week.
While you’re visiting us at the V&A Waterfront, a trip to Robben Island is equally memorable; ferries depart from Nelson Mandela Gateway. Robben Island Museum is offering free entry for children aged 17 and under, when accompanied by a paying adult (offer valid from 9 June to 13 July).
Off to visit Table Mountain? This World Heritage Site and icon of Cape Town has breathtaking views and is affordable, too, thanks to Table Mountain Cableway’s Winter Wonderland special, which allows two kids to travel free with every adult who pays in full. This offer is valid over weekends and public holidays until 31 October, and every day of the following school holidays: 10 June to 12 July and 24 September to 3 October.
If you’re exploring the city’s suburbs, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is a perfect first stop. From 10 June to 12 July, children aged 17 and under can enter the gardens free of charge, making it the ideal place to go for a walk, to enjoy the Western Cape’s natural plant heritage or to take part in the many activities on offer. Silver Tree Restaurant’s free children’s entertainment programme will delight the little ones.
The next obvious stop is the Constantia Vineyards, where kids can enter a colouring-in competition at Groot Constantia and enjoy a free packet of sweets on completion (offer valid from 27 June to 19 July). Constantia Valley’s unique combination of terroir and climate produces some of the world’s finest wines, which continue to win international awards for their consistently high standard and quality.
The Cape Town Big 6 are also running a cool 2011 calendar competition: simply take a picture of yourself and/or your kids at any of the Big 6 destinations and enter your image on their Facebook page. You could win one of 12 places in the Big 6 2011 Kids Rule calendar and receive a free calendar and a day out at one of the destinations, courtesy of Cape Town Big 6.
Visit the Cape Town Big 6 website for more information on how to enter.
