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Australia: suggestions for neat places
HI,
I'm considering a trip to Australia in the March-April time frame next year. I've been to Australia once but would like to see more. I'll probably go for a couple of weeks, and fly into and/or out of Sydney. So I would like to hear of places not to miss on the eastern half of the country. For my photo style, see my website: http://www.clarkvision.com which includes scenic landscapes and wildlife. I will hike up to about 8-10 miles per day, day trips only. I would take a Canon 1D Mark II, a variety of lenses from wide to telephoto and perhaps a 4x5 camera. Scenic parks, wildlife preserves, waterfalls, and mountains top my interests. Thanks in advance Roger |
#2
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"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" wrote in
message ... HI, I'm considering a trip to Australia in the March-April time frame next year.... Scenic parks, wildlife preserves, waterfalls, and mountains top my interests. Thanks in advance Roger Hi Roger I'm not familiar with the Sydney area, but if your heading north to Qld, try checking out the area around the Qld/NSW border. Lots of great opportunities to be had. (Some of the links aren't great but they were the best I found in a short time!) The Byron bay (just in NSW) area is a great coastal spot. Headlands, open beaches and a pretty famous lighthouse sitting on the most easterly point of Aus. Byron bay itself is on the coast and is surround by rolling hills, almost reminiscent of English countryside, dotted with cattle and macadamia nut farms. Eg: http://www.tropicalnsw.com.au/aaa_si...hinterland.jpg The hills lead into the Wollumbin Caldera, the remains of an old volcano just north of Byron of which Mt. Warning is the core. It's the first place in the country to get sun of a morning. The mountains aren't huge but there pretty spectacular. Eg: http://www.tropicalnsw.com.au/aaa_si...mt_warning.jpg Just north of Mt Warning is Lamington nation park. Another amazing place with as many waterfalls as you'd want and enough wildlife to start an ark... http://lamington.nrsm.uq.edu.au/MainMenu.html The veiws you get from some of the walks in the park are great. An hour north west of Lamington NP will get you to the Border ranges NP. More mountains there but the area around it has a totally different feel. eg... http://www.tropicalnsw.com.au/aaa_si...er_ranges2.jpg A couple of hours north from Lamington NP and your at the Glass house mountains. These things stick up out of the ground like giant fingers and have to be some of the most photogenic formations in QLD... eg:.. http://www.walkabout.com.au/fairfax/...ountains.shtml http://www.totaltravel.com.au/travel...andqld/guide/g lass-house-mountains All these places are within 1 - 2 hours drive from Brisbane (Qld's capital city), so theres plenty to see and do. If you want any more info, feel free to ask! Anthony |
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"Bandi" wrote in message ... "Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" wrote in message ... HI, I'm considering a trip to Australia in the March-April time frame next year.... Scenic parks, wildlife preserves, waterfalls, and mountains top my interests. Thanks in advance Roger Hi Roger I'm not familiar with the Sydney area, but if your heading north to Qld, try checking out the area around the Qld/NSW border. Lots of great opportunities to be had. (Some of the links aren't great but they were the best I found in a short time!) The Byron bay (just in NSW) area is a great coastal spot. Headlands, open beaches and a pretty famous lighthouse sitting on the most easterly point of Aus. Byron bay itself is on the coast and is surround by rolling hills, almost reminiscent of English countryside, dotted with cattle and macadamia nut farms. Eg: http://www.tropicalnsw.com.au/aaa_si...hinterland.jpg The hills lead into the Wollumbin Caldera, the remains of an old volcano just north of Byron of which Mt. Warning is the core. It's the first place in the country to get sun of a morning. The mountains aren't huge but there pretty spectacular. Eg: http://www.tropicalnsw.com.au/aaa_si...mt_warning.jpg Just north of Mt Warning is Lamington nation park. Another amazing place with as many waterfalls as you'd want and enough wildlife to start an ark... http://lamington.nrsm.uq.edu.au/MainMenu.html The veiws you get from some of the walks in the park are great. An hour north west of Lamington NP will get you to the Border ranges NP. More mountains there but the area around it has a totally different feel. eg... http://www.tropicalnsw.com.au/aaa_si...er_ranges2.jpg A couple of hours north from Lamington NP and your at the Glass house mountains. These things stick up out of the ground like giant fingers and have to be some of the most photogenic formations in QLD... eg:.. http://www.walkabout.com.au/fairfax/...ountains.shtml http://www.totaltravel.com.au/travel...andqld/guide/g lass-house-mountains All these places are within 1 - 2 hours drive from Brisbane (Qld's capital city), so theres plenty to see and do. If you want any more info, feel free to ask! Anthony No bears here. And for some