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Photography tips for Australia?

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deepak rao

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Hi all,

I'm sure there are lots of Australians here and I would like to tap their inside info .

I am planning a month in Australia and will be visiting the following places

Sydney and the Blue mountains - 1 week. Any suggested vantage points for the Opera views?

Cairns and Daintree - 1 week

Brisbane and Gold Coast - 1 week

Melbourne and the Great Ocean Rd - 1 week

Any must dos here from a photography point of view?

Any suggestions on where to stop over if I want to make the Gr Ocean Rd drive over 3 days?

Does Quantas ACTUALLY weigh your carry on back pack and restrict to 7Kg? Mine is about 10kg without laptop.

My daughter wants to see a zoo and an aquarium, so which would you guys suggest? Melbourne or Sydney?

Thanks for any help.
--
Regards,

Deepak
http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
http://www.bangalorephotographyclub.com/galleries/deepakvrao
 
deepak rao said:
I am planning a month in Australia and will be visiting the
following places
Click to expand...
what time of the year? reason i asked is because the light can be quite harsh in summer time. for landscapes you would want to make sure you can shoot at extreme ends of day.
deepak rao said:
Sydney and the Blue mountains - 1 week. Any suggested vantage
points for the Opera views?
Click to expand...
various section around circular quay. including from the other end from luna park and botanical gardens ends.

hopefully you will get more input from other aussies about the other places.
deepak rao said:
Melbourne and the Great Ocean Rd - 1 week
Click to expand...
where to start?! you can check out my melbourne gallery to get an idea.

http://www.pbase.com/antidote3/my_melbourne&page=all

city proper; docklands; st kilda are a must. there are other places...but it all depends what you want to see.
deepak rao said:
Any must dos here from a photography point of view?
Click to expand...
for whole city skyline pov....consider the railto tower. southbank or crown promenade for ground level cityscape. if you are around the crown promenade area...in the evening...later in summer/spring....there are large fire burst exhibitions along side the promenade (tripod would be useful).

for a free skyline view of the northern parts of the city...sofitel hotel (35th flr??) in the toilets. :)

brigton beach baths, botanical gardens....
deepak rao said:
Any suggestions on where to stop over if I want to make the Gr
Ocean Rd drive over 3 days?
Click to expand...
that is a great idea. actually means that you can capture the twelve apostles in the morning or evening. there are lots of waterfalls (short nature walks) along the way. plenty of motels or bed and breakfast places to stay along the way (but can get quite booked out during summer time).
deepak rao said:
Does Quantas ACTUALLY weigh your carry on back pack and restrict to
7Kg? Mine is about 10kg without laptop.
Click to expand...
no is the answer. but if it looks bulky and 'physically' heavy, then they may weigh it. :)

my camera pack typically weighs about 7kg (without tripod).
deepak rao said:
My daughter wants to see a zoo and an aquarium, so which would you
guys suggest? Melbourne or Sydney?
Click to expand...
i'll say melbourne zoo and sydney's aquarium. been to both in both cities and an unbias pov. :)

good luck, happy shooting and enjoy!

-------
http://www.pbase.com/antidote3
 
deepak rao said:
Hi all,

I'm sure there are lots of Australians here and I would like to tap
their inside info .

I am planning a month in Australia and will be visiting the
following places

Sydney and the Blue mountains - 1 week. Any suggested vantage
points for the Opera views?
Click to expand...
1. While in Blue Mountains make sure to organise a trip to Jenolan caves

2. Katoomba and near by Wenworth Falls are fantastic for scenery and are easily accessible

3. Opera and Harbour bridge you can walk all around within 30 to 40 minutes and take as many shots as you like from every angle. Evening shots are great too.
deepak rao said:
Cairns and Daintree - 1 week
Click to expand...
Day trip around Daintree is excellent value and quite spectacular.

