Pop past the Kiosk to pick up your favourite treats, put together the perfect picnic basket and head outdoors to enjoy a leisurely picnic with friends and family, while cloud-gazing and relishing in the sunny weather. Be sure to pack your picnic basket and blanket for your next trip!

Pack comfortable walking shoes and join the Resort Manager or Guest Relations Officer every Wednesday and Sunday for a leisurely walk to the waterfall; the trail is beautiful. Don’t forget your camera; the scenic waterfall makes an envious backdrop for holiday photos!

Follow the sun! Grab your favourite beverages, along with ice and glasses. Head up to the viewing point, which overlooks the natural surrounds of the Resort and savour the moment with a sundowner. What a relaxing way to end the day...

Monkey Chum Kiosk received a facelift with freshly painted walls and new shelving. This project is ongoing

The Games Room has been divided and now features an adults section, where the Pool Table and Dart Board have made their new home, as well as a children’s and tots space, which are both currently being updated

The Garden at the entrance of the Resort was recently redesigned, while the Team upcycled some swimming pool pump drums into flower pots

Many South African families, and international guests, have journeyed to Cullinan to explore Oak Avenue’s treasures. Eateries, souvenir shops and old-timey photo spots call the original town’s buildings home and the bustling main street makes for an exciting outing. Visitors to the region also likely visit the museums and enjoy a tour of the diamond mines. If you haven’t yet had this opportunity, which we highly recommend, allow us to share some insights into the famous Cullinan diamond.

During the year 1902 a pipe of kimberlite, a rock source known to contain diamond, was discovered. Within that same year the ‘Premier Mine’ was opened, and mining activities began; the discovery of the diamond source, and subsequent mine opening, meant that miners relocated to the area. The town of Cullinan was established in 1903 and two years later the Cullinan diamond was discovered.

Frederick Wells, the Surface Manager of the mine, stumbled across the world’s largest diamond,

5.5m underground, on the 26th of January, 1905. The diamond was classified as a rough, gem-quality diamond weighing 621.35g and was named after the mine owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan. The Cullinan diamond was purchased from the mine for £150 000 (pounds) by the Transvaal government, who later accepted Prime Minister Louis Botha’s proposal to gift the diamond to King Edward VII for his 66th birthday. The diamond was presented to the royal on the 9th of November 1907.

The Cullinan diamond was subsequently cut, by Joseph Asscher of Amsterdam, into the 530 carat ‘Star of Africa’, the Cullinan II, the Cullinan III, as well as approximately 100 other smaller stones, and placed centre-stage in England’s Royal Family Crown Jewels collection. The ‘Star of Africa’ was mounted in the Royal Scepter, while Cullinan II was placed in the Imperial State Crown. Today, the collection of Cullinan diamonds remains under protection at the Tower of London. It is estimated that the Cullinan Diamond is worth $400 million.

You Will Need:

2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
20g fresh parsley, chopped
40g pine nuts, toasted
150g fresh asparagus, trimmed
150g baby marrow, cut into ribbons (Try your potato peeler for this!)
1 red sweet pepper, cut into thick strips
180g Halloumi, cut into 5mm-thick strips
Salt and pepper, to taste