reason some one decided to give the passenger a steering wheel to play with. You'll thus find many drivers dropping out, directing, pointing, arguing and ignoring perfectly good maps. Never the less one will find a spot or two to reflect upon only the distances between them tend at times to be a hours or days apart. From Sydney there is inland the Blue Mountains and further inland the Riverina area offers some capital sights. Best considered by map. If you are considering places further afield, in Victoria there sits the Grampian Mts. pretty but populated. (maybe not by your standards.) And in Sth. Australia the more photographic Flinders Ranges offers a good look. Bit more remote (?) but offering more ancient rock formations. This area requires days rather than hours. We tend not to have the grand canyon vistas you may be accustomed to. We can offer unlimited flat space though. Inland NSW just about affords the curvature of the earth from the roof of your car. Then again you can get that anywhere with a wide angle lens. Car hire is essential but driving here is relatively simple. Fences are put along both sides of the road to stop folk wandering too far off the track. Can't go wrong really as being an island you'll eventually hit the coast you then just follow it around. -- Otzi |
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otzi wrote:
No bears here. And for some reason some one decided to give the passenger a steering wheel to play with. You'll thus find many drivers dropping out, directing, pointing, arguing and ignoring perfectly good maps. Never the less one will find a spot or two to reflect upon only the distances between them tend at times to be a hours or days apart. From Sydney there is inland the Blue Mountains and further inland the Riverina area offers some capital sights. Best considered by map. If you are considering places further afield, in Victoria there sits the Grampian Mts. pretty but populated. (maybe not by your standards.) And in Sth. Australia the more photographic Flinders Ranges offers a good look. Bit more remote (?) but offering more ancient rock formations. This area requires days rather than hours. We tend not to have the grand canyon vistas you may be accustomed to. We can offer unlimited flat space though. Inland NSW just about affords the curvature of the earth from the roof of your car. Then again you can get that anywhere with a wide angle lens. Car hire is essential but driving here is relatively simple. Fences are put along both sides of the road to stop folk wandering too far off the track. Can't go wrong really as being an island you'll eventually hit the coast you then just follow it around. Otzi, others, I do plan on renting a car, but will also consider flying the big distances. For example: How long is the drive from Sydney to Melbourne, and if you visited places in between, what would you visit and how long would that add? The other option would be to fly to Melbourne, get a car and tour the Victoria and nearby regions. Here is a link to a site that explains different routes, http://www.smallguide.com.au/itin-sydmel.html but which, in your opinions, are the most interesting and photogenic places to see? Roger |
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"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" wrote in
message ... otzi wrote: The other option would be to fly to Melbourne, get a car and tour the Victoria and nearby regions. Have you given any thought to Tasmania? It's an increadible state and not overly large unlike the rest of the country. Take a look at http://www.view.com.au/dombrovskis/ to get an idea of what it's like. |
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The issue for you is Australia is the world's largest island. Most of it is
desert. Most of the population lives within a couple of hundred kilometres of the ocean. We only have 20 million people. What we call a mountain range runs the lenght of the eastern side of Australia, 100 kilometres or so inland, from there on it is basically flat, except for a few pockets in South Aust, the Northern Territory and NW and SW Western Australia. Much of the colours of the inland are reds, blues and browns. At that time of the year it is Veeeery hot. Two weeks will give you a snapshot, pun intended. You would need to spend 6 weeks because of the distances involved. We think nothing of driving for a couple of hours to get somewhere. My suggestion is fly between states, don't drive. If you fly into Sydney visit Kent St, west of the Town Hall, there are several Bushwalking stores, such at Mountain Designs, Paddy Pallins that contain extensive books on bushwalking destinations around the nation, there is also the Youth Hostel Association HQ and a packpackers, that are full of day trip activities, such as canyoning, abseiling, bushwalking, site seeing etc. These stores also have branches in the other capital cities The point to consider in photographing our country in our Summer is the harshness of light ie it is strong and washes out a lot of colour, forget about photographing between 10am and 3pm unless you use a polariser and shoot broad scenics. The gum trees also emit a eucalypt vapour which creates a blue haze, when