Second Valley

Second Valley is a hamlet on the western coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, tucked into a small cove between steep forested headlands about an hour and a quarter south of Adelaide. The settlement has fewer than 200 permanent residents but draws steady visitor traffic for its swimming, snorkelling and the simple beauty of the setting.

The cove is protected by a natural rock reef that breaks the gulf swell and creates a sheltered swimming area. A heritage timber jetty extends from the beach into deeper water and is popular with fishers and those who want to jump in from the end. The water around the jetty and the reef is clear enough for good snorkelling, with a resident population of blue groper, old wives, harlequin fish and leafy sea dragons on the kelp-covered rocks.

The beach itself is a mix of sand and pebbles, backed by a small grassed reserve with picnic tables and a basic toilet block. The cliffs on either side are covered in native scrub and stringybark eucalypt forest, and in spring the undergrowth flowers with native orchids and coastal daisies. A walking trail follows the cliff top south toward Rapid Bay, offering views down to the coastline and, in whale season (June to October), occasional sightings of southern right whales in the gulf.

Second Valley was originally established in the 1840s as a timber loading port, and the jetty dates from that era although it has been rebuilt several times. The surrounding Fleurieu coast was one of the earliest areas settled by Europeans in South Australia, and the roads between the small towns still follow the original bullock tracks through the hills.

The cove is at its best on a calm summer morning when the water is clear and the light catches the reef below the surface. Winter and spring bring rougher conditions but also the drama of big gulf swells hitting the outer rocks. Second Valley is an easy day trip from Adelaide and combines well with visits to Rapid Bay, Victor Harbor or the McLaren Vale wine region.