Getting There By Water
The superbly located Cape Town Harbour, at the heart of the city, accessed via Dock Road, off Coen Steytler Avenue, Portswood or Beach Road, or via Ebenezer Road, off the Western Boulevard, is overseen by South African Port Operations (tel: (021) 449 5956; fax: (021) 449 2355; website: www.saponet.co.za), and is the second busiest port in South Africa, handling a huge volume of freight every year. Cruise liners regularly call here and it is also a major fishing port. There are two main sections of the harbour. While the massive working area, comprising the Duncan Dock, Ben Schoeman Dock and Sturrock Dock, is off limits to the casual visitor, the Victoria Basin, Alfred Basin and the New Basin, known collectively as the V&A Waterfront (tel: (021) 408 7600; fax: (021) 408 7605; e-mail: info@waterfront.co.za; website: www.waterfront.co.za) is one of South Africa’s premium tourist attractions (see Key Attractions) as well as a working harbour. There is no dedicated passenger terminal at Cape Town Harbour. Cruise liners longer than 245m (804ft) are accommodated at various berths at the Duncan Dock, while smaller liners dock at the V&A Waterfront.
Boat services: Andrew Weir Shipping (tel: (021) 425 1165; fax: (021) 421 7485; e-mail: sthelenaline@mweb.co.za; website: www.rms-st-helena.com) offers round-trip cruises from Cape Town, calling at St Helena and Ascension Island as well as Walvis Bay and Luderitz in Namibia (journey time – 23 days), on-board the RMS St Helena (an old Royal Mail ship).
Transport to the city: The Waterfront Shuttle bus service runs from the V&A Waterfront to Adderley Street, the hub of public transport in the city centre (journey time – approximately 10 minutes), as well as to Sea Point (journey time – approximately 20 minutes). Buses to the city centre operate every 10 minutes daily, departing from outside the Victoria & Alfred Hotel. The Atlantic Seaboard route departs every 15 minutes from Breakwater Boulevard. Taxi ranks are situated near the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Victoria & Alfred Hotel and outside both entrances to Victoria Wharf. Four helicopter companies operate charter flights from the V&A Waterfront to the winelands and other destinations further afield.
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Getting There By Water