viewed from a distance, which is why the Blue Mountains are called Blue. The further south you go the less an issue this is. If it was me. Day 1 Arrive Syd Day 2 Packpackers tour to the Blue Mountains and an evening walk on top of The Harbour Bridge, if time permits. Day 3 Sunrise shot of Sydney Harbour, featuring Circular Key, then fly to Launceston, Tasmania, in the afternoon, about a 2-3 hour flight. Day 4 Hire a Campervan and head in an anticlockwise direction around Tasmania, starting at Sheffield then Cradle Mountain, stay in Caravan Park. Visit the Wilderness Photography Gallery, a must visit. Day 5 Day Hike around Cradle Mountain, with a dawn shot at Dove Lake. Take you winter woolies, it can snow. Day 6 Drive to Strahan. Day 7. Take an all day cruise up the Franklin River and/or a scenic flight from Strahan over the Central Tasmanian Highlands, it will knock your socks off. Weather permitting as the next landfall west of Tasmania is South Africa.. it rains a lot, which is unusual for Australia as there has been a bad drought on the mainland for some time. Both are a must do.. Day 8 Drive to Lake St Clair, if you have time take the ferry to Narcissus Bay and back then onto Hobart. Stay at my friends Hotel, The Astor Private Hotel. Day 9 If it is a Saturday, attend the markets at Salamanca, near Constitution Dock, a great place to buy presents for family you left behind. Drive to Cockle Bay, the most southern road destination in Australia, and stay in the National Park campgrounds . Day 10 Walk to the south coast of Tasmania, Lion rock and back, about a 6 hour round trip. There are bushwalking campsites cut into the scrub in the sand dunes if you want to do an overnight trip. Day 11Travel to Port Arthur for the obligatory tourist visit to the penal settlement, interesting views too. Day 12 Drive to Coles Bay, Freycinet National Park Day 13 Spend the day and walk over to Wine Glass Bay Day 14 Back to Hobart or Launceston and fly back to the "Big Island", as the Tasmanians say, say to Melbourne. Day 15. Fly Home At the end of that you will be thoroughly stuffed. If time is short drop Cockle Bay or Port Arthur, I would drop Port Arthur, I still haven't been there. Want to see what it is all like...? Visit my website. It was set up so I can share the wilderness with others... this needs to be done. -- Geoff Wise http://www.wises.com.au Images of places that are reached on foot. "Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" wrote in message ... otzi wrote: No bears here. And for some reason some one decided to give the passenger a steering wheel to play with. You'll thus find many drivers dropping out, directing, pointing, arguing and ignoring perfectly good maps. Never the less one will find a spot or two to reflect upon only the distances between them tend at times to be a hours or days apart. From Sydney there is inland the Blue Mountains and further inland the Riverina area offers some capital sights. Best considered by map. If you are considering places further afield, in Victoria there sits the Grampian Mts. pretty but populated. (maybe not by your standards.) And in Sth. Australia the more photographic Flinders Ranges offers a good look. Bit more remote (?) but offering more ancient rock formations. This area requires days rather than hours. We tend not to have the grand canyon vistas you may be accustomed to. We can offer unlimited flat space though. Inland NSW just about affords the curvature of the earth from the roof of your car. Then again you can get that anywhere with a wide angle lens. Car hire is essential but driving here is relatively simple. Fences are put along both sides of the road to stop folk wandering too far off the track. Can't go wrong really as being an island you'll eventually hit the coast you then just follow it around. Otzi, others, I do plan on renting a car, but will also consider flying the big distances. For example: How long is the drive from Sydney to Melbourne, and if you visited places in between, what would you visit and how long would that add? The other option would be to fly to Melbourne, get a car and tour the Victoria and nearby regions. Here is a link to a site that explains different routes, http://www.smallguide.com.au/itin-sydmel.html but which, in your opinions, are the most interesting and photogenic places to see? Roger |
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Ok this is going to tak a while to write:
Ok Sydney to Melbourne is around a 9 hour drive (1 1/4 hour flight, cheap flights are available for as low as $90 Aus $65 US) Now if you drive the 9 hour drive, there isnt a lot to see apart from the main highway. But the Blue Mountains, North, Central & South Coast areas are beautiful and all within 1 to 2 hours drive of Sydney. Sorry Otzi, but I'm a but biased, I was born and bred in the Riverina and its boring as bat **** LOL. Actually it has some stunning Canola fields at the moment (oh and BTW, the D70 struggles with the mass of yellow) Obviously it goes without saying that Sydneys Harbour is its jewel, and you will find plenty to shoot around there, including plently of wildlife (even seen dolphins in the bay) I wont go over the Queensland area as it was well covered by