Plan your visit

We're on Portion 260 of the farm Skeerpoort, close to the intersection of the R560 and R512, at the foot of the Magaliesberg, just past Hartbeespoort Dam, or "Harties" as the locals call it. Roughly 45 minutes from Johannesburg and an hour from Pretoria; about 25 minutes from Lanseria.

Search "Van Gaalen Cheese Farm" on Google Maps or Waze and it'll bring you straight to the gate. There's a map at the bottom of this page.

Wednesday to Sunday. We're closed Monday and Tuesday, except on public holidays.

• Farm & cheese shop: 08h00 to 17h00
• Terrace @ Van Gaalen: 08h00 to 17h30
• Trails: Monday to Friday 08h00 to 17h00; weekends and public holidays from 06h30

For most of the farm, no. Just arrive.

• Trails: no booking needed. Buy a permit and sign the indemnity at the farm shop. Bookings are only required for groups larger than 20.
• Cheese tours: not required, but recommended, especially for groups and schools.
• Terrace @ Van Gaalen: walk-ins welcome, but we'd book a table for weekend lunch.
• Riverside picnics: pre-booked only, with a 50% non-refundable deposit.
• Kids parties & functions: by arrangement.

Trail permits are R50 for hiking and trail running, R60 for mountain biking. Children under 12 pay half price and toddlers under 4 go free.

Cheese tours are R190 for adults and R140 for children and pensioners, which includes the tour, a tasting, a drink and a slice of Dutch apple cake.

Unfortunately not on the trails. No pets, dogs or motorbikes are allowed on the trail network. The routes cross 30 private working farms with livestock and game, and that rule is what keeps the landowners happy to host us.

Wednesday 10h00, Saturday 10h00 and Sunday 11h00. The tour runs about 60 minutes: an informal, hands-on talk through how the Gouda is made, from fresh milk to coated cheese wheel.

Arrive 15 minutes early and browse the cheese shop while you wait. Full tour details →

Plenty. A zipline, tractor rides, a jungle gym, and a farmyard with goats, sheep, geese, emus and bush pigs. The easier trails, the reed tunnels along the river, are gentle enough for young families on bikes.

Party packages are available on request.

Yes, the cheese shop is open whenever the farm is. Every Gouda on the tour tasting board is available to take home, alongside preserves and Dutch favourites.

The trails close on race days, so it's worth checking our MTB Facebook page before a long drive. The live status on our home page always shows whether the farm is open right now.