The Walk
The Heron Loop is the easy short circuit at Myponga Reservoir Reserve — a relaxed 1.9 km that takes in two of the reserve’s best reservoir viewpoints. Named for the herons that work the reservoir margins in the quieter morning hours, it’s a step up from the flat Spinebill but still accessible to any level of fitness. Allow half an hour at a comfortable pace, more if you stop at the lookouts.
What You’ll See
From the Hansen St car park the trail winds through reserve bushland — formed gravel, gentle grades, no challenging terrain — to the Deck Lookout. This is a timber viewing platform built at the edge of the reserve with a direct outlook over the Myponga Reservoir. On still mornings the water mirrors the surrounding hills; in the afternoon it picks up wind riffles. Either way it’s a genuinely attractive view, and this is the best point in the reserve to look for herons and other water birds in the margins below the deck.
The trail continues past the deck to the Reservoir Lookout, a more open viewpoint that takes in a wider sweep of the water and the valley. From here the circuit passes through the Eatts St car park area — where the reserve’s public toilets are located — before returning along the southern edge of the reserve to the Hansen St starting point.
Birdwatching Notes
The Heron name isn’t accidental. The SA Water reserve environment — low foot traffic, undisturbed water, native vegetation on the margins — makes this a better birdwatching destination than more popular trail areas. Beyond herons, you can expect ducks, cormorants and various small bush birds in the surrounding vegetation. Morning visits produce the most activity; the reserve is at its quietest in the hour after gates open.
Practical Notes
Toilets are at the Eatts St car park — roughly at the midpoint of the loop — not at the Hansen St start. Carry water, as there’s nothing on the trail. Dogs are not permitted anywhere in the reserve.
For access, opening hours, facilities and the full rules that apply to every Myponga loop, see the Myponga Reservoir Walks guide.
Highlights
- Timber Deck Lookout with direct views across the reservoir — the best heron-watching spot in the reserve
- Two reservoir viewpoints in under 2 km of easy, well-graded walking
- Quiet, low-traffic reserve setting ideal for birdwatching
- Connects directly to the Kestrel Loop from the same Hansen St trailhead
Distance, elevation and surface type are derived from a recorded GPS track and publicly available route data — figures are a close guide rather than survey-grade. See How Accurate Is Our Trail Data? for detail.