This is a steep, strenuous climb following Nursery Ravine up Table Mountain. Most of the path is stepped, and at the top, the south face of Castle Rock forms a sheer wall of cliff that towers over the gorge. There is a population of Protea cynaroides (king protea) near the top of Nursery Ravine. Follow the Silvertree Trail to get to the base of Nursery Ravine, or take a short cut from the top of the Protea Garden. Nursery Stream is often dry in summer.

Nursery Ravine takes its name from the forestry nursery that was established at its head in 1893 and in use until 1910. The remains of the dry stone wall, reportedly built to mitigate the violence of the south-east winds, can still be seen. The nursery was used to raise Quercus species (oaks), Fraxinus species (ash), Cryptomeria japonicaAcacia melanoxylon (Australian blackwood), Acacia mearnsii (black wattle), Pinus species (pines), Robinia species, Catalpa species, Eucalyptus species (gum), Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey cypress), Ulmus species (elm), Platanus species (plane), Juglans species (walnut), Castanea sativa (chestnut) and Alnus species (alder), several of which still occur there.

Scroll to top