Millwood Goldmine Tours
Millwood Goldmine Tours
3.5
This location was reported permanently closed
About
South Africa's first ever goldmine - drive through our beautiful forests & enjoy a mine tour, a delicious light lunch & freshly baked scones & tea, also visit our interesting museum. Experience a piece of history the fun way.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
33 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
7
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
4
Tony S
Norwich, UK169 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
Having followed a gravel road through commercial forestry, a little cafe is the end of the road. From here a guide will take you to the mine for R55 each (about £4). There is a 1km uphill walk to the mining area which might be difficult if walking is a problem. Saw some of the hole-in-the-ground diggings before reaching the Bendigo Mine. You have to wear helmets and carry a torch, though there is lighting in the tunnel which you follow. Most of the time you can stand upright and we did not find it claustrophobic.
Written 14 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emanpee
Sydney, Australia2 729 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
While there is no cafe or museum open, 7km along the dirt road after Circles in the Forest and Krisjan se Nek picnic area, is 5km of walking through the old gold mine area. Also great mountain scenery along the way. This needs to be promoted more and National Parks should put some effort into developing the site. With few people going there, cars should be able to access the walking trails to make it easy for less able and also make more efficient use of tourist time.
Written 19 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura Brown
Betty's Bay, South Africa102 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
15 years ago there was nothing but a pamphlet and a shed full of very old interesting machinery, now you get to walk a circular trail up to 'Main Street' - who could imagine amongst the bush and grass that's there now, that then there were 6 hotels, theatres, stores and churches... for a few years at least.... spooky and magical.
Walking the lanes from the mine to the main street along pathways that tired miners must have walked each night either elated at their days find or despondent, we saw a flash and right overhead a Knysna Lourie in all it's vermilion glory.... we did not see another soul on our walk but we know we were accompanied by the spirits of all those whose fortunes were made and lost in Millwood.
Well done to the folks that keep the information boards maintained and updates.... really exceptional information that you provide, took us back to past times in an instant.
Walking the lanes from the mine to the main street along pathways that tired miners must have walked each night either elated at their days find or despondent, we saw a flash and right overhead a Knysna Lourie in all it's vermilion glory.... we did not see another soul on our walk but we know we were accompanied by the spirits of all those whose fortunes were made and lost in Millwood.
Well done to the folks that keep the information boards maintained and updates.... really exceptional information that you provide, took us back to past times in an instant.
Written 16 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy John D
156 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
Ok, firstly let me say I can't comment on the mine walk because it didn't happen. The two star review reflects more all the things that didn't happen, so if you go and you do do all those things you may rate this better than I.
We had spent the past 2 days doing attraction type things and wanted to get out and stretch our legs somewhat. Emma had found this online before we left and printed some details. The drive up to the National Park type setup is really quite a long one on back lanes that are really ridged and make the car judder, kind of like speed bumps that go on for 10 or so miles. Ok so you accept this because this is something you want to do. Then you get to a small carpark and go and pay for entry. We read on the internet is was about 15R each. It turned out to be 150R in total and it was only after we had paid the disinterested girl in the kiosk that she told us the museum and tea rooms weren't open because 'no one had turned up' (I don't know either - go figure). The tea rooms and museum were closed Monday and Tuesday but since it was a Wednesday they should have been open! Sitting outside the tea rooms were two backpackers who had camped overnight. They were playing cards waiting for a taxi, they hadn't seen anyone for 24hrs but they were smiling and relatively happy. Off we went for a walk, an hour later it started to rain so we decided to walk back down, having not found the mine but been thoroughly soaked. The upside to all this apart from us having had some exercise was we found a lovely little place on the way down the hill track to stop and have something to eat. See photos.
