This beautiful strip of sand was originally known as Dodds Beach, named after a landowner from the 1850s. In 1928, a real estate agent held a competition to find a more sellable name and chose Boon Boona Beach. Surprise, surprise, this didn’t work, and it was changed a few years later to Moana, a Maori word meaning ‘blue water’.

You’ll find these blue waters perfect for swimming, surfing and even dolphin encounters (Moana is part of the protected Encounter Marine Park). If you prefer land-based adventures, follow the stunning four-kilometre Coast Park Trail from Moana to Port Noarlunga, taking in low cliffs, sand dunes and sunsets over the gulf. Or the 34km Coast to Vines rail trail for cyclists and pedestrians passes nearby between Marino to Willunga.

FAST FACTS!

• The migrant ship Nashwauk was wrecked off Moana in 1855. Her mast lies south of the Moana Surf Life Saving Club, just 50 metres offshore
• Moana is one of the few beaches in Adelaide where cars can be driven on the sand
• Moana Sands Conservation Park is a significant Kaurna Aboriginal cultural heritage site associated with stone tools and burials