Australia ..... Where to photograph?

[Professional]

Hi all,

I will have my vacation in November this year, and i am planning to visit Australia this year, so my question is: what good locations in Australia to visit for photography? Say i will be in Melbourne and go around like Sydney, Gold Coast and so, where do you recommend me to go? i am looking for landscapes and nature mostly.


Kind Regards,

Tareq

[hw771230]

Pro,

I have been twice so far, and all I can recommend is to get out of the cities. Tasmania is spectacular, and the alps in eastern OZ are great, espacially in Victoria. Also, if you can get to Kosciuszko NP there is some great hiking and excellent photo ops. Oh, you might like Grampians NP too, it is kind of rugged terrain. Be prepared for ALL weather in November. It can be swealtering hot or fairly cool (especially if you go up in the "mountains") Also, I must say that November is a great time to go because you should miss the school holidays.

I'm already looking forward to your photos (and returning for that matter).

Caleb

[Professional]

Pro,

I have been twice so far, and all I can recommend is to get out of the cities. Tasmania is spectacular, and the alps in eastern OZ are great, espacially in Victoria. Also, if you can get to Kosciuszko NP there is some great hiking and excellent photo ops. Oh, you might like Grampians NP too, it is kind of rugged terrain. Be prepared for ALL weather in November. It can be swealtering hot or fairly cool (especially if you go up in the "mountains") Also, I must say that November is a great time to go because you should miss the school holidays.

I'm already looking forward to your photos (and returning for that matter).

Caleb

Hi Caleb,

Thank you very much for your post.

I said that i am not into cities, i want nature and landscapes, so for sure i will avoid the cities [only for sleeping, lol].

I wrote down those places you recommended, and i don't care about the weather as i went to Europe twice in different seasons and i can handle the hot no problem but i love the cold weather.

I think Melbourne where i plan to stay is in Victoria, so i am sure i can find a lot there, i wish to visit Tasmania, i heard it is amazing for landscapes and nature, but is it expensive to get over there from Melbourne?

I hope i can get good photos as long i will be in the right place there in the right time.

Thank you again,

Tareq

[gldiana]

Hi Tareq,

a good place to check is
http://www.tonyfeder.com/ Tony has done a lot of photography in Australia.

[Professional]

Thank you very much for all help.
So if you have any addition please feel free to do, i appreciate all comments and help as possible before i travel.

[gldiana]

There's an awful amount of spam lately. I keep hitting the "report" button and I hope all of you do, too, but I wish the moderators would take care of this problem. It's becoming too annoying. And those spammer idiots really think someone is going to click and buy stuff?

[Edd]

Luca,

I PM'ed the Mods about the last one, will send another.

Ed

[hw771230]

I also pmed the mods and it seems a bit of the trash has been thrown out. Thanks for reporting. It took a long time a couple years ago to get the spam down to a reasonable level.

Caleb

[MeMe]

Hi there-
My husband was in Australia a few years ago for business...some areas he liked were the Great Ocean Road viewing the 12 apostles and also going to Phillip Island and watching the penquin parade. Have a "great" trip!

[domgarga]

... and i am planning to visit Australia this year, so my question is: what good locations in Australia to visit for photography?

Hi Tareq, I'm just back from Australia where I was on last June. I found extremelly exciting the portion from Alice Prings to Ayers Rock but if you plan to stay at Melbourne then I definitely recommend you to drive towards the Great Ocean Road. Plan a stop at Apollo Bay, the 12 Apostoles areas (where also the London Bridge is). There is an hotel right into the 12 Apostoles coast but don't know about costs. I definitely don't recommend to think on Apollo Bay for the night and leaving very early in the morning to reach the 12 Apostoles for the surise because it's roughly 100km away and the road is not easy at all especially in the night with a lot of wids animals hunting for food (by the way November is a great moment to photograph such coast as the sunrise point fits perfect and will illuminate the reef!). Moreover you would need of a local expert guide to bring you in some viewpoint which will fit at the best your need to get pictures. Please note that it's not safe at all to go alone along the coastline out from the "official" path as there are wholes and the ground is not steady at all.
Something more to consider is to have a short run with elicopter to take aerial pictures (landing area right close the 12 Apostoles parking place).
With regards wild-life photos I definitely recommend you to go to Kangaroo Island. You can even reach the island by car but it takes a couple of days at full speed!

I hope the above will help you and in case you need more please let me know.
You can see some of the pictures I took over such trip from the below link (ple<se note that not all of them are taken on South Australia)
http://www.domgarga.com/cms/images/australia/index.html

ciao
Domenico
http://www.domgarga.com

Great Ocean Road: 12 Apostoles


Great Ocean Road: London Bridge



Kangaroo Island

[Professional]

... and i am planning to visit Australia this year, so my question is: what good locations in Australia to visit for photography?