Cairns itself is bit boring but trip to the reef is breath taking if you can dive.
deepak rao said:
Brisbane and Gold Coast - 1 week

Melbourne and the Great Ocean Rd - 1 week

Any must dos here from a photography point of view?
Click to expand...
You may consider Neutral Density filter and or CP. First for bright days and the second for these magnificent blue skies.
deepak rao said:
Any suggestions on where to stop over if I want to make the Gr
Ocean Rd drive over 3 days?

Does Quantas ACTUALLY weigh your carry on back pack and restrict to
7Kg? Mine is about 10kg without laptop.

My daughter wants to see a zoo and an aquarium, so which would you
guys suggest? Melbourne or Sydney?
Click to expand...
1. Sydney Taronga Zoo is a must not only for the Zoo itself but also for spectacular city views
2 Darling Harbour Aquarium is also a top spot to visit but not to photograph
deepak rao said:
Thanks for any help.
--
Regards,

Deepak
http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
http://www.bangalorephotographyclub.com/galleries/deepakvrao
Click to expand...
--
Ted Szukalski

Photographic gallery: http://www.digital-photo.com.au/
 
You will have a great time My wife myself and my two daughters were there last year at this time. A good aquarium is Underwater World the one outside of Mooloolabah (Queensland , north of Brisbane). Lots of nice scenery in that area Rainforest. There's a nice shipwreck at Dickie Beach



I found it a little late in our trip. In Sydney there is lots to see use the public transit "Better than driving" Toronga Zoo is a must see



I understand the Opera house from "Mrs McQuaries Chair" is supposed to be very nice with the bridge in the background. Not sure if you plan on going up as far as Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island but if you get the chance do try and make it to there.



If you have any questions please feel free to ask...

Cal
deepak rao said:
Hi all,

I'm sure there are lots of Australians here and I would like to tap
their inside info .

I am planning a month in Australia and will be visiting the
following places

Sydney and the Blue mountains - 1 week. Any suggested vantage
points for the Opera views?

Cairns and Daintree - 1 week

Brisbane and Gold Coast - 1 week

Melbourne and the Great Ocean Rd - 1 week

Any must dos here from a photography point of view?

Any suggestions on where to stop over if I want to make the Gr
Ocean Rd drive over 3 days?

Does Quantas ACTUALLY weigh your carry on back pack and restrict to
7Kg? Mine is about 10kg without laptop.

My daughter wants to see a zoo and an aquarium, so which would you
guys suggest? Melbourne or Sydney?

Thanks for any help.
--
Regards,

Deepak
http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
http://www.bangalorephotographyclub.com/galleries/deepakvrao
Click to expand...
--
Cal

Put a Canon to your head, You deserve it....

http://funshots.smugmug.com/
 
deepak rao said:
Hi all,

I'm sure there are lots of Australians here and I would like to tap
their inside info .

I am planning a month in Australia and will be visiting the
following places
Click to expand...
deepak rao said:
Brisbane and Gold Coast - 1 week
Click to expand...
The Gold Coast is the theme park capital of Australia.
Sea World
Movie World
Dream World
Wet 'n' Wild

Of these four I'd go to Sea World and Movie World. You can get a discount pass that will get you into both and lots of photo opportunities at either one.

Q1 tower on the Gold Coast is a good place to view that area. Q1 is 322.5m Tall, 20th tallest building in the world. It does cost to get to the observation deck.

Southbank Parklands in Brisbane is nice. Markets held there Friday night, Sat. morn, Sunday morn. From Mt Cootha you can get a good view of the city. A drive down to the Moreton Bay (1/2 hr drive from centre of Brissie) is nice.

Another place in South East Queensland to visit is Lamington National Park. This is a nice Rainforest area about 1hr from either Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Some nice scenery there, though the rainforrest is not the same as up north.

A few from Lamington National Park

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=16630784&q=lamington+national+park&qf=m

About 1hr north of Brissie is Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. This is definately worth a visit. We go there every year!
deepak rao said:
My daughter wants to see a zoo and an aquarium, so which would you
guys suggest? Melbourne or Sydney?

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
--
Regards
Greg
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery
 
Hi There,

Great to hear that you are planning a trip to oz. Hope that your trip goes smoothly.