another poster. Victoria (my home state): North East of the State down to the Yarra Valley is mostly bushland, and mountains very pretty. Yarra Valley is one of Australias top wine areas. As you come into the top of the populated areas of Melbourne you come into a place called Healesville, well known for the Healesville Sactuary. Here you will find a lot of Australias natural fauna in there own environment. (Check the link under my name and you will find some shots from there). This area is the start of "The Dandenongs" a mountain range that flanks the North to East of Melbourne, here you should find plenty of Aussie wildlife as well as Puffing Billy, a very old steam engine with open window carraiges that runs regularly through the mountains. Heading south of there takes you down to what we call the Mornington Penninsula (sp). this is another area full of wineries and stunning views of the south east coast of Victoria. As you start to head back up towards Melbourne, dont forget to head to Phillip Island, well known for the Motor cycle Grand Prix, but equally well known for its natural residents that come out at night, the Fairy Penguins. and I believe Seals as well. Cutting across from there brings you through Melbourne, Melbourne is a very pretty and clean city with plenty to shoot, lots of great restaurants and a stunning city skyline at night. As you head West from Melbourne, there is a multitude of hidden treasures in Victoria, if you stick to the main Highways, you will see nothing, but head along the "Great Ocean Road" and you will see some of the most stunning coastline you will ever see, try to time your trip so that you get to Port Campbell before Dusk, because if you manage to get shots of "The 12 Apostles" at the right time of the day, it will make your whole trip worth it (once again, check the pics on my link, of the Apostles) Directly north of there (about 2 hours) you will find "The Grampians" a mountain range that juts out in the middle of nowhere, some stunning opportunities there as well. You will now head back towards Melbourne, you will pass so much on the way including a small mountain called Mt Buangor, great wildlife and waterfalls (waterfall shot in my pics) you will then pass through the Regional City of Ballarat, here was the home of the infamous Eureka Stockade which was basically a revolt by Gold miners back in the Gold Rush days, there is plenty to see here, from a town fully recreated to represent those days, to a show at night imitating the revolt itself. Just a little further on is a full size castle called Kryal castle, they do full on sword fights and its made up to be just like medeval times. Now one place that I suggest that you go to mainly because of the time you will be here is a little Arty town called Daylesford, normally a pretty little place, but at the time you are here, it is our Autumn (Fall), this place explodes with colour, and its a great little place to stay and relax for a while, they have natural mineral spas and plenty of galleries and stuff to look at. The food and cafe culture is alive there. Thats all for Victoria (well if I put everything, this would be huge) Tasmania Tassie is about a 45 minute flight from Melbourne or if you like its an overnight trip on the ferry (you can take the car) Flights can be as cheap as $45 AUS, the ferry has specials at times for around $99 + $10 for the car. The ferry stops at a port town called Devenport, I could go on and on about Tassie, it really is one of the most stunning places in the world but its cooler than most other areas in Australia. Head west from Devenport takes you to Burnie, a pretty little town, then head south to Queenstown from here you cut across What is called Cradle Mountain, this is truly Gods Country, stunning views, breathtaking. You can also check out The Great Lake which is not tht far from there. Then you head South to the Capital of Tassie, Hobart. You can kick on from here to places like Port Arthur, there really is so much to see and shoot, I could never put it all in a post. You need to then head diretly north to return to Devenport to get the Ferry back to Melbourne. Make sure you stop in Launceston and check out yet another stunning little Gem of a place. All along the way you will see Heritage buildings that are nearly 200 years old (Shene Stables on my site, is my friends place he purchased a couple of years ago which he is renovating). And countryside will be Green and lush and full of Autumn colours. Now I have only briefly covered 3 states and as you can see it would take a long time to cover everything, I dont know much about regional South Australia, or even Western Australia. The Northern Territory is worth seeing (Ularu (Ayers Rock) etc), but it is a few hours flight. My email address is , drop me an email if you want any more info, I travel all over Australia and am lucky enough to have seen most of it. Cheers -- Michael Brown Melbourne Australia www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown "Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" wrote in message ... otzi wrote: No bears here. And for some reason some one decided to give the passenger a steering wheel to play with. You'll thus find many drivers