Easy stop
Seaforth Beach
Sand, shade and cafes
See the day tourFind a stop on the map
Boulders Beach near Simon's Town: Seaforth and the wider colony
View 7 stops
The penguin coast and the town behind it
Select a route, then press a pin or stop to read its note and open Google Maps.
The Historical Mile walk starts from the station and heads south along St George's Street.
Google MapsWesgro calls the museum packed with memorabilia and worth an hour or two of browsing.
Google MapsA bronze statue of the dog Just Nuisance stands on Jubilee Square.
Google Maps
The Boulders colony began in 1983, when a pair was spotted on Foxy Beach.
Google MapsThe beach is a set of sheltered inlets between granite boulders, and the boulders keep out wind and big waves.
Google MapsThe City describes it as a narrow 600-metre stretch of sand with 100 parking bays.
Google MapsThe national management plan counts Windmill Beach inside the Simon's Town penguin area, beside Boulders and Seaforth.
Google Maps
Mapping data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Boulders Beach near Simon's Town is the famous name, but the colony spreads along the coast. Use the map to see how Foxy, Boulders, Seaforth and Windmill sit together, then decide where to spend your time.
Editorial team, bouldersbeachpenguins.click · Updated November 7, 2026 · Allow 6 min
The essentials
- The areaThe national plan counts Boulders, Seaforth, Burgher's Walk and Windmill Beach as Simon's Town.1
- SeaforthThe City describes a narrow 600-metre stretch of sand with 100 parking bays.2,3
- FoodSeaforth is surrounded by restaurants, vendors and curio shops.4
- SwimmingThe City recommends swimming only when and where a lifeguard is on duty.5
- Run bySANParks and the City of Cape Town co-manage the Simon's Town colony.6
The colony is wider than the boardwalk
Start with the map above. The Boulders boardwalks are the busy centre, but the national management plan describes the Simon's Town colony as covering the areas of Boulders, Seaforth, Burgher's Walk and Windmill Beach.1 That wording matters because it tells you the birds are not confined to a single fenced strip. Penguins come ashore, nest and rest along a stretch of coast that visitors also use as ordinary beach.
Different people manage different pieces. The plan states that the Simon's Town penguin colony is co-managed by SANParks and the City of Cape Town.6 SANParks runs the Boulders section, which it counts as 3 beaches, 1 penguin viewing area and 3 boardwalks.7 The City runs Seaforth and its facilities. If you wonder why the rules, the fees and the facilities change as you walk along the coast, this split is the reason.
Distances are small. Cape Town Tourism places Simon's Town 35km outside Cape Town, and calls Boulders about an hour's drive from the city centre.8,9 Once you are there, the beaches in this guide sit within a short stretch of road, so you can see more than one in a morning. Use the pins to plan a loop, and check parking before you commit, because it is limited in peak summer.10
Side by side
The beaches around the colony
| Place | What the sources say | Rule to know |
|---|---|---|
| Foxy Beach | Penguins are best viewed here16 | Do not touch or feed17 |
| Boulders cove | Sheltered inlets between granite boulders18 | No vessels, no lifeguards15 |
| Seaforth Beach | 600 metres of sand with 100 parking bays2,3 | Swim where a lifeguard is on duty5 |
| Windmill Beach | Part of the Simon's Town area1 | Check with a ranger or the visitor centre |
Sources: SANParks, the City of Cape Town and the national penguin management plan.
Seaforth Beach: sand, shade and somewhere to eat
Seaforth is the easy neighbor of the colony. The City of Cape Town describes it as a narrow, 600-metre stretch of sandy shoreline in Simon's Town, with 100 parking bays for beach-goers.2,3 It is surrounded by restaurants, vendors and curio shops, and it offers shaded, grassed areas for picnics.4,14 A search for a Seaforth restaurant near Boulders Beach ends at the beachfront itself, with places to eat within a short walk of the sand.
Swimming comes with advice. The City says it is recommended that beach-goers swim only when and where a lifeguard is on duty.5 That is a sensible note for any family, and a contrast with Boulders Bay, where the SANParks brochure says no lifeguards are on duty and no vessels may approach the beach.15 Choose the beach that fits the way your group swims, and do not assume the rules at one match the other.
