A day trip to Cullinan

How far is Cullinan from Johannesburg and Pretoria?

Roughly 40 km east of central Pretoria, and around 100 km north-east of Johannesburg.

Sources differ a little. Wikipedia gives both 30 and 40 km from Pretoria, Tourism Update says 30 km, and Mining Weekly puts the village about 25 km from Pretoria and about 100 km north-east of Johannesburg. Which end of Pretoria you leave from matters more than the exact figure.

We won't quote a driving time: Johannesburg traffic on the N1 changes it too much. The tour listings give a useful clue. The Johannesburg mine tour fits the transfer both ways and a surface tour of up to two hours into about five hours.

Should you drive yourself or take a tour?

Drive if you have a car and want the cheapest day. Take a tour if you don't, or if you want Pretoria's sights without the parking.

Each option, side by side:

Every one of these visits the same surface tour; the underground tour guide explains why. Our pick without a car is the private Pretoria day: it costs less than the mine-only transfer and adds the city.

What is the route to Cullinan by car?

Take the N1 north, then the N4 east towards eMalahleni (Witbank), and leave at the Rayton and Cullinan exit onto the R515.

That route comes from South African Tourism. The operator's own directions add the last part: about 30 km on the N4, then roughly 16 km following the signs, left at the Shell garage and right at the Wimpy onto Oak Avenue. Premier Diamond Tours is based at 99 Oak Avenue.

Book the tour before you set off; walk-ins are not how it works here. The walking tour listing gives its meeting point as GPS -25.670558, 28.516623, in the village.

Can you get to Cullinan by train or public transport?

Not practically. The Gautrain does not go to Cullinan, and the old steam train trips are not confirmed to run.

The Gautrain stops at Hatfield and Pretoria stations, still a long way west of the village. South African Tourism says plainly that a car is needed. Friends of the Rail used to run a vintage steam train from Pretoria to Cullinan with about four hours in town, but the last listings we found are years old. Don't plan around it.

The half-day tour from Pretoria is the shortest way to do it without a car: pickup at your hotel and back by mid-afternoon.

Hotel pickup in Pretoria, the surface tour of the mine and the diamond market, done in about four hours.

★ 5.0 · 4 hours · from $125

Explore the half day from Pretoria → Tour details

What else is there to do in Cullinan village?

Walk Oak Avenue, watch diamond cutting at the Diamond Hub, and see buildings from the mine's first decade.

• Oak Avenue, the main street, lined with oaks and jacarandas, shops and places to eat.
• The Diamond Hub, with cutting demonstrations and replica gems (South African Tourism).
• Early buildings: the Herbert Baker church of 1904, the 1907 hospital and the 1909 Premier Diamond Masonic Lodge (source).
• McHardy House Museum, murals by Italian prisoners of war, and Cullinan Station.
• Zonderwater, the Italian POW museum near the village.
• The Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum on the R104 at Rayton, open daily 07:30 to 16:00 (DITSONG). Its restaurant is closed.

Jacarandas flower around October and November, the best time for photos of the village.

Which Pretoria sights can you combine with Cullinan?

The Union Buildings, the Voortrekker Monument, Church Square and Kruger House are the usual stops on the combined tours.

The private Pretoria and Cullinan day is described as Pretoria's landmarks in the morning, then the drive east for the mine tour in the afternoon. The full day from Johannesburg covers the mine, the Voortrekker Monument and the Union Buildings. Check the listing for what entry is included, and note that at the Union Buildings visitors usually see the grounds and gardens, not the inside.

Driving yourself? Do Pretoria first and aim for the 12:00 mine slot, or do the mine at 10:30 and spend the afternoon in town.

Can you combine Cullinan with a safari at Dinokeng?

On a separate day, yes. Dinokeng Game Reserve is about 45 km north of Pretoria: Gauteng's only free-roaming Big Five reserve, and malaria-free.

Gauteng Tourism lists Dinokeng at 19,000 ha with a self-drive route at R250 per vehicle. Cullinan and Dinokeng both sit on the north-eastern side of Pretoria, but a game drive and a mine tour in one day is a rush. We'd split them.

The Dinokeng safari with transfer runs about five hours from Johannesburg with pickup, a good second day after the mine.

The Big Five in a malaria-free reserve near Pretoria, with the transfer from Johannesburg included.

★ 4.9 · 5 hours · from $151

Explore the Dinokeng safari → Tour details

What do you need to bring for the mine tour?

ID copies sent ahead with the visitor form, closed flat shoes, sun protection, and no alcohol beforehand.

• Paperwork: Premier Diamond Tours wants its visitors form and a copy of each visitor's ID at least 2 working days before. Bring your passport or ID on the day too.
• Shoes: closed and flat. Sandals and heels are turned away.
• Alcohol: the walking tour listing states a breathalyser test before entry. Save the wine for after.
• Age: the surface tour is for ages 10 and up.
• Weather: summer afternoons bring sudden thunderstorms, winter mornings are cold, and the sun is strong all year at about 1,500 m (Gauteng weather). Take the 10:30 slot in summer.

Tours run daily, public holidays included, at 10:30 and 12:00 according to the operator. Times have changed before, so confirm when you book.

Frequently asked questions