dropping out, directing, pointing, arguing and ignoring perfectly good maps. Never the less one will find a spot or two to reflect upon only the distances between them tend at times to be a hours or days apart. From Sydney there is inland the Blue Mountains and further inland the Riverina area offers some capital sights. Best considered by map. If you are considering places further afield, in Victoria there sits the Grampian Mts. pretty but populated. (maybe not by your standards.) And in Sth. Australia the more photographic Flinders Ranges offers a good look. Bit more remote (?) but offering more ancient rock formations. This area requires days rather than hours. We tend not to have the grand canyon vistas you may be accustomed to. We can offer unlimited flat space though. Inland NSW just about affords the curvature of the earth from the roof of your car. Then again you can get that anywhere with a wide angle lens. Car hire is essential but driving here is relatively simple. Fences are put along both sides of the road to stop folk wandering too far off the track. Can't go wrong really as being an island you'll eventually hit the coast you then just follow it around. Otzi, others, I do plan on renting a car, but will also consider flying the big distances. For example: How long is the drive from Sydney to Melbourne, and if you visited places in between, what would you visit and how long would that add? The other option would be to fly to Melbourne, get a car and tour the Victoria and nearby regions. Here is a link to a site that explains different routes, http://www.smallguide.com.au/itin-sydmel.html but which, in your opinions, are the most interesting and photogenic places to see? Roger |
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"Mick Brown" wrote in message ... Ok this is going to tak a while to write: Ok Sydney to Melbourne is around a 9 hour drive (1 1/4 hour flight, cheap flights are available for as low as $90 Aus $65 US) Now if you drive the 9 hour drive, there isnt a lot to see apart from the main highway. But the Blue Mountains, North, Central & South Coast areas are beautiful and all within 1 to 2 hours drive of Sydney. Sorry Otzi, but I'm a but biased, I was born and bred in the Riverina and its boring as bat **** LOL. Actually it has some stunning Canola fields at the moment (oh and BTW, the D70 struggles with the mass of yellow) Obviously it goes without saying that Sydneys Harbour is its jewel, and you will find plenty to shoot around there, including plently of wildlife (even seen dolphins in the bay) I wont go over the Queensland area as it was well covered by another poster. Victoria (my home state): North East of the State down to the Yarra Valley is mostly bushland, and mountains very pretty. Yarra Valley is one of Australias top wine areas. As you come into the top of the populated areas of Melbourne you come into a place called Healesville, well known for the Healesville Sactuary. Here you will find a lot of Australias natural fauna in there own environment. (Check the link under my name and you will find some shots from there). This area is the start of "The Dandenongs" a mountain range that flanks the North to East of Melbourne, here you should find plenty of Aussie wildlife as well as Puffing Billy, a very old steam engine with open window carraiges that runs regularly through the mountains. Heading south of there takes you down to what we call the Mornington Penninsula (sp). this is another area full of wineries and stunning views of the south east coast of Victoria. As you start to head back up towards Melbourne, dont forget to head to Phillip Island, well known for the Motor cycle Grand Prix, but equally well known for its natural residents that come out at night, the Fairy Penguins. and I believe Seals as well. Cutting across from there brings you through Melbourne, Melbourne is a very pretty and clean city with plenty to shoot, lots of great restaurants and a stunning city skyline at night. As you head West from Melbourne, there is a multitude of hidden treasures in Victoria, if you stick to the main Highways, you will see nothing, but head along the "Great Ocean Road" and you will see some of the most stunning coastline you will ever see, try to time your trip so that you get to Port Campbell before Dusk, because if you manage to get shots of "The 12 Apostles" at the right time of the day, it will make your whole trip worth it (once again, check the pics on my link, of the Apostles) Directly north of there (about 2 hours) you will find "The Grampians" a mountain range that juts out in the middle of nowhere, some stunning opportunities there as well. You will now head back towards Melbourne, you will pass so much on the way including a small mountain called Mt Buangor, great wildlife and waterfalls (waterfall shot in my pics) you will then pass through the Regional City of Ballarat, here was the home of the infamous Eureka Stockade which was basically a revolt by Gold miners back in the Gold Rush days, there is plenty to see here, from a town fully recreated to represent those days, to a show at night imitating the revolt itself. Just a little further on is a full size castle called Kryal castle, they do full