The history behind the origins of its name is one of much complexity, so brace yourselves, as we dive deep into the origins of Second Valley. Named by Colonel William Light, Second Valley was the second, valley, he found on his journey across this peninsula. BOOM! Mind blown. #strayafacts101
But seriously, with a history dating back to 1836, Second Valley is filled with character which we will briefly explore, before sharing my own experiences. As mentioned, Colonel Light was on a mission to find the capital city of the new state of South Australia. After passing the alluring Port Lincoln, Light continued across the Fleurieu Peninsula. The first stop was Rapid Bay, a place he named after his ship, the second stop was... you guessed it, Second Valley.
Keen for further establishment, Second Valley had a second attempt at recognition when it claimed to birth the first white girl in South Australia, a child named Fanny Finniss. Fanny's father was Boyle Travers Finnis, a man whose legacy lives on through the Fleurieu. Mr Finnish also became the first Premier of South Australia.
In the early stages, Second Valley was split in two areas. Half the people lived up the hill and near the creek, the others lived snugged away from the wind and along the coast. Around this time, Finniss Vale was a name being considered for the town, before drifting to the proposal of Randalsea when William Randall purchased large amounts of land and buildings in the area, but neither name gained much attention.
Second Valley it was to be, and by the 1850's a jetty was needed. Years later, a group of boat sheds were also built where fishermen would store their equipment from the wild weathers that often struck the Fleurieu. Eventually the damages brought about the demolition of the sheds and an old rusting winch is the last reminder of the glorious old days.
Second Valley is located about 90km out of Adelaide. It is one of Adelaide's smallest, yet most remarkable beaches. If you're going with a group, I recommend carpooling from Flinders University, which should take you about an hour.
Available Activities:
Yeah seriously, if you're facing the ocean head left (further south) across the face and find yourself at the true second valley location!
This spot is absolutely incredible! Getting good vibes just thinking about it! Here you can hang out, go for a snorkel, head into the cave and have a look around (note it's dark) ALSO... if you're a pro scuba diver please dive down near the cave entrance and look for my Gucci sunglasses, please and thank you.
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Here you can also watch people or attempt a cliff jump. The first (safe) area to jump from is about 8-10m, as seen in the picture above. The second (safe) spot to jump from is about 15m. Then there is the top ("safe") area but seriously, F#CK THAT, 25m place to jump into the water, you really need to jump, I've witnessed it done before!
Also known as Backslapper, this location has a few set rock climbing routes (deep water soloing) where you need no gear and the water is safe to land in. You can find some set routes on thecrag.com. If you hadn't guessed, one of the people that set a climbing route here, fell from a great height and landed on their back on the water, therefore naming the climb and the crag as Backslapper.
Recommended to bring:
There are toilets in the main carpark but it's about a 10min walk from the special spot.
Also note the water is known to rise and fall rapidly so please be extremely careful when entering and exiting the waters. Watch for sharp edges on the rocks from weather ware and please look out for sharks and blue-ringed octopus which are known to be found in the area.
Hope you've enjoyed the read :) I'll leave you with this funny video of me (green shorts) peer pressuring my best friend Matt to jump into our inflatable boats!
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