Helen Martins' Owl House, often cited as South Africa's finest example of outsider art, is an extraordinary, other-worldly home of concrete and ground glass sculptures. Her creativity conjures up an array of emotions: from wonder to excitement, curiosity and sadness.

Built in 1905, the Dutch Reformed Church of Nieu Bethesda is the grandest edifice in the village, with its long gothic spire soaring towsards the dazzling blue sky. A decline in the town resulted in a dwindling of the numbers of the congregation. The church has not had a permanent minister since 1961. A Sunday service is performed by a minister from Graaff-Reinet.

There is some fine wooden carving on the old church pews and the original chandeliers are quite unique. The antiquated carbide gas generator for the gas lighting is no longer operational, but once a year, early in December, an evening Christmas service is held with conventional gas used to light the lamps.

The church has been recently renovated and is now available for weddings, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, etc. The church can be viewed by arrangement.

Nieu Bethesda has a working network of furrows, with water supplied daily from a spring on the plateau above the village. Residents channel water into their gardens using smaller gated funnels. Visitors can hike along the furrows up to the spring.

Opposite the Owlhouse, a bridge crosses to the west bank of the river, where the original water mill still exists. The water mill was erected in 1860 by Mr B.J. Pienaar, on the original farm, Uitkyk. The original wooden waterwheel was later replaced by the existing metal one.

Graves date back to the late 1700's and the Anglo Boer War. A number of old graves have tombstones made from local rock slabs. The oldest is dated 1786.

Horse riding is offered at several places in the village.

The area around Nieu Bethesda is good for either a leisurely ride or a challenging ride for serious mountain bikers. If you’re feeling lazy, hire a bike from the Outsiders B&B and cruise around the village. Alternatively, wake up early to conquer one of the two mountain bike trails in the area: Compassberg and Ganora.

The residents of the Nieu Bethesda township, Pienaarsig, have turned to crafts to earn a living. Crafters include felter, wire workers and sheepskin slipper makers.

Following the tradition of Helen Martins, there are several artists who have found their muse in Nieu Bethesda and established their studios in the village.

If, on your ambles around Nieu Bethesda, you feel the need for a break, drop into one of the village coffee shops for a drink and a chat. The Outsiders Restaurant is on the 'main road'of Nieu Bethesda and you can watch the traffic of cows, donkeys, dogs, cats, geese and the occasional people go by. The Village Inn is in the same street as the Owl House and you can either sit in the inn’s cosy interior of soak up the sun in the peaceful back garden.

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The Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre depicts the setting in the area around Nieu Bethesda 253 million years ago during the Permian Period. The centre showcases the fossils found both in Nieu Bethesda and in other places in South Africa. The fossils date to a time 50 million years before the age of dinosaurs when the continents were merged in a supercontinent called Pangea.

A visit to the Fossil Exploration Centre will be a journey back in time to a world with unfamiliar plants and animals. There are life-size models of prehistoric animals that roamed the area and illustrations of the landscape without grasses, flowers, mammals and birds. This was the time when mammal ancestors called Therapsids were the dominant species on earth.

Gather a colourful perspective of village life. Jakob van Staden has lived in Nieu-Bethesda all his life and has extensive knowledge of the area. He offers twenty minute guided donkey cart tours during which Jacob will share his knowledge of the history of the town and will tell you about his days as a student and how he started his business.

The area around Nieu Bethesda boasts around 280 bird species including water birds, mountain birds and several species of raptor and other birds of prey. Be on the lookout for the Blue Crane, South Africa's national bird.

The Sneeuberg Brewery and deli is essentially a one-man show and the beer and cheese served here are made by the owner. Even the coffee is roasted on site.

The beer is free of preservatives or additives using only malt, hops and natural spring water. There are three difference ales: the crisper more bitter Karoo Ale, the slightly sweeter Honey Ale and the smoky dark Roasted Ale.

No street lights and cloudless skies in Nieu Bethesda allow the Milky Way to dominate the night.