on sword fights and its made up to be just like medeval times. Now one place that I suggest that you go to mainly because of the time you will be here is a little Arty town called Daylesford, normally a pretty little place, but at the time you are here, it is our Autumn (Fall), this place explodes with colour, and its a great little place to stay and relax for a while, they have natural mineral spas and plenty of galleries and stuff to look at. The food and cafe culture is alive there. Thats all for Victoria (well if I put everything, this would be huge) Tasmania Tassie is about a 45 minute flight from Melbourne or if you like its an overnight trip on the ferry (you can take the car) Flights can be as cheap as $45 AUS, the ferry has specials at times for around $99 + $10 for the car. The ferry stops at a port town called Devenport, I could go on and on about Tassie, it really is one of the most stunning places in the world but its cooler than most other areas in Australia. Head west from Devenport takes you to Burnie, a pretty little town, then head south to Queenstown from here you cut across What is called Cradle Mountain, this is truly Gods Country, stunning views, breathtaking. You can also check out The Great Lake which is not tht far from there. Then you head South to the Capital of Tassie, Hobart. You can kick on from here to places like Port Arthur, there really is so much to see and shoot, I could never put it all in a post. You need to then head diretly north to return to Devenport to get the Ferry back to Melbourne. Make sure you stop in Launceston and check out yet another stunning little Gem of a place. All along the way you will see Heritage buildings that are nearly 200 years old (Shene Stables on my site, is my friends place he purchased a couple of years ago which he is renovating). And countryside will be Green and lush and full of Autumn colours. Now I have only briefly covered 3 states and as you can see it would take a long time to cover everything, I dont know much about regional South Australia, or even Western Australia. The Northern Territory is worth seeing (Ularu (Ayers Rock) etc), but it is a few hours flight. My email address is , drop me an email if you want any more info, I travel all over Australia and am lucky enough to have seen most of it. Cheers -- Michael Brown Melbourne Australia www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown I don't know, I some times think it's better to see less but see it well against trying to take in the whole world and come back with exhaustion. You haven't mentioned where your interests lay? What stuff do you like to see/explore? You have been given some excellent leads. See if you can't find some picture book in the library and pick some very Australian locations to pursue. For example opal mining around Cooper Pedy or Coal mining around Broken Hill. One can fly to these places and they are different as are the locals of theses areas but there is a cost. Either in time by car or $ by plane. I may be on my own here but I tend to feel that one city is much like an other and you may well feel that the Australian big ( by our standards) cities won't be all that much different from your own. And our peoples are not too dissimilar. Then YMMV. And although we may be a quaint regional friendly blaa blaa type of place, how can I say this, hang on to your camera bag, even in the lost spots of the inland. We no longer offer much in large format facilities or services so restrict your amusement to 35 or if you must 120. It's here just not easily accessed. I trade style and comfort for film and petrol so fill us in a bit more about your aims and aspirations and what $ level you are travelling at. -- otzi. |
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"Mick Brown" wrote in message ... Ok this is going to tak a while to write: Ok Sydney to Melbourne is around a 9 hour drive (1 1/4 hour flight, cheap flights are available for as low as $90 Aus $65 US) Now if you drive the 9 hour drive, there isnt a lot to see apart from the main highway. But the Blue Mountains, North, Central & South Coast areas are beautiful and all within 1 to 2 hours drive of Sydney. Sorry Otzi, but I'm a but biased, I was born and bred in the Riverina and its boring as bat **** LOL. Actually it has some stunning Canola fields at the moment (oh and BTW, the D70 struggles with the mass of yellow) Obviously it goes without saying that Sydneys Harbour is its jewel, and you will find plenty to shoot around there, including plently of wildlife (even seen dolphins in the bay) I wont go over the Queensland area as it was well covered by another poster. Victoria (my home state): North East of the State down to the Yarra Valley is mostly bushland, and mountains very pretty. Yarra Valley is one of Australias top wine areas. As you come into the top of the populated areas of Melbourne you come into a place called Healesville, well known for the Healesville Sactuary. Here you will find a lot of Australias natural fauna in there own environment. (Check the link under my name and you will find some shots from there). This area is the start of "The Dandenongs" a mountain range that flanks the North to East of Melbourne, here you