surreal places in australia for photography

These are the places too surreal to look away. Grab your camera and your hiking shoes and get ready to play with the light amongst Australia’s natural wonders.

Mungo National Park - New South Wales

A lunar landscape lay a few hours’ drive from the regional town of Mildura and is ancient world of geological wonder. Photograph the moments of ethereal beauty: from the transformation of the golden hour over the rugged landscape to the full moon rising through the ancient lunettes. The cooler months are the best times to visit in order capture the landscape under the softened light of cloud cover during dawn and dusk and against a clear, stary night backdrop. National parks permission and a guide is needed to be able to enter and photograph this sacred land.

Sellicks Beach - South Australia

Located an hour outside of Adelaide, Sellicks Beach is easily one of the most dramatic scenes of the country landscape meeting the big blue. Stand atop the rocky ridges to snapshot the light and shadows weaving through the cliffs and chasms in a standard shot or shoot with a drone, top down to capture the textures of the land and the vibrant colours of the sea. Play with the differences in light floating over the edge of the ocean and horizon of the land at dawn and dusk.

Hutt Lagoon - western australia

A natural phenomenon of pure pink magic. Hutt Lagoon is one of Australia’s larger pink lakes and takes the cake as one of the most spectacular. Photograph from above the double pink gradient of pomegranate and rose side by side along a division located to the east of the lake. Visit between 10am and 2pm when the sun is at its highest making the lake its most vibrant shade of pink.

James Price Point - Western Australia

James Price Point is a landscape of fire and water located just 40km south of Broome. This spot is famous for its stark contrast in texture and colour as the cliffs meet the sea. Aerial drones will capture the best of the rich sinopia cliffs melding into the white sand lined with turquoise water of the Indian ocean. At low tide wander into the shallow water to catch in time the radiant reflection of the sun-lit cliffs bouncing on the water.

Lincoln’s Rock, Blue Mountains - New South Wales

A breeze, hazy mountain light, standing on what feels like the edge of the world. Welcome to Lincoln’s Rock; a magnificent cliff overhanging the Blue Mountains’ Wentworth Falls with sweeping views of gumtree covered valleys. This dramatic plateau is a popular spot for proposals and engagement shoots to capture those perfect moments against the magnificent backdrop of the misty mountains and fading light.

Kata Tjuta - Northern Territory

The red centre is otherworldly, the spiritual heart of Australia. The giant red boulders of Kata Tjuta transform with the day from luminescent orange to deep reds to rich browns within minutes. Take your camera free-hand and shoot from a series of perspectives as the light shifts throughout the day and you will be rewarded with a mixture of textures, tones and moods of the undulating rock faces. Be aware drone photography is not allowed and take note of the signage that marks culturally sensitive areas where photography is prohibited.

Eyre Peninsula Sand Dunes - South Australia

In a landscape that is ever-changing; grab your camera and capture the simplicity of sand and sky. The sheer enormity of the dune waves can only be appreciated through a wide angle shot with the backdrop of a pastel sky. Visit on a day with a slight breeze to shoot the movement of the sand being wicked from the tops of the dunes.

Murphy’s Haystacks - South Australia

The Australian equivalent of stone henge, Murphy’s Haystacks are ancient, wind-worn pink granite pillars estimated to be more than 1500 million years old. Best photographed in the brilliance of tangerine light against a blazing sunset to amplify the natural rust colour of the boulders. Entry to view the rocks is a $2 fee to an honesty donations box as they sit on private land.

Jim Jim Falls Kakadu National Park - Northern Territory

There is something timeless about capturing the movement of water with a lens. Jim Jim Falls provides a surreal shooting experience during both wet and dry seasons. Take to the sky after rainfall to fully capture the intensity of the gushing falls or venture out an early summer morning while the water falls gently into the jade-tinged pool below. Long exposure shots work best to photograph the momentum of the water no matter the time of year. Arrive early in the day to have the spot to yourself for a few hours.