We had spent the past 2 days doing attraction type things and wanted to get out and stretch our legs somewhat. Emma had found this online before we left and printed some details. The drive up to the National Park type setup is really quite a long one on back lanes that are really ridged and make the car judder, kind of like speed bumps that go on for 10 or so miles. Ok so you accept this because this is something you want to do. Then you get to a small carpark and go and pay for entry. We read on the internet is was about 15R each. It turned out to be 150R in total and it was only after we had paid the disinterested girl in the kiosk that she told us the museum and tea rooms weren't open because 'no one had turned up' (I don't know either - go figure). The tea rooms and museum were closed Monday and Tuesday but since it was a Wednesday they should have been open! Sitting outside the tea rooms were two backpackers who had camped overnight. They were playing cards waiting for a taxi, they hadn't seen anyone for 24hrs but they were smiling and relatively happy. Off we went for a walk, an hour later it started to rain so we decided to walk back down, having not found the mine but been thoroughly soaked. The upside to all this apart from us having had some exercise was we found a lovely little place on the way down the hill track to stop and have something to eat. See photos.
Written 17 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gma14
Knysna, South Africa17 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
We travelled through the beautiful Knysna forest expecting a visit to Millwood Goldmine with coffee and a light lunch at the cafe BUT all was closed on this lovely Sunday due to Totties restaurant in Rheenandahl needing the staff! Please please Totties place a board at the SANPARKS entrance informing visitors that you are open or closed that day. It would be much appreciated. We still had a magical walk in the Circle of Forest walk which made up for the disappointment but not the grumbling tummy! I hope that when I re-visit my two star will move to a five
Written 10 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anneke_botha
Cape Town Central, South Africa18 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
This was so interesting. To actually enter a mine and hear all the history. Simply amazing. Garth was a wonderful tour guide, driving us there and telling us everything. Remember to take shoes that can get wet and don't be afraid of the dark :)
Written 2 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michaeldufty
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK150 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
We were disappointed as when we entered the park told Mother Huff Cap and museum was now closed and we could only visit Jubilee creek which was as idyllic as ever.
Suggest visitors check as quite expensive for international visitors and Gold Fields apparently now closed
Suggest visitors check as quite expensive for international visitors and Gold Fields apparently now closed
Written 28 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JanetandJohnCapeTown
Cape Town, South Africa67 contributions
Apr 2014
Beautifully presented, very good food in a interesting little museum. Go for a walk into bendingo mines to see fools gold deposit, very cool. Lovely historical little place. Very nice different outing. Off the beaten track.
Written 19 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim M
Banstead, UK229 contributions
Sept 2013 • Couples
We drove via the track to get to to millwood . We found that the cafe was closed and so there was no tours of the gold mine. They could have told us that at the entrance of the park. Anyway we were there so we walked to the mine apart from machines in a cage not much to see, we then walk to the town which there was even less to see. So there was not much to see or do.maybe worth a visit when they reopen the cafe
Written 20 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David T
Dorchester, UK523 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
A quaint tea room, Mother Holly's, in the last original mining house with a museum of photographs, documents, maps and artifacts in quiet garden at the beginning (or end) of a wonderful easy 6 km walk along the old tracks that once were the streets of Mill Wood.
Don't be put off by the remoteness or the unmade dirt road approach, the scenery is fabulous, the walks and fynbos beautiful and then to sit on the step of the Mma Holly's (did I mean Ramotswe's?) tea house with a refreshing pot of rooibos, cream cakes and birdsong was out of this world. Watch out for the elusive lourie too.
The young couple running the tea house were charming and helpful. And the mining museum very interesting if a couple of hundred yards away but you pass it on the walk anyway so no excuse to miss it.
The small fees are for the park entry & the mining museum only. Dust off your sense of adventure and go, it's brilliant.
Don't be put off by the remoteness or the unmade dirt road approach, the scenery is fabulous, the walks and fynbos beautiful and then to sit on the step of the Mma Holly's (did I mean Ramotswe's?) tea house with a refreshing pot of rooibos, cream cakes and birdsong was out of this world. Watch out for the elusive lourie too.
The young couple running the tea house were charming and helpful. And the mining museum very interesting if a couple of hundred yards away but you pass it on the walk anyway so no excuse to miss it.
The small fees are for the park entry & the mining museum only. Dust off your sense of adventure and go, it's brilliant.
Written 18 April 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were thinking of visiting. Are you open today?Are there still doing tours?
Written 18 December 2018
What are the operating hours,are there guided tours,how long does it take, can you take small children?
Written 20 March 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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