should find plenty of Aussie wildlife as well as Puffing Billy, a very old steam engine with open window carraiges that runs regularly through the mountains. Heading south of there takes you down to what we call the Mornington Penninsula (sp). this is another area full of wineries and stunning views of the south east coast of Victoria. As you start to head back up towards Melbourne, dont forget to head to Phillip Island, well known for the Motor cycle Grand Prix, but equally well known for its natural residents that come out at night, the Fairy Penguins. and I believe Seals as well. Cutting across from there brings you through Melbourne, Melbourne is a very pretty and clean city with plenty to shoot, lots of great restaurants and a stunning city skyline at night. As you head West from Melbourne, there is a multitude of hidden treasures in Victoria, if you stick to the main Highways, you will see nothing, but head along the "Great Ocean Road" and you will see some of the most stunning coastline you will ever see, try to time your trip so that you get to Port Campbell before Dusk, because if you manage to get shots of "The 12 Apostles" at the right time of the day, it will make your whole trip worth it (once again, check the pics on my link, of the Apostles) Directly north of there (about 2 hours) you will find "The Grampians" a mountain range that juts out in the middle of nowhere, some stunning opportunities there as well. You will now head back towards Melbourne, you will pass so much on the way including a small mountain called Mt Buangor, great wildlife and waterfalls (waterfall shot in my pics) you will then pass through the Regional City of Ballarat, here was the home of the infamous Eureka Stockade which was basically a revolt by Gold miners back in the Gold Rush days, there is plenty to see here, from a town fully recreated to represent those days, to a show at night imitating the revolt itself. Just a little further on is a full size castle called Kryal castle, they do full on sword fights and its made up to be just like medeval times. Now one place that I suggest that you go to mainly because of the time you will be here is a little Arty town called Daylesford, normally a pretty little place, but at the time you are here, it is our Autumn (Fall), this place explodes with colour, and its a great little place to stay and relax for a while, they have natural mineral spas and plenty of galleries and stuff to look at. The food and cafe culture is alive there. Thats all for Victoria (well if I put everything, this would be huge) Tasmania Tassie is about a 45 minute flight from Melbourne or if you like its an overnight trip on the ferry (you can take the car) Flights can be as cheap as $45 AUS, the ferry has specials at times for around $99 + $10 for the car. The ferry stops at a port town called Devenport, I could go on and on about Tassie, it really is one of the most stunning places in the world but its cooler than most other areas in Australia. Head west from Devenport takes you to Burnie, a pretty little town, then head south to Queenstown from here you cut across What is called Cradle Mountain, this is truly Gods Country, stunning views, breathtaking. You can also check out The Great Lake which is not tht far from there. Then you head South to the Capital of Tassie, Hobart. You can kick on from here to places like Port Arthur, there really is so much to see and shoot, I could never put it all in a post. You need to then head diretly north to return to Devenport to get the Ferry back to Melbourne. Make sure you stop in Launceston and check out yet another stunning little Gem of a place. All along the way you will see Heritage buildings that are nearly 200 years old (Shene Stables on my site, is my friends place he purchased a couple of years ago which he is renovating). And countryside will be Green and lush and full of Autumn colours. Now I have only briefly covered 3 states and as you can see it would take a long time to cover everything, I dont know much about regional South Australia, or even Western Australia. The Northern Territory is worth seeing (Ularu (Ayers Rock) etc), but it is a few hours flight. My email address is , drop me an email if you want any more info, I travel all over Australia and am lucky enough to have seen most of it. Cheers -- Michael Brown Melbourne Australia www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown I don't know, I some times think it's better to see less but see it well against trying to take in the whole world and come back with exhaustion. You haven't mentioned where your interests lay? What stuff do you like to see/explore? You have been given some excellent leads. See if you can't find some picture book in the library and pick some very Australian locations to pursue. For example opal mining around Cooper Pedy or Coal mining around Broken Hill. One can fly to these places and they are different as are the locals of theses areas but there is a cost. Either in time by car or $ by plane. I may be on my own here but I tend to feel that one city is much like an other and you may well feel that the Australian big ( by our standards) cities won't be all that much different from your own. And our peoples are not too dissimilar. Then YMMV. And although we may be a quaint regional friendly blaa blaa type of place, how can I say this, hang on to your camera bag, even in the lost spots of the inland. We no longer offer much in large format facilities or services so restrict your amusement to 35 or if you must 120. It's here just not easily accessed. I trade style and comfort for film and petrol so fill us in a bit more about your aims and aspirations and what $ level you are travelling at. -- otzi. |
