Nieu-Bethesda Tourism

24/07/2024

Walk the magical 𝕃𝕒𝕓𝕪𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙 at the Gregg Price Gallery - Nieu Bethesda

The story behind the Labyrinth as told by Gregg Price:

"In January 2018 my eldest son William took his own life. In the struggle to come to terms with the loss of my son, my wife and I traveled to Chartres Cathedral in France. We explored the labyrinth through a course titled ‘beyond the boundaries of loss and grief’, which proved to be a seminal experience towards healing. We built a stone labyrinth (based on the design of the Chartres Cathedral), as a way to honour the life of William. We offer the labyrinth experience to the community and travelers passing through Nieu Bethesda."

📍 Find the Labyrinth at the corner of Martins & Grave Streets, Nieu-Bethesda.

☎️ Contact details - Gregg Price, Tel: 083 258 3104
💻 E-mail:
[email protected]

📷 Gregg Price Gallery - Nieu Bethesda

23/07/2024

𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕕𝕒 𝕋𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 ℝ𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕥

Satisfy your comfort food craving with a delicious, hearty, slow-cooked Karoo curry at Bethesda Tower Restaurant! Perfect for the hungry whilst dining in a room full of local art!

They serve a variety of meals including breakfast, famous Karoo lamb and curries. Vegetarian dishes are made from fresh vegetables grown in their garden.

Bethesda Tower Restaurant is part of a Community Project, Bethesda Arts Centre, supported and run by local indigenous artists of the Community of Nieu-Bethesda.

📍 Located in Muller Street as part of The Bushman Heritage Museum.

Open from Mon-Sun, 7h-17h.

☎️ For bookings contact: Tel:
0498411731 or 0730288887.

Bethesda Arts Centre & Tower Accommodation

22/07/2024

Art of Nieu-Bethesda! A painting of Klein Geluk Guesthouse in the thin, late afternoon sun. "Klein Geluk" 250 x 250 Acrylic on stretched canvas by Yolandi van Zyl Yolandi Van Zyl.

For more info on what to do, where to eat and stay visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/

Nieu Bethesda Klein Geluk Private House

21/07/2024

Stoep Tasting 2025!

Top O'the mornin to ya! It's a glorious winter's day in the Karoo today!
We're lining up a splendid number of superheroes to visit us again next year in May. Sibling and Original Stoeptasting weekends.

Www.greatwineweekends.com

Be sure to book your tickets and join us!



Nieu-Bethesda Tourism Graaff-Reinet Tourism

2 towns and 2 weekends with plenty of awesome fringe events in the week days in between.

20/07/2024

Good Morning from Nieu-Bethesda!

📷 Yolandi van Zyl

For more info on what to do, where to eat and stay visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/

19/07/2024

Book your farmstay with Blaauwater Guest Farm now!

Schreiner wrote that the Karoo makes one realise “𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘰-𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵.” So, when the city’s starless nights and cordial, cramped offices become too much, I try to recall the dusty solitude of the Karoo to gain some perspective.... so, come to the Karoo.

19/07/2024

𝕄𝕦𝕜𝕥𝕚 𝕚𝕟 ℕ𝕚𝕖𝕦-𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕕𝕒, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕨𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕦𝕡!

Mukti is a lovingly curated Karoo cottage for those seeking solitude and luxury in charming Nieu-Bethesda!

The village is quiet, and Mukti is located on the quieter western side of it too, watched over by the towering Compassberg. It may be soaked in peace and stillness, but birdsong is everywhere and hummingbirds visit the house year-round. You’ll see them in the garden, along with many other species while you chill at the pool which replicates a small Karoo farm dam.

Mukti inside is cool and calm. Decor is contemporary Karoo, lightly layered and with exceptional quality throughout. There are two spacious bedrooms, the main en-suite is a king with a mountain view, while the second en-suite is a twin room – both with sumptuous mattresses and dressed in exquisite 600 thread-count cotton linen. The lounge area has a fireplace for cosy winter nights, and there’s a library for cocooning with countless books for company. Dining is at a raw wooden table in the kitchen, Karoo style. But in warm weather, meals on the verandah are relaxing. And there are comfortable soft sofas there too.

