The wait at the pass is new. After the floods of May 2026 Bainskloof Pass (R301) was closed completely, and since 10 July 2026 it has been partly open again, with traffic control and delays; restrictions for lorries remain, as of September 2026. The road is 18 kilometres long and climbs to 594 metres. Andrew Geddes Bain had it built with convict labour, and the whole pass is now a national monument. Sources disagree on when it was finished: 1852, 1853 and 1854 all appear.
- of the country's vine cuttings, according to WOSA
- over 85%
- summit of Bainskloof Pass
- 594 m
- wards in the Wellington wine district
- 5
- residents, 2011 census
- 55,543
Down in the valley the town sits on the Kromme River at the foot of the Groenberg. The area was first called Limiet Vallei, border valley, and with the Huguenots Val du Charron or Wagenmakersvallei. It took its present name from the Duke of Wellington, at the suggestion of Governor Sir George Napier: English Wikipedia dates this to 1840, German Wikipedia to 1838. The railway from Cape Town arrived in 1864, and in 1874 Andrew Murray founded the Huguenot Seminary, modelled on Mount Holyoke in the United States. His memorial stands in front of the Moederkerk of 1840.
Wellington is a wine district in its own right, since 2012 according to an unofficial source, with five wards: Blouvlei, Bovlei, Groenberg, Limietberg and Mid-Berg River. According to WOSA, more than 85 per cent of the South African wine industry's vine cuttings come from Wellington, and the nurseries shape the valley as much as fruit and table grapes do. WOSA mentions around 30 producers, the Wellington Wine Route lists 13 estates (as of September 2026), and an undated travel text speaks of 21 members. At Diemersfontein on the R301 the 2001 vintage gave rise to Coffee Pinotage, a style with notes of coffee and chocolate. There is whisky too: the James Sedgwick distillery has been working in Wellington since 1886.
- Time needed
- half a day for the town and one estate, a full day with Bainskloof Pass
- When
- February and March for the harvest; in winter storms can close the pass, as they did in May 2026
- From Cape Town
- 72 km, 55 minutes
Our tipDrive Bainskloof Pass in daylight only and allow waiting time at the traffic control, as of September 2026. For the hiking trails in Limietberg Nature Reserve along the pass you need a CapeNature permit, and in winter some river crossings are impassable. Without a car you can reach Wellington by Metrorail, but the German Foreign Office advises against suburban trains.
Wine estates in and around Wellington
Places to stay in Wellington
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Dunstone Country House
Dunstone Estate, Bovlei Road
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €178per night on 18 November 2026
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Olijvenkraal Winelands Lodge
1-12 Contractorpad
- Pool
- Spa
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €404per night on 18 November 2026
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Lady Loch Country House
Lady Loch Road
- Pool
- Spa
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
from €94per night on 18 November 2026
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Cummings Guesthouse
20 Cummings Street
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Parking
- Air conditioning
from €81per night on 18 November 2026
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Monte Vidéo Guesthouse
Church Street
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Parking
- Air conditioning
from €107per night on 1 December 2026
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Val Du Charron Wine & Leisure Estate
Farm 256 Groenberg, Bovlei Road
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €153per night on 18 November 2026
Check prices on trivagoWellington: frequently asked questions
Is Bainskloof Pass near Wellington open?
Bainskloof Pass (R301) between Wellington and Wolseley has been partly open again since 10 July 2026, after flood damage in May 2026. There is traffic control with waiting times, and restrictions for lorries remain, as of September 2026.
What is Wellington known for in wine?
Wellington is the centre of South Africa's vine nurseries: according to Wines of South Africa, more than 85 per cent of the industry's vine cuttings come from there. Wellington is a wine district in its own right with five wards.
How far is Wellington from Cape Town and Paarl?
Wellington is about 72 road kilometres from central Cape Town, just under an hour via the N1 and R44 without traffic. From Paarl it is twelve kilometres, around a quarter of an hour.
Where does the name Wellington come from?
Wellington is named after the Duke of Wellington, at the suggestion of Governor Sir George Napier. Before that the valley was called Limiet Vallei and, in Huguenot times, Wagenmakersvallei; sources give the year of the renaming as 1838 or 1840.