ROAD TRIP
• Check out the quaint Nedbank branch of Premier Mine – a beautiful old sandstone building, constructed in 1906. • You can’t go to Cullinan and not do the diamond mine tour. Premier Diamond Tours (visit: www.diamondtourscullinan.
co.za or tel: 012 734 2170) operate Monday- Friday from 10.30am, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30am and from 8am on Saturdays. They’re closed on Sundays. • Take a historical village tram tour
(tel: 012 734 2170) through the old town and check out buildings more than a century old, plus Cullinan’s famous Big Hole, which is four times bigger than Kimberley’s. Duration is one hour, at 11am and 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. • Check out the old-school Italian
D
id you know that the town where the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found is located a mere hour-and-a-half’s drive
from Johannesburg’s throbbing CBD? The Cullinan Diamond is still the most epic gem of all time – it was discovered in the sepia-toned sands of the Premier No 2 mine in Cullinan in January 1905, weighing in at just under 622g (that’s 3 106ct of awesome, to those who care). The Cullinan Diamond Mine has gone on to give the world some of the most remarkable stones ever found – and is expected to produce one million carats per annum over the next 20-40 years. Brilliant! But that’s not the only thing this little
dorpie in the middle of nowhere is good for. It’s a real tourist gem, offering visitors a kaleidoscope of options that not only celebrate life in a small mining town, but also give kudos to the modern artisanal lifestyle. From diamond mine tours
and historical jaunts to craft-made food and drink, and fantastic contemporary entertainment, Cullinan’s set to become a much bigger dot on the tourist trail.
SEE As with most small towns, the main
road – in this case, Oak Avenue – lends itself to a lazy stroll. This is where it all happens, from shops and historical buildings to trendy bars and restaurants. The road’s lined with jacarandas and oaks, providing a magnificent sight in October and November with their rich purple blooms. • The first residence to be built in the
mining town (in 1903), McHardy House, is now a museum and an Edwardian gem. The contents and style of the original house are intact, making for fascinating stories on the guided tour. Entrance costs R15.
Prisoners-of-War Museum and graveyard in Zonderwater, the biggest detention camp built by the Allies during World War II. The camp housed more than 100 000 Italian soldiers captured by the British between April 1941 and January 1947. It’s only open on Tuesdays. Visit:
www.zonderwater.com/en
THE CALL OF CULLINAN
THE SHINE OF THE TINY TOWN OF CULLINAN HASN’T DULLED WITH THE PASSING OF TIME. IT MARKS THE GATEWAY TO THE NORTHERNMOST GAUTENG DIAMOND FIELDS AND IS WELL WORTH THE ROAD TRIP
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PHOTOGRAPHER: GRAEME WYLLIE. STYLIST: KARIN ORZOL
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