Seaforth works well as a lunch and rest stop on a day built around the colony. Parking is easier to explain here than at the boardwalks, thanks to the dedicated bays, and the grassed shade gives children somewhere to run once the penguin stop is over. If you booked a day tour, the bus will decide your timings, but on your own you can walk, eat and then decide whether you have energy for the boardwalk.
Where the day goes
Minutes at each stop on the site's day tour
- Muizenberg30
- Boulders colony60
- Cape of Good Hope60
- Simon's Town75
The itinerary lists Muizenberg Beach for 30 minutes, the Boulders colony and the Cape of Good Hope for 1 hour each and Simon's Town for 75 minutes.
Windmill Beach, Burgher's Walk and the quieter corners
Windmill Beach and Burgher's Walk appear in the national plan as part of the Simon's Town penguin area, alongside Boulders and Seaforth.1 We could not confirm official opening hours, facilities or lifeguard cover for either, so check with the visitor centre or a ranger before you rely on them. What the plan does tell you is that penguins use this wider coast.
Treat these corners as quiet extras and not as separate attractions. The boardwalk remains the managed place to watch penguins, with barriers built to protect nests.20 Elsewhere, the plan records visitors leaning over or crossing barriers to photograph penguins or trying to touch them, so the sensible rule is to keep your distance wherever you meet a bird.21 If a penguin is standing on the path, wait for it to move.
Dogs and kayaks deserve a word. The SANParks brochure excludes dogs from the beaches, and Cape Town Tourism says no vessels are allowed at Boulders, canoes and kayaks included.22,23 The Cape Town Tourism guide to Simon's Town lists a kayak trip around the town that can see marine life and visit the Boulders penguins, so confirm with the operator how it respects the vessel rule.12
Match your day
Where should you spend your spare time?
Pick the line that sounds like you, and the answer sits beside it
If I want lunch with the sea in view
Seaforth Beach
It is surrounded by restaurants, vendors and curio shops.4
If I want a family picnic
Seaforth's grassed shade
The City lists shaded, grassed areas for picnics.14
If I want a long walk
The blockhouse hike
It takes around 2 to 3 hours round trip.11
If I want history
The town museum
Wesgro suggests an hour or two of browsing.19
If I want to swim safely
Pick a beach with lifeguards
The City recommends swimming where a lifeguard is on duty.5
Three stops
Where to spend an extra hour
Active stop
Hike above Boulders
Blockhouse and Black Hill
See the day tour
Rainy-day stop
Simon's Town Museum
Naval town history
- PaceSlow browsing19
- ThemeTown and navy history
- NearThe old station area
Staying near the colony
A penguin cottage or a guesthouse beside the beach is a natural thing to look for. This site sells day tours and not rooms, so the advice here is about areas and travel time. The tour collects guests within a 10 km radius of the Cape Town city centre between 7:00 and 8:00, which means a city-centre base works without a car. A stay in Simon's Town would put you closer to the boardwalks at opening time, at the cost of a longer ride to the rest of the city.
Travel time shapes the choice. Cape Town Tourism calls Boulders about an hour's drive from the city centre.9 South African Tourism says the beach is easily reached by bus, car, taxi or train.31 If you plan to stay in town for a few nights and visit once, the day tour is simple. If you plan to come back at different times of day for photographs or a swim, a base nearby saves hours in the car.
Whatever you choose, book early for summer. Parking and beach space are limited in the peak months, and Cape Town Tourism advises coming early.10 Check the current gate times before you travel, as SANParks says they may change without notice.28 The map's town panel shows where the station and the main street sit if you decide to spend the evening in Simon's Town. A Boulders Beach penguin cottage or a nearby guesthouse is booked through the accommodation itself, since we sell no stays.
After the colony
Ways to fill the rest of the day
Colony
Boulders Penguin Colony
The site's day tour allows 1 hour at the colony.
Lunch
Simon's Town
The next stop lasts 75 minutes with lunch and free time.
Hike
Blockhouse and Black Hill
The hike above Boulders and Seaforth takes around 2 to 3 hours round trip.11
Paddle
Kayak around the town
Cape Town Tourism lists a 2-hour kayak trip around Simon's Town.12
Evening
Ghost Walk
The walk lasts 2 hours and visits the Old Burial Grounds.13
Making a day of the coast
There is plenty to do once the penguins are done. Cape Town Tourism lists a hike above Boulders Beach and Seaforth up to the blockhouse and on to Black Hill that takes around 2 to 3 hours round trip.11 It also lists a Simon's Town Ghost Walk of 2 hours that visits the Old Burial Grounds.13 Children get The Scratch Patch, where they fill a bag with polished gemstones, and Cave Golf, an underground course.32 Both are indoor options, which helps if the wind or the rain turns the beach unpleasant.