Throughout the house, décor is a seamless blend of contemporary and yesteryear. There are Persian rugs and picture rails, select ball-and-claw tables and chairs and chic sofas alongside leather armchairs. Antique chandeliers hang from original Oregon ceiling beams and light streams in through sash windows. The bathrooms and kitchen feature subway tiles, and there are Smeg appliances throughout – juxtaposed by an original working Dover stove, that’s now retired as a feature piece. But it has a shine whenever guests request housekeeper Angie to make homemade bread – or her delicious Karoo donuts – mixed of course in antique bowls but served on Wonkiware.

Mukti epitomises fine Karoo living with no rough edges, and Angie will make doubly sure of it. She pops in twice weekly or more if you ask her to. But mostly, Mukti is about how you feel when you’re there. Walking on floorboards that feet have pattered for 140 years, the aroma of antique wood carried in dry Karoo air, the purple light dousing the surrounding mountains, and the rare feeling of complete freedom and safety. Here you can detach and disconnect from the world. Read, relax, rest, reflect, recuperate and rejuvenate instead. Meditate on the deck amidst the birds if you choose, or stretch your legs on long walks and reflect on life and living it well. Sometimes we need to disconnect to reconnect. There’s just no better place to do it.

Mukti sleeps 4 people in two bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms. All linen, electric blankets, bath and pool towels provided. Mukti has a fully equipped kitchen with a Nespresso machine (pods provided). There is wi-fi, safe parking, a wood burning fireplace, BBQ/Braai (weber - charcoal/wood), garden, patio, pool (solar heated and no net), wood-fired hot tub, 4 x pool loungers, blue tooth speaker and outside shower.

▶️ For more information contact James on 083 700 7070 or visit on Instagram.

18/07/2024

Luister gerus na die RSG podgooi van 'n onderhoud met ons dorp se eie kunstenaar Dirkje Daling van Infinity Gallery! Dirkje het 'n ekstra sintuig, sy hoor kleure en gebruik dit in haar musiek en skilderkuns om die mooiste kunswerke te skep. Volg haar op instagram en kyk na een van haar skilderye met die stuk musiek by.

Haar kunswerke is te koop by Infinity Gallery, Martins Straat

Die kunstenaar en komponis, Dirkje Daling, vertel van haar neurologiese toestand, chromostesia, ook bekend as “colour hearing”.

18/07/2024

This road is a favourite for photographers!

To get to Pienaar Street cross the bridge at the Owl House and turn left, drive along around the bend until you reach the Two Goats Deli & Brewery, then turn around and Voila! The Compassberg will be in front of you. Take as much pics as you want and share them with us!

For more info on what to do, where to eat and stay in Nieu-Bethesda visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/

17/07/2024

Let the blue skies inspire endless possibilities...

📷 Lynn van Wyk

For more info on what to do, where to eat and stay visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/

16/07/2024

𝔻𝕚𝕖 ℙ𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕜 ℍ𝕦𝕚𝕤

𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 -
"𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭! 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 :)"
- 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 AirBnB

𝔻𝕚𝕖 ℙ𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕜 ℍ𝕦𝕚𝕤 is a peaceful, comfortable base from where you can explore all that Nieu-Bethesda has to offer.

The house has two bedrooms, one with a double bed and the other with a double and single bed, that can sleep a maximum of five people. It has one bathroom, open plan fully equipped kitchen for self catering and a living room with a fireplace for the cold months. It also has a sunny veranda and braai (BBQ) facilities.

Die Pienk Huis is centrally located and within walking distance of the Owl House, The Fossil Centre, art galleries, restaurants, the labyrinth and all other attractions.

📍 They are pet friendly and are situated in New Road.

☎️ For bookings contact Jacob van Garderen on 0828203960 or email them at [email protected].

15/07/2024

𝕆𝕟𝕚𝕠𝕟 ℍ𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖 & ℂ𝕠𝕥𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖

𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 - "𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙒𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙉𝙞𝙚𝙪-𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙙𝙖." - 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙏 (𝙇𝙚𝙠𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙖𝙥)

Relax in a beautifully decorated open-plan Karoo cottage, surrounded by mountain views. A King-size bed with luxury linen will leave you refreshed & rejuvenated.

Enjoy an outside pool, sauna, patio, fire pit and peaceful walks in a lush, well-established garden.
The indoor fireplace creates the perfect setting for comfortable and romantic winter getaways.

Galina's immune booster smoothies & freshly squeezed, cold-pressed juices are available in the morning on request.

The Onion Cottage has a sleeper couch suitable for one or two teenagers. There is a kitchen where guests can cook their own meals, free parking, wi-fi, airconditioning, indoor fireplace, outdoor firepit, patio, shared pool and pets are allowed.

