NEW underground tours of the diamond mine in Cullinan, north-east of Pretoria, have been introduced. The mine is still in operation but has been through years of canvassing to make it accessible to visitors.

The tour includes a surface drive in a jeep, which allows visitors to take a journey through the dumps. Visitors will get to look into the gaping hole which is four times bigger than the Kimberley Hole.

There is also a stopover in the ‘History Room’, which contains old mining machines and instruments and aged photographs. An old tram has been restored to take visitors to and from the mineshaft. It passes Oak Avenue, which houses museums, arty shops and tea gardens, including the McHardy Museum, Aldebran Studio and The Recreation Club, which was built in 1912.