If you’re looking for a simple caravan holiday where you can relax and make your own entertainment, then take a 90 kilometre drive south of Adelaide and you can have just that at Second Valley.

The Second Valley Caravan Park is part of the Family Park’s group and although it’s small it has all the basics.

Dogs are welcome on sites, there is a small playground for kids nearby, a camp kitchen and barbecue area, and the office also doubles as a small store and takeaway outlet. Try the food, it’s great! You can also find a little free library book swap here.

Just a short stroll from the park is the Second Valley jetty and beach, again they are both small but so picturesque, as is the coastline where the huge hills and limestone cliffs drop into the ocean. Quite a variety can be caught from the jetty including squid, garfish and tommies while we were there.

To get to the jetty you cross a seawall and bridge that were built in 1855 and are heritage listed. Back then, Second Valley like many coastal towns, was a busy port with a single track tramway to carry goods to the wharf.

Second Valley Beach is a popular swimming beach and is also great for snorkeling and kayaking, with sea caves to explore along this part of the coast.

The town of Normanville is only 14 kilometres to the north where you can find a supermarket, cafes, hardware and outdoors shops and other specialty shops, as well as a hotel.

To the south is Rapid Bay, a locality with another stunning beach and popular jetty. Rapid Bay is a favourite with fishers and divers, and the ethereal leafy sea dragons frequent this part of the coast. There is a campground at Rapid Bay but no other facilities.

These parks are particularly busy in summer but their proximity to Adelaide make them an easy getaway at any time of year. What I like about the Second Valley Caravan Park is its no frills simplicity.

Some of the sites are quite small, but there are spaces for bigger rigs too. It’s tidy and simple and there is a beach and jetty to keep the kids entertained in the great outdoors.

Enjoy

Glenys