I live in Melbourne (outer suburbs) . I have visited Sydney many times when I lived in NSW and also visited Cairns when I lived at the Sunshine Coast QLD (Near Brisbane)

I think you already have some good photography advice re Melbourne from Antidote etc above.

Re the Great Ocean Road: I must admit that I haven't had the chance to spend too much time there (yet). I have stayed at Port Cambell which is a pretty seaside villiage near the 12 Apostles etc. Apollo Bay and Lorne further up are also nice. For more quieter scenic areas (and where I want to stay one day) with spectacular coastline and views the Wye River and Kennett River areas look amazing (there are some great Beach-houses with views....for a price!)

http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/otways/town.asp?townid=6
http://www.visitvictoria.com/

My sister's Pbase Website has quite a few pics of her trip and walks on the Great Ocean Road.........
http://www.pbase.com/dimawi/12_apostles_and_beyond&page=all
She has also done some coastline walks in Sydney.......
http://www.pbase.com/dimawi/royal_national_park_sydney

My Melbourne and Sydney Pbase links are here.....
http://www.pbase.com/wendy2au/melbourne_
http://www.pbase.com/wendy2au/sydney

It's been many years since I was up in Cairns, however I remember a trip on the Kuranda Railway and Skyrail (which takes you over the tops of the rainforest)was great. Also liked the Daintree forest and Barrier Reef trips.

We didn't stay in Cairns it'self (not many nice beaches there) however a little bit further north there were some nice beachside areas to stay ie Trinity Beach, Ellis Beach (very Pretty) and Port Doughlas (up further)

Good luck with your holiday planning,
Cheers, Wendy

--
http://www.pbase.com/wendy2au
 
re: zoo to visit
If you want to see native flora and fauna
(with good close viewing of koala's, 'roos, native butterflys etc)
maybe try Healsville Sancturary.

We were members of Friends of the Zoo (allowing unlimited
free visits) for a couple of years. Healsville was better than Melbourne zoo
(5x H, 2 x M visits)
 
deepak rao said:
Hi all,

I'm sure there are lots of Australians here and I would like to tap
their inside info .

I am planning a month in Australia and will be visiting the
following places

Sydney and the Blue mountains - 1 week. Any suggested vantage
points for the Opera views?
Click to expand...
Its really easy to walk around this area, you can take lots of really nice pics of the Opera House from Lady Macquaries chair.
deepak rao said:
Cairns and Daintree - 1 week
Click to expand...
Sounds great, you will love taking pics of the Daintree area.
deepak rao said:
Brisbane and Gold Coast - 1 week
Click to expand...
My only problem with you itinerary is this part.

Aussies call Brisbane...Brisvages Jokingly saying its as exciting as Vegas,, when its the exact opposite.. Unless you have to meet people there. skip it.

And the Gold Coast, well... not my cup of tea. Its full of high rises, built out, over touristic. If you're into theme parks go for it. I just think Aus has more interesting and unique things for your valuable time than theme parks available in the rest of the world.
deepak rao said:
Melbourne and the Great Ocean Rd - 1 week
Click to expand...
Sounds good, haven't done it... yet
deepak rao said:
Any must dos here from a photography point of view?

Any suggestions on where to stop over if I want to make the Gr
Ocean Rd drive over 3 days?

Does Qantas ACTUALLY weigh your carry on back pack and restrict to
7Kg? Mine is about 10kg without laptop.
Click to expand...
Hasn't happened to me...
deepak rao said:
My daughter wants to see a zoo and an aquarium, so which would you
guys suggest? Melbourne or Sydney?
Click to expand...
Havnt been to Melb Zoo, but Sydney zoo is good, and has a nice view of the city, and It makes for a lovley day catching the ferry from the city to the zoo. Sydney aquariem at Darling Harbour is good.
deepak rao said:
Thanks for any help.
--
Regards,

Deepak
http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
http://www.bangalorephotographyclub.com/galleries/deepakvrao
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/mkelpie
 
Melbourne has zoo has three locations: Melbourne (i.e. city centre), Healesville and Werribee. Central zoo has animals from all over the world. So nice but like most other zoos. Healsville only has Australian wildlife. Werribee is more African safari kind of animals. At Healsville you can get amongst quite a few of the animals and often no barriers, wire netting in the way. For the wombats you are even allowed to touch them (under supervision). If you go make sure you go to some of the exhibitions on at set times.
 
deepak rao wrote:
...
deepak rao said:
Does Quantas ACTUALLY weigh your carry on back pack and restrict to
7Kg? Mine is about 10kg without laptop.
Click to expand...
Flying OUT of Australia, be prepared to be stopped by customs people (NOT Qantas people) who may decide to weigh your bags for the 7kg check.
 
...despite what you may read from other posters here. It's a wonderfull and vibrant city, easily navigable with some great scenery.

There are some great areas around as well all within an hour or so North or South. Oz is the place to be, you won't be dissapointed, and you'll have more things to photograph than you can shake a stick at!
Derek Hill
 
Hi, Good point from the poster above. I haven't been to the Healsville Sanctury but hear it is very good. It is situated in the Yarra Valley where there are lots of wineries and lovely countryside to see...........

"re: zoo to visit
If you want to see native flora and fauna
(with good close viewing of koala's, 'roos, native butterflys etc)
maybe try Healsville Sancturary"
--
http://www.pbase.com/wendy2au
 
For the Gold Coast area: Try the point at Burleigh Heads, it will give you a fantastic view of the northern Gold Coast beaches as well as an opportunity for some surfing shots. Around dusk, thousands of Lorikeets congregate in the trees below the point.

For the southern GC try Snapper Rocks, Point Danger, Kirra or the hill at Greenmount (All within 3km). All sites stick out as small points and allow good elevated shots from the water back toward the beach and are adjacent to famous surfing beaches.

For something a little different try the hinterland views from Springbrook or Mount Tambourine (About 40mins drive). For some fauna try Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and feed some Lorikeets.

Enjoy
 
I've had my hand luggage weighed four times out of six flights in the last nine months on Qantas.

I had a Lowepro Slingshot 200 bag, which I think looks small and light, but maybe I am mistaken?

Both times I took lenses out of my bag and put them in my GF's hand bag and then put them back in my bag when I left the check-in desk.

My hand luggage was not weighed at the gate, only at check-in desk.

--

Graphic Design + Web Design + Photography

http://www.molecule.com.au
 
Thanks Greg. Will check out Lamington Nat Park.
Greg_C said:
deepak rao said:
Hi all,

I'm sure there are lots of Australians here and I would like to tap
their inside info .

I am planning a month in Australia and will be visiting the
following places
Click to expand...
Greg_C said:
Brisbane and Gold Coast - 1 week
Click to expand...
The Gold Coast is the theme park capital of Australia.
Sea World
Movie World
Dream World
Wet 'n' Wild

Of these four I'd go to Sea World and Movie World. You can get a
discount pass that will get you into both and lots of photo
opportunities at either one.

Q1 tower on the Gold Coast is a good place to view that area. Q1 is
322.5m Tall, 20th tallest building in the world. It does cost to
get to the observation deck.

Southbank Parklands in Brisbane is nice. Markets held there Friday
night, Sat. morn, Sunday morn. From Mt Cootha you can get a good
view of the city. A drive down to the Moreton Bay (1/2 hr drive
from centre of Brissie) is nice.

Another place in South East Queensland to visit is Lamington
National Park. This is a nice Rainforest area about 1hr from either
Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Some nice scenery there, though the
rainforrest is not the same as up north.

A few from Lamington National Park

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=16630784&q=lamington+national+park&qf=m

About 1hr north of Brissie is Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. This is
definately worth a visit. We go there every year!
Greg_C said:
My daughter wants to see a zoo and an aquarium, so which would you
guys suggest? Melbourne or Sydney?

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
--
Regards
Greg
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery
Click to expand...
--
Regards,

Deepak
http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
http://www.bangalorephotographyclub.com/galleries/deepakvrao
 
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