📍 The Onion House and Cottage is situared at 103 Immelman Street, Nieu-Bethesda.

☎️ Contact Galina Zelenyuk on 068 092 2835 to make a booking.

Onion House & Cottage

14/07/2024

Morning hike in Nieu-Bethesda!

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For more info on what to do, where to eat and stay visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/

13/07/2024

Beautiful Ganora Guest Farm!

For more information on a farmstay or camping at Ganora visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/accommodation/farm-stay/ganora-guest-farm/

13/07/2024

Back in time - a postcard of Nieu-Bethesda around 1900!

📷 Great Karoo

For more info on what to do, where to eat and stay visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/

12/07/2024

Looks delicious!

Just out of the Oven ! Yvonne’s freshly baked scones are almost as charming
as her personality. Come taste the warmth and hospitality yourself!
Follow us for café news and surprises !

12/07/2024

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝔽𝕒𝕣𝕞 can be found deep in the Sneeuberg mountains of the Karoo, 14.9 km from Nieu-Bethesda. At the top of the water catchment you will find a refuge from sound, light and air pollution. Taking a break from the endless buzz of information, cars and deadlines, you can find a place of deep rest on this farm.

They have created a space where visitors are able to reconnect with themselves by feeling the earth under their feet and regaining perspective on what is important. It's a place where silence and laughter are found in equal measure.

At The Rest you will find a workshop space made from the earth and filled with light and love. You are invited to join one of the expressive arts therapy and constellations workshops that take place throughout the year. There are also workshops for individuals as well as for families. Check out their website for information on their workshops. They also welcome facilitators whose work resonates with their own to offer workshops in the inspiring space.

The Rest Farm also offers accommodation for weary travellers. It's a perfect place for families to go on adventures together and also have enough space for themselves. Couples will love the opportunity to spend time together without the distractions of the city. Solo travellers will enjoy the chance to bask in the silence with the option of joining the activities on the farm when they tire of their own company. They have two rustic, family sized, self catering cottages available on the farm. In the summer months, camping is a fun and good value option.

The Shepherd’s cottage is beautifully situated with a magnificent view of Alwynkop and Compasberg. You will be right at the heart of the active farm and see them going about the business of running the farm. This cottage has a fully equipped kitchen, an open plan lounge/dining room, one room with a double bed, one with two single beds and a third that fits just one bed from which you can watch the sunrise. The bathroom has a flush toilet, shower and bath and there is a compost toilet outside for a fresh and ecologically friendly alternative. There is a small braai area with a view of the setting sun. In the summer a large peach tree gives shade and the thick walls of the old building keep things cool. In the winter a wonderful bosca fireplace heats the whole house and makes the icy winters an adventure rather than an agony. The cottage is clean and simple and on the rustic side. This is a great getaway for a couple who need space and time together. It’s perfect for a family who loves the outdoors and need to reconnect to one another.

The Garden House is nestled in the trees near to the main house. Step out of the door and walk up the mountain! The house is lovely and cool in summer and kept cosy and warm by the old stove in winter. It has a double bed, single bed and a set of twin beds. There is a small, well equipped kitchen and lounge in the main room. The bathroom has a shower and a toilet. There is also a hot shower outside and compost toilets near to the house so no one has to wait! This is perfect for a couple or a family. Its also great for solo travellers who want the option of space on their own or joining the family for meals.

Camping is a good budget option in summer (or winter if you are both extremely tough and well equipped). Campers have access to the equipped kitchen, shower warmed by a solar geyser and toilet at the Space as well as two extra compost toilets. They also have two equipped and comfortable caravans available to stay in. There is a fireplace to braai.

Visitors are able to participate in farm activities, go on long mountain hikes, mountain biking, bird watching and star gazing. Homemade bread, farmstyle meals, grassfed Karoochoice meat, milk, dairy products and eggs (when available) can be purchased on the farm (bread and meals need time to make). The Rest is one hour away from the nearest grocery shop so you need to bring everything else!

For further information visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/accommodation/farm-stay/the-rest/ or check out their website at www.karoorest.com. You can contact Paula Kingwell on 073 169 2716.

📷 Reconnect on The Rest

11/07/2024

𝕁𝕒𝕜𝕠𝕓’𝕤 𝔻𝕠𝕟𝕜𝕖𝕪 ℂ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤

Enjoy a slow-paced guided tour of our beautiful village with Jacob van Staden's donkey cart. He loves sharing the history of our town with visitors and telling stories about Nieu-Bethesda as you ride along our dusty streets.

