The 4.9- and 7.8-kilometre routes give you a concrete starting point for planning active outings in Uniondale. Alongside them, dated church and community buildings can be viewed as distinct chapters in the town’s history. The Uniondale Nature Reserve adds a further perspective, with its hilly terrain, green valleys and winding streams. Cultural history, route lengths and landscape offer three clearly distinct themes for a stay.

Churches and historic buildings

The Apostolic (Pinkster) Protestant Church was built in 1843; a tourist description counts it among Uniondale’s seven National Monuments. Sophia Gray designed All Saint’s Anglican Church, built in 1876; Gray is described as South Africa’s first architect of church buildings. The construction dates are 33 years apart. All Saint’s therefore has a named architect as a historical point of reference, in addition to its date.

The original Dutch Reformed Church at the southern entrance was built in 1866 and is now called Voortrekker Saal; it is used for community projects. The new Dutch Reformed Church on Hood Street dates from 1884. The distinction between the original church and the new church building, along with the present-day name Voortrekker Saal, helps distinguish the histories of the two buildings.

For other historic buildings, you can compare construction dates and former uses: the Neoclassical-inspired police station and courthouse building was built in 1891. The Victorian Klaas Vaak was Uniondale’s original post office and dates from 1892. The construction dates are only a year apart, but their former functions differ considerably. The synagogue dates from 1905; a tourist description, last updated in 2017, reports that it was restored and is maintained by the Lions Club.

Routes and landscape

Two cycling or walking routes have been mapped for visitors in Uniondale: one is 4.9 km long and the other 7.8 km. The difference in length is 2.9 km; both routes pass historic buildings as well as tea gardens and restaurants. They differ in their stated route lengths but share these listed waypoints. The route page was last updated in 2017. Check current maps locally and, if you are planning to cycle, whether bicycle hire is available.

In the Uniondale Nature Reserve, hilly terrain, green valleys and winding streams shape the landscape. The focus here is therefore on different features than in the buildings described by construction date and former use: landforms rather than architecture.

More local discoveries

A 2020 announcement states that the Uniondale Farmers Market Plaasmark was held on the last Saturday of the month. It lists Die Stoep on Voortrekker Street as the location and advertises breakfast, lunch, takeaway food and live music. Check before visiting whether the market is still running.

A tourist listing last updated in 2017 locates Abrie van der Merwe’s private model-car collection at the Blue Yonder Gift Shop on Voortrekker Street, next to Absa Bank. If you would like to include the collection in your plans, check in advance whether it can be viewed.

The Labyrinth – Path of Hope on Voortrekker Street is a community project led by the owner of the neighbouring Cottages Guesthouse. The description was last updated in April 2017; if you would like to include the labyrinth in your plans, check in advance whether a visit is possible.

Discover more destinations: Herbertsdale, Riversdale, Plathuis, Jacobs Bay, Albertinia, Sedgefield, Harkerville, Brenton-On-Sea

For the overview of the wider region: Eden.