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Welcome to McBains.

A retreat from the city, a retreat into nature.

Bainskloof Pass is closed to non-residents!
If you are coming to stay, you need to provide us with your car license plate number 48 hours in advance of your stay.

THE PASS IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE WELLINGTON SIDE. YOU CANNOT GAIN ACCESS FROM TWEEDE TOL (CERES SIDE) AS THE ROADWORKS ARE ONGOING AND THEREFORE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

Come and chillax in style at McBains. With your own room, a wide array of books to cuddle in bed with, a river with healing powers, and a hiking trail into a valley so happy it’s called Happy Valley, McBains is the perfect getaway for you and your lover, your friends and your family. 

We take extra care to provide our guests with a clean room, linen, cooking surfaces, toilets, and showers –  as well as easy access to river and mountain trails. With our many nooks, books and crannies you can make use of our immediate facilities and the wide expanses of nature that abound in every direction. Upon return from your wanderings you can enjoy our high-spirited communal space – relaxing around a fire or soaking in the hot tub.

info@mcbains.co.za for your enquiries if you don’t manage to book from the website directly. Please allow 2 days for a reply (we are often hiking in the mountains).

General Info

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McBains is situated at the summit of the Bainskloof Pass, offering venue hire and accommodation for up to 40 people in an eclectic variety of rooms, cabins, and spaces. Fronting the Klein Sneeuberg Mountain and Witte River, McBains is blessed with stunning views and easy access to an abundance of river pools and mountain walks. We are at the top of a mountain and you need to drive up a scary (for some), winding mountain pass to get here. We have no cellphone reception, but you can get intermittent access from the road. We are a little bit rough around the edges – just how we like it.

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General Info

McBains is situated at the summit of the historic Bainskloof Pass, forming part of the village known as Eerste Tol. Bainskloof Pass is currently undergoing a road maintenance, which is scheduled to last the duration of 2021. Guests will be advised of the correct approach route to take when visiting McBains (DO NOT SIMPLY FOLLOW YOUR GPS!)

We offer venue hire and accommodation for up to 40 people in an eclectic variety of rooms, cabins, and spaces. We also provide meals by prior arrangement when confirming your booking. Fronting Deviation Buttress and the Witte River, McBains is surrounded on three sides by the Limietberg Nature Reserve. As such we are blessed with stunning views and easy access to an abundance of river pools and mountain walks.

We are a family-run business that places an emphasis on healthy outdoor fun and then enjoying a good night's rest. We are a little bit rough around the edges – just how we like it. We have limited cellphone reception from across the road. We have WiFi capability in the main house but strongly encourage our guests to take a break from their phones during their stay with us.

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Our priority is providing a space for you to unwind - without us tending to your every need. We have a wide range of books available for you to read while you are here. We encourage you to take some time off from your phone. Accordingly, we have no wi-fi.

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However, if you're a doctor on call or an Instagram Influencer who needs wi-fi like the doctor's patient needs life support, we can hook you up. The real catharsis in coming to McBains is to be found in surviving the drive up the windy pass, jumping into the healing waters of the Witte River, grabbing a book and having a read and a snooze in bed, and catching the sunset. The Champagne Package involves hanging out in the hot tub followed by a Midnight Swim... you'll have to bribe the hosts to take part in this most visceral of experiences!

McBains is best enjoyed with a few mates: round up a crew of friends or family and book out a few rooms.

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If you come with good vibes, you’ll have a good time. We make no apologies for the weather. Bring your own head torch - the paths are dark at night so that we can see the stars! We supply a towel on request, a duvet, pillow and a blanket as bedding. If you’re staying with us you’ll have your own clean bed in an awesome room. There’s a shared kitchen, outdoor lounge and deck area with fabulous views of the mountain and easy access to the river below.

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If you come with good vibes, you’ll have a good time. We make no apologies for the weather. Bring your own head torch - the paths are dark at night so that we can see the stars! We supply a towel, a duvet, pillow and blanket as bedding. If you’re staying with us you’ll have your own clean bed in an awesome room. There’s a shared kitchen, outdoor lounge and deck area with fabulous views of the mountain and easy access to the river below.

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When it’s time to pack, think: I’m going camping but I’m going to get to sleep in a comfy bed and there is a kitchen there with the basics and modest facilities to keep me clean. Please pack lightly and please assist us with waste management by taking home with you whatever recycling and refuse you are capable of.

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We usually light the hot tub at around 4pm and this is a great way to rinse off the day and soak away your worries. Wood for the hot tub as well as wood for braais can be bought from us for R50 per crate if you don't manage to bring your own wood up the pass with you. We offer a variety of board and card games which you are welcome to play in the upstairs studio - or in other communal spaces. Please note that in these difficult times, where maintaining mental and emotional health is paramount, the use of portable speakers to play music and drunken behaviour in any form and at any time of the day is strictly prohibited. Anything more than a quiet drink in the evening is strictly forbidden. We furthermore insist that you take away all bottles with you in order to get your deposit back.

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The nearest shops are in Wellington at the bottom of the pass, 15 minutes away. The SPAR on Main Road is probably the best spot to get meat and booze and last minute supplies. We have a full-time managerial couple (Calven and Magret) on site 24/7 to assist you during your stay.

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We are fully self-catering have two communal self-catering kitchens with plenty of fridge space. Please consider when packing at home to remove all unnecessary packaging and bring your food up in a well considered cooler box. We have plenty of braai options as well as a pizza oven (which chows a lot of wood).

