The Walk
The Lapwing Loop is the mid-length option at Myponga Reservoir Reserve and, for most walkers, the most rewarding of the shorter circuits. At 3.9 km with 108 metres of climbing, it threads together the reserve’s most interesting terrain: the forest walk section through denser native bush, the old homestead ruins, and the reservoir outlook — and does it in just over an hour at a comfortable pace.
The character of the Lapwing is different from the flatter Spinebill and Heron loops. Where those circuits mostly follow the formed gravel trail at the edge of the reservoir, the Lapwing pushes into the bushland on the western margin of the reserve, where the vegetation is thicker and the trail has more of the feel of genuine bush walking.
Through the Forest
Starting from the Eatts St car park, the Lapwing climbs gently away from the reservoir through reserve bushland. The gradient is moderate rather than steep — short rises separated by flatter sections — and the surface transitions from the formed gravel path near the car park to the more natural surface of the forest walk section.
The Forest Walk Lookout is reached after the main climb, with elevated views back across the reservoir through the native vegetation. The forest walk section itself is the highlight of the Lapwing — denser, quieter, more characterful than the open sections near the water. This is where the birdwatching is best: honeyeaters working through the flowering understorey, grey fantails following you along the trail, thornbills in the low scrub.
The Homestead Ruins
The Homestead Ruin Lookout is a lookout near the site of farmstead ruins within the reserve — remnants of the farming properties that occupied the Myponga valley before the reservoir was built in the 1960s. SA Water acquired and cleared the land at that time; the ruins are what remains of one of those original homesteads. It’s worth taking a moment here — the outlook across the southern section of the reservoir is good, and the contrast between the managed reserve of today and the farming past gives the landscape an additional layer of interest.
Reservoir Outlook and Return
From the homestead ruins the trail descends gently back toward the water, passing the Reservoir Lookout for an open view across the reservoir before returning to the Eatts St car park. This final section is the same trail used by the Spinebill Loop in reverse.
Practical Notes
Toilets are at the Eatts St car park at the start; carry all water, as there are nothing on the trail itself. Dogs are not permitted in the reserve. Check gate times with SA Water before visiting — the reserve has seasonal gated hours.
For access, opening hours, facilities and the full rules that apply to every Myponga loop, see the Myponga Reservoir Walks guide.
Highlights
- Forest walk section with the reserve’s densest native bush and best birdwatching
- Homestead Ruin Lookout combining reservoir views and valley history
- Relaxed moderate circuit covering the reserve’s most interesting terrain in just over an hour
- Quiet, low-traffic SA Water reserve — genuinely peaceful mid-week
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.