The Walk
The Kestrel Loop is the full circuit at Myponga Reservoir Reserve — 6.77 km of formed gravel and bushland trail that links every major lookout and feature in the reserve in a single two-hour walk. If you’re visiting Myponga for the first time and have the time, this is the walk to do.
Named for the common kestrel that hunts the open reserve margins, the Kestrel absorbs all three of the shorter bird-named loops: everything in the Spinebill, Heron and Lapwing circuits is included within it. That means the Deck Lookout, the forest walk section, the old homestead ruins, the western reserve and the Reservoir Lookout — all in one circuit from the Hansen St trailhead.
The Opening Section — Hansen St to the Deck Lookout
The Kestrel begins at the Hansen St car park on the northern side of the reserve, passing quickly to the Deck Lookout — a timber viewing platform with a direct outlook over the Myponga Reservoir. On calm mornings (particularly in autumn and winter) the water is still enough to reflect the surrounding hills in near-perfect mirror. This is the reserve’s most photogenic spot and the best point for watching water birds: herons, cormorants and various ducks work the shallow margins below the deck.
Eatts St and the Forest Walk
From the deck the circuit moves to the Eatts St car park area — roughly the halfway point — where the reserve’s eastern toilet facilities are located. Beyond here the trail enters the forest walk section, the denser native bush on the western margin of the reserve. The vegetation closes in, the formed gravel gives way to a more natural bush surface, and the character of the walk changes.
This is the Kestrel’s most atmospheric section: filtered light through eucalyptus and wattle, the quiet of a reserve that sees relatively few visitors. The birdwatching through the forest walk is consistently good — honeyeaters, grey fantails, thornbills and, in the mornings, a noisy and varied understorey chorus.
The Western Section — Ruins and Ridge
Continuing through the forest section the trail reaches the Forest Walk Lookout, elevated above the reservoir with views through the native vegetation, then descends slightly to the Homestead Ruin Lookout. The ruins here are remnants of farming properties that occupied the Myponga valley before SA Water developed the reservoir in the 1960s. The lookout has good views south across the reservoir and the contrast between the modern managed reserve and this agricultural past is striking.
Beyond the ruins the circuit passes through the western section of the reserve, passing the western toilet block before looping back north and east toward the reservoir lookouts.
Reservoir Lookout and Return
The Reservoir Lookout provides an open view across the full width of the reservoir — a different perspective to the deck, with the valley visible in both directions and the reserve’s hills framing the water. From here the trail returns along the southern edge of the reserve to the Hansen St car park.
Practical Notes
Plan around the gate times — the Kestrel’s two-hour duration leaves less buffer than the shorter loops if you arrive late. Carry water (the trail has no water sources) and use the toilets at Eatts St or the western car park midway. Dogs are not permitted 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
- The Deck Lookout — reservoir reflections and water birds in the morning
- Forest walk section: the reserve’s densest native bush with excellent birdwatching
- Homestead Ruin Lookout: history and elevated reservoir views
- A complete picture of the reserve in a single two-hour circuit
- Quiet, low-traffic environment — a proper escape close enough to Adelaide for a day trip
Rating: 4.3 / 5 — The most complete walking experience at Myponga Reservoir Reserve, best enjoyed on a still autumn or winter morning when the light is good and the reserve is at its quietest.
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.