MY FAVOURITE PHOTO SPOTS IN VICTORIA
This page features a collection of my favourite photo spots around Victoria. I've travelled around the state extensively, and I'm happy to share with you the spots that really stood out for me. I hope you find this page useful, and it gives you some ideas for great places to visit. There are so many more places around the state I've still got on my list, so please come back and check in as I add new favourites. I'm also keen to revisit some of these locations, so you may find some of the images updated from time to time.
I've written four stand alone guides to places that I really love to visit and I've been to multiple times. I've gone into a bit more detail and listed multiple spots in each that I've really enjoyed for photography. You'll find links for them below, or under the 'Best Victorian Photo Spots' link in the menu above.
All images are available for print purchase, or licensing - please get in touch to start a conversation.
I'd love to hear some of your feedback, suggestions and recommendations in the comments below, so please feel free to share!
To the North
Marysville & Mt Buffalo
Mount Buffalo is one of my favourite places to shoot so far. There is just something about the alpine landscape that draws me in. There are stunning plains, the ghosts of bushfire burnt trees, and dramatic rocky outcrops. I haven't yet had the chance to explore some of the other alpine regions, but again, these are on my list to visit soon! I've included Marysville in this section as I often like to stay there overnight on my way up to Buffalo, and it's worth checking out in it's own right.
To read my standalone guide, click the image below, or click the link under 'Best Victorian Photo Spots' in the menu at the top of the page.
Lake Tyrrell
Lake Tyrrell is a vast, shallow, salt water lake that in still conditions makes a perfect mirror. It can make for some amazing compositions, either as a portrait, landscape, or detailed shots. There's all sorts of abandoned industrial objects and natural objects that you can feature. The sunrises and sunsets can be amazing, and if you go outside a full moon, the opportunity for astrography is perfect from the lack of light pollution.
Lake Tyrrell is situated in the Mallee region, a vast expanse that borders New South Wales and South Australia. The landscape is wide, open and dry. It's dotted with small country towns, huge farms and flora and fauna reserves. It's a region I've grown to love and one that's worth spending 3 or 4 days at a time - deciding which towns to sleep in and exploring the landscape in between.
To read my standalone guide, click the image below, or click the link under 'Best Victorian Photo Spots' in the menu at the top of the page.
Macedon & Mt Macedon
I've been to Mount Macedon almost every year for 23 years to perform an Australia Day concert with my band, the Melbourne Rainbow Band. Our usual venue is Forest Glade Gardens, a 6 hectare manicured garden that's open to the public. This spot is definitely worth a visit, particularly in Autumn when the colours of the leaves will be absolutely spectacular.
My favourite spot is Sanatorium Lake. the Lake was built to provide a water source for a tuberculosis hospital that was never built. It's enclosed on all sides by tall eucalypts and in the early hours can be quite eerie, particularly if it's foggy.
Timing is everything at this location. Being high on the mountain it’s often cold, cloud-covered and slow to catch the first light, thanks to the tall trees that surround it. I’ve tried multiple sunrises here with little luck, but I’ve found overcast or foggy mornings work beautifully, creating soft light, atmosphere and great opportunities for long exposures.
Camel’s Hump is another favourite lookout near the summit, offering wide views across the landscape. A little wandering beyond the main platform reveals rocks and trees that make perfect foreground elements. I’m still waiting for the perfect conditions here, but I know it has the potential to deliver truly stunning images.
Macedon is halfway down Mount Macedon, and has perhaps one of the most famous streets in Melbourne, Honour Avenue. You will find an Honour Avenue in most country towns in Victoria, with a long line of trees honouring fallen soldiers. This particular street in Autumn is incredibly popular with beautiful coloured leaves creating backdrops for thousands of instagram images. Rather than repeating the same shot, this is an image captured during summer taken with an infra-red camera. Infra-red light reflects as white from the chlorophyl in the leaves, almost making it feel like the street is covered in snow.
Echuca
Echuca is a historic river town in northern Victoria, set on the banks of the Murray River near the New South Wales border. Once one of Australia’s busiest inland ports, Echuca grew around the paddle-steamer trade of the 19th century, a heritage that remains visible in its old wharf, riverboats and historic streetscape. Today, the town combines this history with the distinctive landscape of the Murray—towering river red gums, wetlands, billabongs and slow-moving waterways—while serving as a gateway to nearby forests, farmland and the internationally significant Barmah–Millewa river system.
The town of Echuca is relatively compact, with a number of motels and hotels to choose from. There are caravan and holiday parks if that’s more down your alley. There are campsites up and down the Murray River for those wanting a big dose of nature. There are a bunch of restaurants, from casual to fine dining. Camping stores, Bunnings, supermarkets and some other large retailers to keep you stocked up.
It’s pretty easy to get around, and most of the main sites are in close proximity. Over the bridge to the NSW town of Moama is Moama Beach and Horseshoe Lagoon, both of which are beautiful little spots. There are a bunch of national parks in the area only a short drive away.
Echuca Pier and Bridge
I spent a lovely weekend in Echuca, mostly to capture images of those beautiful red gums lining the banks of the Murray. I visited most of the main spots around town, and found my favourite time was spent photographing the historic pier (above), and then capturing the river a little out of town at Will’s Beach and Emu Bend, and then the main event of my trip - Kayaking on Lake Barmah capturing images of small creeks flowing off the lake. I really felt like I was in a colonial landscape, and strains of ‘Once a Jolly Swagman’ were running through my head.
Lake Barmah and adjoining creeks
The Murray River from Emu Bend
Detours - Campaspe Weir and Canola Fields
On my way back to Melbourne in August I was met with huge fields of bright yellow canola fields. I was lucky - it was a little early for the blooms this year, and I found myself tearing down side roads looking for compositions. Ideally I wanted single elements surrounded by fields of yellow. I did find a few - trees, power poles, and even an old house closer to Melbourne around Beveridge. While I was down one of the side roads I saw Campaspe Weird marked on the map, and spent around 45 minutes making images. It’s a pretty little spot to stop for lunch, but the geometric forms of the weir coupled with flowing water and the organic form of a tree trunk really appealed to me!
Malmsbury Viaduct
The Malmsbury Viaduct was constructed between 1858 and 1861, and was at the time, the largest masonry arch bridge in Victoria. It's still in use by our country rail network, and can make for some great images.
It takes a bit of exploring to find a good angle to shoot this from. I found the easiest way is to park to the south of the Malmsbury botanic garden, and walk down the service road to the river. From there you can access a few different spots to shoot from either from the top of bank where you are almost level with the bridge, or from down below looking up
O’Brien’s Crossing
O'Brien's Crossing is in the Lerderberg State Park to the north west of Melbourne. The Park is popular with 4-wheel drivers, had camp sites and a gorge with a great swimming hole. O'Brien's Crossing is accessible by ordinary car, although it is a fair way down dirt roads through the bush. There's a picnic area and camp sites, and a few walking tracks that you can try. I've followed the river along for a while, and there were heaps of great clearings, little white water spots, and some great vegetation. My favourite composition was right near the bridge where a series of stones led to a fall tree. I hopped across to a fairly dry spot in the stream and set my tripod up for this shot. This is a great spot for some wilderness images that's really not too far from Melbourne.
