Battery Park at the V&A Waterfront: Skate, Swim, Shop + Picnic

Tired of taxis? Irked by Uber? Or just looking for a scenic, safe and convenient way to get from the V&A Waterfront into Cape Town’s CBD? May we introduce Battery Park, a 1.2-hectare urban park at the V&A Waterfront, whose canal provides the perfect pathway for water taxis to transport passengers from the V&A Waterfront to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

But that’s not all! In addition to this convenient canal, the park offers a range of other attractions that make it a destination in itself. We’re talking a walking (and running) path, benches, a piazza with a coffeeshop and shops, a skatepark, pavilion, lush lawns, sports court, plus a four-story parking garage (for easy access). David Green, V&A Waterfront CEO says: “Our overarching vision was to provide a functional, convenient, comfortable, safe and unrestricted space with recreational activities for all age groups.”

The Canal is designed for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, and it also provides an accessible pathway for water taxis to transport passengers from the V&A Waterfront to the CTICC.

The Piazza is a central space, surrounded by shops, a restaurant and lush gardens.

The Play Area consists of a multi-court for netball, basketball and soccer games, and a skatepark built to world-class standards using lightweight construction by famous skatepark designer Marc Baker.

The Pavilion, offers shelter from the wind and will host various entertainment.

The Park is fully wheelchair friendly, with elevated areas offering stunning views of the V&A Waterfront and surrounding city streets. It’s the perfect place for a chilled picnic or a relaxed walk or run. Look forward to the Galileo Open Air Cinema experience held on the grass area here, too.

Battery Park: Did you know?

The Park, as its name suggests, contains rear ramparts of the historical Amsterdam Battery, which was constructed by the Dutch in 1784 to defend Table Bay Harbour from attack. To accentuate the look and feel of the old Battery, stone-filled gabion walls have been used throughout the park.

During its construction, huge focus was spent re-establishing the connection between the city and the sea, retaining the Amsterdam Battery as a new heritage site, and creating the line of sight between the Battery and the Noon Day gun on Signal Hill.