The town itself rewards a slow walk. Wesgro calls Simon's Town the home of the South African Navy since the early 1900s, and says the harbor offers boat tours, fishing excursions and whale watching during the migration season.33,34 The Simon's Town Museum is packed with memorabilia, and Wesgro suggests an hour or two of browsing.19
On the site's day tour the stop at Simon's Town lasts 75 minutes with lunch and free time, enough for a short wander along the main street. If you want more, a half-day listing gives the Boulders colony 2 hours, leaving less room for the rest of the coast. Choose whether you value breadth or depth, and plan Seaforth and Windmill as the extras you add when time allows. A short beach stop near the end of the day is a gentle way to finish after a long drive, and the shaded grass makes it easy to wait for the bus or the last light without rushing anyone.
Video
Simon's Town: penguins, secret beaches and history
KeeFC Travels on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.
it is recommended that beach goers only swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty
Before you go along the coast
What to check and bring
Check first4
FAQ
Quick questions get quick answers.
Where is Seaforth Beach?
In Simon's Town.
The City of Cape Town describes it as a narrow, 600-metre stretch of sandy shoreline in Simon's Town.2
Is there parking at Seaforth Beach?
Yes, 100 bays.
The City lists 100 parking bays available for beach-goers.3
Are there restaurants near Seaforth Beach?
Yes.
The beach is surrounded by restaurants, vendors and curio shops.4
Is Seaforth safe for swimming?
With a lifeguard.
The City recommends swimming only when and where a lifeguard is on duty.5
Who manages the penguin colony in Simon's Town?
SANParks and the City.
The management plan describes co-management by SANParks and the City of Cape Town.6
Which beaches belong to the Simon's Town colony?
Boulders, Seaforth and more.
The plan names Boulders, Seaforth, Burgher's Walk and Windmill Beach.1
How far is Simon's Town from Cape Town?
35 km.
Cape Town Tourism says the town is situated 35km outside Cape Town.8
Can you reach the colony by train?
Yes.
South African Tourism says Boulders Beach is easily reached by bus, car, taxi or train.31
Sources
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment · Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Penguin (PDF, read with pdftotext) ↩
- City of Cape Town · Seaforth Beach ↩
- City of Cape Town · Seaforth Beach ↩
- City of Cape Town · Seaforth Beach ↩
- City of Cape Town · Seaforth Beach ↩
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment · Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Penguin (PDF, read with pdftotext) ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Boulders Penguin Colony ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Fun Things to do in Simon's Town ↩
- Cape Town Tourism · Meet The Penguins At Boulders Beach ↩
- Cape Town Tourism · Meet The Penguins At Boulders Beach ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Fun Things to do in Simon's Town ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Fun Things to do in Simon's Town ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Fun Things to do in Simon's Town ↩
- City of Cape Town · Seaforth Beach ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Boulders Penguin Colony brochure ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Boulders Penguin Colony brochure ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Boulders Penguin Colony ↩
- South African Tourism · Visit the Boulders Beach penguins ↩
- Wesgro · Route: Simon's Town Historical Mile ↩
- Cape Town Tourism · Meet The Penguins At Boulders Beach ↩
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment · Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Penguin (PDF, read with pdftotext) ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Boulders Penguin Colony brochure ↩
- Cape Town Tourism · Meet The Penguins At Boulders Beach ↩
- South African Tourism · Visit the Boulders Beach penguins
- South African Tourism · Visit the Boulders Beach penguins
- Wesgro · Route: Simon's Town Historical Mile
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Fun Things to do in Simon's Town
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Entrance Gates, Table Mountain National Park ↩
- South African Tourism · Penguins at Boulders Beach, Simon's Town ↩
- Cape Town Tourism · Meet The Penguins At Boulders Beach ↩
- South African Tourism · Penguins at Boulders Beach, Simon's Town ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Fun Things to do in Simon's Town ↩
- Wesgro · Simon's Town ↩
- Wesgro · Simon's Town ↩
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