Contact Jacob on 072 987 9831.

Jacob’s carts are suitable for small groups too. Book him
in advance for group arrangements.

Hours: 08:00 – 17:00

11/07/2024

Book at Doornberg Guest Farm now for a relaxing farmstay!

10/07/2024

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐢𝐞𝐮-𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚

Nieu-Bethesda was founded in 1878 when the farmers of the area negotiated with t he Church in Graaff-Reinet to have a Dutch Reformed Church of their own since the nearest church in Graaff-Reinet was eight hours away. The building was completed in 1905. The village came into being on the farm Uitkyk, which was originally the farm of B.J. Pienaar. Uitkyk (or Look Out) was the name since in the early years the owners had to be on the look-out for hostile bushmen and predators. The restored Uitkyk farmhouse can still be seen on the ‘West Bank’.

In the first thirty years, Nieu-Bethesda grew and flourished. The school in Martins Street, where the sports complex is today, had over 200 children, among them James Kitching and Helen Martins. The Nieu-Bethesda Trading Company could provide the local people with nearly everything: fresh dates, cheese, even suits from London. There were a blacksmith, a garage, a leather shop and of course a resident minister for the N.G. Kerk.

In the thirties Nieu-Bethesda started to decline: the depression had an effect, travelling had become easier and children were sent to boarding schools – Volkskool and Union High or the convent in Graaff-Reinet or further away.

Athol Fugard had bought property in the village in 1970. He was famous as a playwright already and when he wrote The Road to Mecca (a play based on Helen Martins) in 1985, visitors from everywhere started looking for the Owl House. Visitors kept coming and Neil Sheard saw a need and bought the house where The Village Inn is today to start the first eating place in Nieu-Bethesda. The Village Inn opened in November 1991 and was the first and only coffee shop and restaurant to cater to the needs of tourists for about ten years. Neil’s brother in law, Egbert Gerryts, was the first host and manager and became well known as the friend of many patrons.

In 2005 another attraction, the James Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre opened its doors. James Kitching grew up in Nieu-Bethesda and having completed grade 10 in the local school, he became a world-renowned palaeontologist. The Centre provides well-trained guides to give visitors a glimpse of what this part of the Karoo was like 250 million years ago.

The Owl House and James Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre form the nucleus of the Heritage Centre of Nieu-Bethesda.

-Complied by Idil Sheard-

For further information on Activities, Restaurants and Accommodation visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/

09/07/2024

Cold Colder Coldest❄️❄️❄️

For further info on Kareelaagte Guest Farm visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/accommodation/farm-stay/kareelaagte-guest-farm/

09/07/2024

Welcome to 𝗕𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲’𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯!!

This quirky drinking hole based in Nieu-Bethesda offers a unique experience drenched in Karoo stories and homemade cherry-infused rum. The well known owner and barman, Boetie Bester, is there to greet you with a smile and an eager ear whilst writing up your drinks the old fashioned way. It is a great place to meet locals, try out some flavoursome rums and to watch the rugby!

📍 You will find Boetie's Pub in Hill Street.

Trading hours are Monday – Thursday, 16h00 – Late, Friday – Sunday 12h00 – Late. Contact Boetie Bester on tel: 078 206 2925.

▶️ For further information visit https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/restaurants-pubs/pubs/

08/07/2024

Magical Winter Wonderland in Nieu-Bethesda❄️

📷 Ludolf Smit

08/07/2024

Awaking to a Winter Wonderland on Ganora Guest Farm this morning!

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08/07/2024

Some more snow photos from this morning!

📷 Carla Smit The Bethesda Guesthouse

08/07/2024

In case you missed STOEP TASTING - The Original on Kyknet's FIESTA last night....

It will repeat tonight at 22:00
Tuesday 16:30
Wednesday 16:00
Thursday 17:30
Saturday 12:30/ 23:30
Sunday: 07:00

www.greatwineweekends.com



Karoo Wine Club

08/07/2024

Cold start to the day on Doornberg Guest Farm❄️

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▶️ For further information on Doornberg go to https://nieubethesdatourism.co.za/accommodation/farm-stay/doornberg-guest-farm/ or for bookings email them on [email protected].

08/07/2024

Snowy Dutch Reformed Church!

📷 Carla Smit

08/07/2024

The weatherman's snow predictions were spot on and we're all out with our cameras to capture the magic!

📷 Carla Smit