Myponga & Second Valley
Rolling green dairy country, a reservoir, a legendary old market and the secluded coves of Second Valley and Rapid Bay.
Myponga
A small village in lush dairy country above the Myponga Reservoir, settled from around 1840 and named from the Aboriginal word maippunga. Dairying shaped the town - the old cheese factory, built by a local cooperative in 1937 and closed in 1980, now houses the Myponga Market, a cult favourite for vintage finds, local produce and a weekend wander. Today you can taste the district's roots at the Fleurieu Milk Company farm gate or pull up a stool at the Smiling Samoyed Brewery, then refuel at the Myponga General Store and a local bakery.
The Reservoir and Coast
The Myponga Reservoir Reserve is open to the public for paddling, walking and shore fishing, with views over the water and the rolling hills beyond. Nearby Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park adds bushland trails, while Myponga Beach is a quiet, cliff-flanked cove good for a calm-day swim.
Second Valley
About a 90-minute drive from Adelaide, Second Valley is a spectacular pocket of coast where folded cliffs meet a sheltered cove. The Second Valley Jetty draws anglers, snorkellers and divers, with caves and swim-throughs offshore, while Leonards Mill, a restored 1858 flour mill, and the Jetty Store round out a relaxed day by the sea.
Visiting Myponga & Second Valley - frequently asked questions
What is Myponga and Second Valley known for?
Myponga is a dairy-country village known for the Myponga Market, housed in the old 1937 cheese factory, and for the Myponga Reservoir Reserve. Second Valley, on the coast, is famous for its dramatic folded cliffs, sheltered cove and a jetty popular with snorkellers and divers. Together they offer a mix of rural produce, brewing and distilling, and one of the Fleurieu's most scenic stretches of coast.
How far is Myponga and Second Valley from Adelaide?
Myponga sits roughly an hour's drive south of Adelaide, around 60 kilometres via Main South Road. Second Valley is a little further down the coast, about a 90-minute drive from the city. Both are easy to combine in a single day trip from Adelaide or with a wider Fleurieu Peninsula tour.
What is there to do in Myponga and Second Valley?
You can browse the Myponga Market, taste local produce at the Fleurieu Milk Company farm gate or sample beers at the Smiling Samoyed Brewery. The Myponga Reservoir Reserve is open for paddling, walking and shore fishing, while Second Valley offers snorkelling, diving, jetty fishing and dining at the historic Leonards Mill. Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park adds bushwalking close by.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring and autumn bring mild weather ideal for walking the reservoir trails and exploring the coast. Summer is best for swimming and snorkelling, though Second Valley is an exposed spot, so calm, low-wind days with little swell make the water clearest and safest. The Myponga Market and brewery typically draw the biggest crowds on weekends.
Is Second Valley good for snorkelling and diving?
Yes, Second Valley is one of the Fleurieu's most rewarding spots for snorkelling and diving, with shallow water, easy entry points and caves and swim-throughs to explore near the jetty. You may spot fish, rays and sea stars, and leafy sea dragons are present, though they are well camouflaged and more reliably seen at nearby Rapid Bay. Choose a calm day with light wind and low swell, and reef shoes help on the rocky entry.
Things to do in Myponga & Second Valley
17 places in this category
No places in this category here yet.
Stories from Myponga & Second Valley
Second Valley, second to none
It was nearly called Finniss Vale. The story of Second Valley: Colonel Light's landing in 1836, the Leonard brothers' flour mill, and how a one-jetty cove became the most photographed coastline on the Fleurieu.
June 2026 · 7 min read
The milk that saved Myponga
In the early 2000s Myponga's dairy farms were disappearing - the district had gone from around forty farms to ten. Three families decided to stop selling milk for someone else's label. This is the story of the Fleurieu Milk Company, and of the valley it kept in business.
June 2026 · 7 min read
Explore nearby destinations
Sources
- Myponga & Second Valley - Wikipedia article - Wikipedia (accessed April 2026)
Image credits
- Second Valley jetty , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons