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Special Places in Australian Landscape Photography
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As a
photographer and avid hiker there are many places that are dear to my heart.
Places I've returned to time and time again just to breath the air, taste the
cold mountain streams and basically drink in the natural beauty of the
Australian landscape. The feeling of being revitalized by these splendid natural
environments sadly leaves all to quickly upon returning to the mundane world.
The photos shown below hold for me an emotional significance somehow prolonging
that energy and overcoming mortal realities...
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Ayers Rock (Uluru)
& The Olgas (Kata Tjuta)
Ayers Rock, or "Uluru"
has an iconic association with the Australian outback. So much so
that the image of the red rock blazing in the sunset or sunrise
(pictured right) is is probably the most well recognized Australian
landscape from an international perspective. Residing pretty much in
the centre of the country it's surrounded on all sides by hundreds
of kilometers of flat desert. It rises out of this barren plain, a
massive single hunk of rock that dominates the senses and leaves the
hundreds of tourists that visit it daily awestruck.
Yulara is small
tourist town and exists 20kms from the rock. It has an airport,
shops (including a small supermaket) and caters to the needs of the
many world travelers with accommodation ranging from camping to
luxury resort hotels. Australians also visit in their flocks, many
preferring to use camper vans to tour the country. Melbourne to
Ayres takes 2 days driving, 12 hrs per day.
The Olgas (Kata Tjuta),
pictured below right, is only 50kms from Yulara and definitely worth
a visit. It has two good walks, including a 3 hr trek that takes you
through "The Valley of the Winds", winding between the massive
mounds of the Olgas themselves. |

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Ayers Rock Pics ] |
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[
More Cradle Mt Pics ] |
Cradle Mountain
National Park, Tasmania
Ever since I was a
small boy, growing up in a keen bush walking family Cradle Mountain
was heralded as the Holy Grail, the oasis, a land of such sweeping
grandeur it would bring tears to the eyes of all who beheld it.
Having visited many times over the years I must say that the reality
still lives up to those childhood dreams and expectations. The park
is without a doubt the most beautiful in Australia that I have seen.
Though the weather can
be temperamental and there are now such large queues flocking to
hike "The Overland Trail" that bookings and trail fees are essential
during peak times, the park remains full of that deeply penetrating
wonderland feel. Reflections abound with many a "tarn" dappling the
landscape. Unique
Pencil Pines and
Pandanis grow amongst towering cliffs and deep valleys filled
with crystal clear blue lakes. It is truly a spectacular place just
to stand, breath and exist.
For day walkers access
to Dove Lake (pictured left) is easy, with a sealed road right to
the lake shore. More serious hikers wanting to strike out for the likes
of Barn
Bluff, Mt Ossa (Tasmania's highest peak), and on to Lake St.
Claire will need to allow three or four days walking in a good
climate. While there are huts, a tent must still be taken in case of
crowding or weather issues. For those who like their nature
experience less bold or lack the fitness I'm told private companies
offer guided treks with more up market accommodation along the
trial, hot meals, your packs carried for you, etc.
Tasmania's Cradle
Mountain National Park would have to be the cream of the crop for
hikers who visit from all over the world. For a less crowed
alternative, try the
Walls Of
Jerusalem National Park, an equally picturesque trek. |
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First built purely for
the classic Australian drama film "The Man From Snowy River", Craig's
Hut resides high in Victoria's Alpine regions on Mt Stirling. Inaccessible during winter due to harsh conditions and gates locked by
the National Parks authority, it represents a worthy challenge for
hikers used to donning snow shoes or X-country skis and big packs.
Lugging heavy camera gear in there also adds to the adventure!
Summer sees four
wheel drive enthusiasts teeming to the poplar locale, but so far
winter retains the remote and isolated high country cattle-man feel
of the place which hopefully is captured in these images. The hut
itself has burned down on several occasions owing to Australia's
rigorous bush fire season. It was lost again in late 2006 a few
short months after the shots shown here were taken, perhaps adding
to their uniqueness.
It used to be a
common occurrence to see cattle grazing the alpine meadow right
beside the hut (as seen
here), greatly adding to the authenticity of the scene. With a
little imagination one could almost hear the bull-whip crack as
sturdy legged horses carried weathered cattle-men, a scent of
leather, the creak of saddle packs. Now I believe the cattle have be
banned with new alpine grazing laws and you're more likely to hear
the rev of motorbikes, and the smell of diesel as a bus load of
tourists departs. However the solution to this is winter which
removes the crowds and returns to the land its mystic presence. |

[ More Craig's Hut Pics ] |
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[ More
Falls Creek Pics ] |
Falls Creek,
Victoria
Falls Creek is a
popular skiing destination for both downhill and X-country
enthusiasts. For hiking (or snow shoeing in winter) an adventure not
for the faint at heart can be had, by using the trails that run
from Mt Beauty village, up the murderously steep Mt Bogong
staircase, down the opposite side, through the icy river, up again
to Falls Creek alpine plateau, and all the way across to
Mt
Feathertop and
Mt Hotham
- a journey of several long days even in good weather.
One highlight of the
Falls Creek area and accessible by car in summer is Wallace's Hut
(pictured left). It is the oldest still standing alpine hut in the
Alpine National Park. Accessibility drops in winter requiring a
snowshoe or X-country ski trip, though the distance isn't that far
from Falls Creek Village.
Twisted snow gums
shadow the hut surrounding it with a mythical quality and enhance
it's historic appeal. The interior of the hut doesn't lend itself to
a means of accommodation even for weary hikers, but the locale is a
poplar campsite for the tent bound and sports toilets and a nearby
fresh water stream. |
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Australia's tallest
mountain isn't exactly comparable in height the mountains of Europe
or even New Zealand, but it does offer some very pretty terrain in a
very accessible fashion. An easily navigable tourist track made from
metal boarding leads from the top of the Thredbo chair lifts right
to the summit and will keep your feet dry while protecting the
delicate alpine grasses. Even in the snow season the track is a
breeze to walk (assuming good weather) making the summit something
to which most can aspire. Curiously however, the summit sunset
(pictured right) is something often missed by day walkers who wish
to depart while the light remains strong.
In early summer the
place comes alive with alpine flowers, an in winter the snow capped
neighboring peaks offer a grand vista. Aside from the usual hiking
and skiing, mountain biking is also a popular recreation at Thredbo. Even ice climbing is possible, albeit on extremely short routes
at the nearby Blue Lake, while the approach to Thredbo offers many
quiet campsites for car campers and families such as GeeHe Hut
pictured right.
A circuit hike (or
x-country ski in winter) can be done by parking at Charlet's Pass
and walking up the road to the summit, passing Seamans Hut, then
following the foot-track along ridge-lines back down via Blue Lake.
This is a much bigger undertaking than simply following the tourist
track from the Thredbo chairlifts to the summit and back. |

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Mt Kosciusko Pics ] |
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[ More
Philip Island Pics ] |
Philip Island,
Victoria
Philip Island is an
easy day trip from South-East Melbourne offering the city dwellers
"a quick trip down the coast" with a chance to commune with
and partake of some real australian nature photography.
The Island boasts some of the best waves for surfing as well as the
popular wildlife reserves where creatures such as native Australian
penguins roam wild in the surf at night (pictured left). The windy
Isle is also home to seals and kolas.
An easy three quarters
of a hour walk along Cape Woolami will get you to The Pinnacles
(pictured left), with its impressive red rocks and thundering waves.
Native birds nest all long the point literally turning the sky black
with their numbers at certain times of the year, as they dart every
which way somehow avoiding head on collisions. |
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The Great Ocean
Road, Victoria
Victoria's "Great
Ocean Road" encompasses a vast breath of coastline taking up much of
the south-west of the state. All along the windy road motorists are
spoilt for choice when it comes to great coastal views with the most
popular attractions being "The
Twelve Apostles" (pictured right) and other various formations
such as London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge. Many of the rock
formations have sunk into the sea over the years with the famous
"12" now being several less than a dozen. Never-the-less the
spectacular scenery is a paradise for photographers.
An anchor is all that
remains of the
Marie Gabrielle which was shipwrecked many years ago, but now
offers a fun short beach walk for those willing to brave the tides,
while places such as
Port
Fairy offer historic charm and windswept beach treks. Further
inland the Otways provide extensive forest walks and
waterfalls. |

[
More Ocean Road Pics ] |
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[
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Mungo Pics ] |
Mungo National
Park, NSW
Mungo National Park
resides several kms well north of the Victorian-NSW border in a
remote and desert landscape called the Willandra Lakes World
Heritage area. Access is not recommended without a 4 Wheel Drive,
particularly after any rain, which causes the great many km's of
rough sandy tracks to become almost impassable for a sedan. You will
need to put some thought and preparation into this drive.
Having said that, the
eventual goal, Mungo National Park, is home to some pretty amazing
scenery, that makes for some real outback landscape photography.
The 33 kilometre "Walls Of China", made of eroded sand
formations (pictured left) and the endless sand dunes surrounding it
make for some interesting exploration. The Mungo Woolshed
(pictured left) offers a glimpse of life on the land in some pretty
harsh and arid conditions. |
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Mt Buffalo, Victoria
Victoria's Mt Buffalo
can be overlooked during winter in favour of more popular skiing
destinations that also have a proximity to Melbourne such as Falls
Creek, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, etc. However Mt Buffalo offers some
unique mountain attractions that really appeal during the warmer
months as well. These include the grand old Mt Buffalo Chalet, where
up-market accommodation can be obtained along with stunning views
across the north gorge. Numerous well marked walks big or small.
Excellent summer swimming in Lake Catani with a kid friendly camping
ground nearby that includes hot showers. Rock climbing, caving,
horse back riding, abseiling - the list goes on. Waterfalls, and
granite tors abound. It really is a gem of a place and not just for landscape photography. And as I say,
somewhat overlooked so crowding is not an issue except around Easter
where it pays to book ahead for Lake Catani camping. Enjoy! |

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More Mt
Buffalo Pics ] |
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