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Wise's Wilderness wrote:
The issue for you is Australia is the world's largest island. Most of it is desert. Most of the population lives within a couple of hundred kilometres of the ocean. We only have 20 million people. What we call a mountain range runs the lenght of the eastern side of Australia, 100 kilometres or so inland, from there on it is basically flat, except for a few pockets in South Aust, the Northern Territory and NW and SW Western Australia. Much of the colours of the inland are reds, blues and browns. At that time of the year it is Veeeery hot. Two weeks will give you a snapshot, pun intended. You would need to spend 6 weeks because of the distances involved. We think nothing of driving for a couple of hours to get somewhere. My suggestion is fly between states, don't drive. Geoff, This is great! I've been to your website often. You have wonderful images. In fact when I first decided on going to Australia, your website was the first place I went to start getting ideas. I'm looking at around the end of March, beginning of April, so the start of fall. And I have been thinking about Tasmania too. I figure on limiting the excursions so I can see one area better, and come back in the future to visit another area. Do you have much in fall colors? Discussions like these are what this newsgroup has been so good at but lately been a little lacking--I was thinking this newsgroup might be dying. This thread shows there is still great life. Thanks, everyone, for all the great suggestions, and keep them coming! Roger If you fly into Sydney visit Kent St, west of the Town Hall, there are several Bushwalking stores, such at Mountain Designs, Paddy Pallins that contain extensive books on bushwalking destinations around the nation, there is also the Youth Hostel Association HQ and a packpackers, that are full of day trip activities, such as canyoning, abseiling, bushwalking, site seeing etc. These stores also have branches in the other capital cities The point to consider in photographing our country in our Summer is the harshness of light ie it is strong and washes out a lot of colour, forget about photographing between 10am and 3pm unless you use a polariser and shoot broad scenics. The gum trees also emit a eucalypt vapour which creates a blue haze, when viewed from a distance, which is why the Blue Mountains are called Blue. The further south you go the less an issue this is. If it was me. Day 1 Arrive Syd Day 2 Packpackers tour to the Blue Mountains and an evening walk on top of The Harbour Bridge, if time permits. Day 3 Sunrise shot of Sydney Harbour, featuring Circular Key, then fly to Launceston, Tasmania, in the afternoon, about a 2-3 hour flight. Day 4 Hire a Campervan and head in an anticlockwise direction around Tasmania, starting at Sheffield then Cradle Mountain, stay in Caravan Park. Visit the Wilderness Photography Gallery, a must visit. Day 5 Day Hike around Cradle Mountain, with a dawn shot at Dove Lake. Take you winter woolies, it can snow. Day 6 Drive to Strahan. Day 7. Take an all day cruise up the Franklin River and/or a scenic flight from Strahan over the Central Tasmanian Highlands, it will knock your socks off. Weather permitting as the next landfall west of Tasmania is South Africa.. it rains a lot, which is unusual for Australia as there has been a bad drought on the mainland for some time. Both are a must do.. Day 8 Drive to Lake St Clair, if you have time take the ferry to Narcissus Bay and back then onto Hobart. Stay at my friends Hotel, The Astor Private Hotel. Day 9 If it is a Saturday, attend the markets at Salamanca, near Constitution Dock, a great place to buy presents for family you left behind. Drive to Cockle Bay, the most southern road destination in Australia, and stay in the National Park campgrounds . Day 10 Walk to the south coast of Tasmania, Lion rock and back, about a 6 hour round trip. There are bushwalking campsites cut into the scrub in the sand dunes if you want to do an overnight trip. Day 11Travel to Port Arthur for the obligatory tourist visit to the penal settlement, interesting views too. Day 12 Drive to Coles Bay, Freycinet National Park Day 13 Spend the day and walk over to Wine Glass Bay Day 14 Back to Hobart or Launceston and fly back to the "Big Island", as the Tasmanians say, say to Melbourne. Day 15. Fly Home At the end of that you will be thoroughly stuffed. If time is short drop Cockle Bay or Port Arthur, I would drop Port Arthur, I still haven't been there. Want to see what it is all like...? Visit my website. It was set up so I can share the wilderness with others... this needs to be done. |
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