Hi Tareq, I'm just back from Australia where I was on last June. I found extremelly exciting the portion from Alice Prings to Ayers Rock but if you plan to stay at Melbourne then I definitely recommend you to drive towards the Great Ocean Road. Plan a stop at Apollo Bay, the 12 Apostoles areas (where also the London Bridge is). There is an hotel right into the 12 Apostoles coast but don't know about costs. I definitely don't recommend to think on Apollo Bay for the night and leaving very early in the morning to reach the 12 Apostoles for the surise because it's roughly 100km away and the road is not easy at all especially in the night with a lot of wids animals hunting for food (by the way November is a great moment to photograph such coast as the sunrise point fits perfect and will illuminate the reef!). Moreover you would need of a local expert guide to bring you in some viewpoint which will fit at the best your need to get pictures. Please note that it's not safe at all to go alone along the coastline out from the "official" path as there are wholes and the ground is not steady at all.
Something more to consider is to have a short run with elicopter to take aerial pictures (landing area right close the 12 Apostoles parking place).
With regards wild-life photos I definitely recommend you to go to Kangaroo Island. You can even reach the island by car but it takes a couple of days at full speed!

I hope the above will help you and in case you need more please let me know.
You can see some of the pictures I took over such trip from the below link (ple<se note that not all of them are taken on South Australia)
http://www.domgarga.com/cms/images/australia/index.html

ciao
Domenico

Hi Domenico,

Thank you very much for your reply and tips, it is indeed so helpful.

Unfortunately, i went to New Zealand instead of Australia last year, i loved it and i feel i did a better job i that because NZ is lots smaller than Australia so i can see more landscape in less time moving around which i really enjoyed, i will keep your information as a reference for the future trip to Australia one day for sure, and i hope i will enjoy in Australia as well!

The problem i always travel alone now after i got into photography, so that i am not sure i will be safe there moving and walking in trips alone, but i hope i can be fine wherever i go.

Your photos are truly beautiful and nice, Well Done!

Ciao,
Tareq

[Professional]

Hi professional,
You should go to the GoldCoast as you love Landscapes and nature mostly. It is really fun loving place.

Thank you very much!

I still didn't visit Australia, so maybe with 3-4 years i may visit there then i will go to that place you recommend.

[tonks001]

I'll be going to Australia this month also! 'll be staying in Melbourne and I can't wait to take lots of pictures. i'm definitely going to visit the 12 apostles. The museums and flea markets is also part of my travel. I love the colors!

[removed advertising links]

[GrazingGoat66]

As an Australian based on the West Coast, you have pretty much discussed and nailed the must do shots in Victoria (the state that Melbourne is in). As far as landscapes are concerned, get up into the mountains (hills??) outside Melbourne (The Dandenongs) but you must try and visit Tasmania, probably the most picturesque place in our country. Bar the coast line where Australia possesses more than our fair share of pristine white beaches, (especially on the Western side of the continent), we are basically a very flat country. Sure there are a few exceptions, but generally speaking don't come here excepting soaring mountains and outlandish vistas.
You will enjoy our country immensely as we are extremely laid back and fairly welcoming.....but we are also an extremely expensive country for Americans to visit. Accommodation, dining and day to day goods (ie groceries etc) are going to come as an enormous shock to the average American.
Accept the fact that your credit card is going to melt and you will enjoy yourself immensely.

[ericinoz]

Living somewhere near where you intend to visit I would make some suggestions assuming that you are interested in landscape photography. The Gold Coast is skyscraper hell, not all that high but they go on for miles. However the Gold Coast Hinterland is all sub-tropical rain forest, waterfalls and great hikes. Google Lamington and see if you can get a couple of days at the Lodge there. My favourite is Binna Burra, there is a small lodge there and it is not so touristy as Lamington. If you are driving from Sydney to the Gold Coast you will pass through what is known as the Northern Rivers. Big rivers, fabulous scenery. If you don't want to do the touristy bits out of Melbourne down the Ocean road go to the Victorian Alps, Bright, Mt Hotham, Mansfield. All great for landscape photography. If you do go down the Great Ocean Road keep going on to Warrnambool, Childers Cove down there is the same as the 12 Apostles but no people. Of course out of Sydney you would have to go to the Blue Mountains, only a couple of hours on the train. Nothing as spectacular as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon or the Rockies but interesting in their own way.