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Drinks. Please feel welcome to bring your own and consider taking some of your recycling home with you as well. We can upcycle your glass beer bottles for our kombucha, which is our house blend of buchu and ginger, tastes divine, and is for sale for R25 a bottle. It's great on its own and as a mixer.

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Nature Therapy Thursdays

On any given Thursday, Ma'ayan and Justin set off into the rivers and mountains of Bainskloof in search of adventure, secret waterfalls, good company, and a break from the city's slickness. We round off the day with a TRE (Trauma and Tension Release Exercises) session, followed by a healthy meal.
Ma'ayan is a qualified TRE facilitator and Justin a qualified addiction counselor. And we both love sharing the providence of this beautiful area. Which make us the perfect couple for you and your friends to connect with and show you around for a full day of fun.
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Healthy meal

Included in your stay when you book for Nature Therapy Thursday is a healthy dinner, usually vegetarian and always delicious.


Awesome adventure

Our Nature Therapy Thursdays involve hikes where a basic level of fitness is required – we usually assess the group’s combined fitness and see how the day is looking, and decide where to go from there… you’re welcome to let us know in advance as to any specific requests you may have (i.e. trail versus rockhopping).

Cabins

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Franklin Cabin

Upcycled Toolshed / Sleeps a family of 4. Double and 2 singles / Own deck / Near to braai area / rad family vibes

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Jonathan Cabin

Sleeps 5. Double, Bunk Bed, 1 single / Nearby access to trance party loo and basin / epic vibes all round

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Sylvia Cabin

Sleeps 2 (Double Bed) / Remote access to loo and basin / romantic vibes

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Jack Cabin

Upcycled Pigeon Shed / Sleeps 2 (single beds) / Writer’s escape vibes

Rooms

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Wilbur

Sleeps 2 (Double Bed) / Self-Catering Kitchen and en-suite shower and loo / Couple hibernating and/or on-a-mission vibes

Enid Cabin R12

Enid

Kids Bunk Room / Sleeps 13 / Shower and loo next door / kids and team vibes

Hunter

Hunter

Sleeps 2 (Double Bed) / adjacent to Enid (kids) and next door to kitchen / Sunny & simple vibes opening to outdoor courtyard

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Herman

Sleeps 2 (small double bed) / Ensuite bath and loo / Opens to pizza courtyard / Explorer vibes

K SELLO ROOM R15

K Sello

Sleeps 1 (3/4 bed) / Ensuite shower and loo / Opens to pizza courtyard / Easy access to car / loner vibes

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Dave

Sleeps 1 (3/4 bed) / Ensuite shower and loo / Opens to pizza courtyard / Easy access to car / loner vibes

Accommodation

Cabins

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Franklin

Upcycled Toolshed / Sleeps a family of 4. Double and 2 singles / Own deck / Near to braai area / rad family vibes

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Jonathan

Sleeps 5. Double, Bunk Bed, 1 single / Nearby access to outdoor bath, toilet and basin / epic vibes all round

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Sylvia

Sleeps 2 (Double Bed) / nearby access to 2 single outdoor baths and basin / romantic vibes / killer views

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Sylvia and her twin baths
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Jack

Upcycled Pigeon Shed / Sleeps 2 (single beds) / Writer’s escape vibes

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Rooms

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Enid

Sleeps up to 11 in Bunk Beds /
Shower and loo next door / Shares a sunny garden with Hunter / Backs onto the pizza courtyard it shares with Herman and K Sello / Great for kids with parents sleeping within earshot and for groups and families / Named after Enid Blyton /

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Hunter

Sleeps up to 2 / Double Bed / Shares a sunny courtyard with Enid / Next door to shared kitchen / Named after Hunter S Thompson

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Bob

Sleeps up to 2 / 1 big double bed / Close to amenities / Opens onto kitchen/ Views from your bed of Klein Wellington Sneeukop / Named after Bob Dylan


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Herman

Sleeps up to 2 / Small double bed / En-suite bath and loo / Opens onto pizza courtyard / Next door to K Sello / Named after Herman Charles Bosman and Hermann Hesse

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K Sello

Sleeps 1, or 2 snugglers / Three-quarter bed /
En-suite shower and loo / Opens onto pizza courtyard / Next door to Herman /
Easy access to car / Named after K Sello Duiker

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Dave and 'The Cave'

Subject to availability as Dave and 'The Cave' are usually reserved for takeovers. Dave sleeps up to 6 with I double bed, 1 bunk bed, and a baby cot.

The Cave has 1 double bed, 2 single beds, 2 fold out couches and it ppens onto the downstairs kitchen lounge / Movie watching entertainment area / Great for a 'sitvas' !

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Come get involved
How's the serenity?
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McBains Instagram

Follow us: @mcbains3000

Instagram

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Guests reserve the right to party incognito at McBains. If you don\'t want to be photographed, please let us know at the time.
What happens at McBains, stays at McBains...

Contact

Contact Us

All our booking enquiries are handled via e-mail or through the message system below.
Bookings can only be made by referral and charm. You have to know someone who has been to McBains before and that person has to vouch for you (referral). This referral system holds everyone accountable and keeps the crazies out.

If you happen to be a crazy in that you don’t know us, are making enquiries coming in from the cold, and aren’t actually all that crazy, you can make your case (charm) as to why we should consider hosting you in the MESSAGE section of the booking enquiry below. Either way, e-mail us below