Great Ocean Road Landscape Photography Locations
The Great Ocean Road
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Why The Great Ocean Road Is One Of Australia’s Best Landscape Photography Locations
Australia is home to some truly beautiful and diverse landscapes. Whether you want to photograph deserts, rainforests, coasts or cities, Australia has plenty of fantastic locations for you. The Great Ocean Road is an area, just a couple of hours drive west of Melbourne, that showcases this diversity of the Australian landscape. During a weekend journey along the Great Ocean Road you can explore rolling hills, lush rainforests, hike down to waterfalls and explore a coastline littered with arches, stacks and a ship wreck or two. Whether you are just starting out in photography or are a seasoned pro, the Great Ocean Road is a great place to visit and enjoy some of the finest Australian landscape photography so let’s take a look at some of my favourite locations to help you get started on your journey.
Where Are The Best Waterfalls Along The Great Ocean Road?
I haven’t been to every waterfall in the area but those that I have explored were simply stunning - even when the water levels weren’t at their peak. They’re a popular attraction for tourists and photographers alike. You’ll need to be patient and plan to be at each fall for at least 60-90 minutes to be able to enjoy yourself and try out a few compositions. Heading there early helps of course but some waterfalls are great throughout the day because the tree canopy above them helps to diffuse any harsh sunlight. This means you can save sunrise and sunset shoots for other - light dependant - locations.
Waterfall Photography Tip!
To really make your waterfall images stand-out, use a Circular Polarising filter to enhance the saturation of the green algae and ferns in the image. This will also cut down on reflective glare from the rock surfaces and water.
Australian Waterfalls - Hopetoun Falls
First up on my favourites list is Hopetoun Falls which is probably one of the more famous and popular waterfalls in the area. Access is simple enough, you can park nearby and make the walk to the waterfall in about 20-30 minutes. I should note that although it’s a very well maintained track, the climb up the steps coming out is a bit of a workout - especially if you are in a rush and decide to run up them!
Once you’re down at the waterfall you have almost unlimited composition options. Get into the water with your tripod, stand on the viewing platform or tread carefully among the slippery rocks to get some beautiful algae in you foreground. My favourite composition incorporates a bit of all of these compositional elements; algae, rocks, flowing water and of course the vertical drop of the falls itself.
Australian Waterfalls - Beauchamp Falls
Next up is a waterfall that I have no doubt will amaze you. Exploring the area, with all the lush green ferns, reminds me of something out of a natural history documentary. Beauchamp Falls is incredible and certainly one of the most photogenic Australian waterfalls I’ve visited.
As with Hopetoun, Beauchamp Falls has many potential compositions to try out. When I first visited I didn’t bring any rubber boots with me but I really wanted to incorporate a fallen tree into the shot. So it was off with the shoes and socks as I headed into the knee high water with my tripod to get the shot. All the while trying to keep the camera and lens free of rain spots. I was so happy with this image that I added it to my gallery where it is available for purchase as a print.
How To Beat The Crowds At The Twelve Apostles
I’ve been to the Twelve Apostles several times now and am yet to come away with an image I’m happy with. I’ve been there when it’s dull, ferociously windy and when it is raining heavily. I’ve not really had any great light though so I’ll have to keep going back until I am lucky enough to capture an image I love. From my trips I have noticed a couple of tricks to ensuring you are able to avoid the majority of the crowds. Trust me, it gets busy there!
Firstly, although this place is beautiful at sunset, this is also the peak time for tourists. I would recommend you enjoy the sunset but come back at sunrise to enjoy an equally beautiful sight whilst being able to setup a tripod and operate your camera without being jostled by the crowd. If you arrive 30-45 minutes before sunrise it is highly likely you’ll get a prime spot at one of the viewing platforms from which to take your shot. Although I mentioned I haven’t got a shot I’m super happy with yet, I still enjoyed every visit. It is a wonderful location.
If you are determined to arrive at sunrise then I would recommend one of two approaches. You could come during the off-peak season and enjoy a quieter - but still busy - time at the Apostles. You’ll be more likely to have to battle the elements but you may get lucky with storm-light or some moody skies to add some drama to your image. Or you could brave the crowds and instead go tripod-less! Most modern mirrorless cameras have built in stabilisation to either the body or the lenses (or both) so you can still get a bit creative with shutter speeds although ultra-long exposures will be out of the question.
I hope you’ll have better luck than me when you visit - I love the area so much that I’m happy to keep trying. Also, it’s not that I’ve not got any shots from my trips - I have been able to get a few ‘snaps’ which were taken during the day. They still show off how beautiful the coastline but would definitely benefit from some sunset or sunrise light.
Seascape Photography Along The Great Ocean Road
If you like seascapes and rugged coastlines then the Great Ocean Road should definitely keep you busy for a few days, if not weeks. As well as the Twelve Apostles there are plenty of other stacks, arches and rock formations to photograph. Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and Razorback are just a few of the standout locations to visit. For my final Great Ocean Road location I wanted to highlight one of the less well known places to give you an idea of what you can find if you venture a little off the beaten track.
Magic Rock - The Perfect Sea Stack For Landscape Photography
Sea Stacks in general are impressive because they have managed to survive despite tonnes of rock collapsing all around them. Surrounded by waves that can easily crash to the height of the stacks themselves, they are a sight to behold in a storm.
My favourite Sea Stack of all has been dubbed ‘Magic Rock’ and for good reason, it has a precariously thin base and looks ready to collapse at any moment. On my last visit to this location I actually thought it HAD collapsed but as it turned out I had taken a wrong turn and found a different sea stack in a state of collapse. It isn’t easy to find and is quite a walk so I would definitely recommend appropriate footwear and a tolerance for 30-40 minute walks in and out. It’s absolutely worth it one you get there. I created a YouTube video on my last trip to Magic Rock which was a lot of fun - I got lost, saw Kangaroos and witnessed a great sunset.
Whether you watch the video or look through the images below, you’ll see that there is a fantastic composition which places the sea stack in a central position within the frame. I have tried this a few times and some variations and think it really works well. I’ve seen images taken at the base of the cliff but I’m no where near brave enough to try that. You’ll see one of my images is taken when we had storms which saw waves hitting the very top of the Great Ocean Road cliffs. At one point a wave seemed to explode all around Magic Rock which I managed to capture on camera.
Grab Your Camera And Explore The Great Ocean Road
Hopefully you’ve seen enough to make you want to get out and explore what this wonderful part of Australia has to offer. I could write another 15,000 words on Great Ocean Road locations but I’ll let you find out a few of those for yourself - just follow the coast line and you won’t have to wait too long to find something interesting. What is clear to me after writing this and looking through my images is that when it comes to Australian Landscape Photography, I am very lucky to live in Melbourne which has so many fantastic locations just a short drive away. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
