Currimundi Lake is a saltwater lake situated beside Currimundi Beach.  It is quite shallow for the most part, and usually easy to wade across to sand banks – which are obviously changing all the time and come up with some very cool wave patterns.

A local Skydiving company (based out of Caloundra Airport) often land on the beach here so if you are lucky you may catch some parachute landings.

How to get there:

Nicklin Way, the main road between Caloundra and Maroochydore, crosses Ahern Bridge over Currimundi Lake.

Facilities:

There is limited parking, but a very nice coffee shop on Westaway Parade.

At the northern end of Mooloolaba Beach there are some cool rock formations which make some spectacular seascape photos – particularly at sunrise.  There are a number pf unusual weathered formations, and also plenty of rock slabs, where the water lays and you can get some great reflections.

Facilities:

There is a public car park close by (which is often fairly busy, particularly at the weekend – but generally there are plenty of spots available at sunrise)

Best time:

Best at Sunrise, with a lowish tide.  If the tide is high waves may be crashing over some of the best rocks…. and you probably won’t be able to get in close enough to get nice reflections off some of the rock pools and rock slabs covered in water.

Tips:

Soon after  the sun has risen, wander along the rocks.  Look for waves crashing up over the rocks to get some spectacular sunrise waves.

There are some interesting Boat Sheds along the south bank of the South Maroochy River (Bradman Avenue).  One in particular is slatted and makes for some nice sunrise (and sunset for that matter) shots.

You can park right next to the spot (so not far to lug your gear).

500 metres East there is a footbridge across to Chambers Island (there is a rowing shed on the island and quite often rowers out training in the early morning).  There are usually a bunch of brightly coloured boats belonging to Swan Boat Hire moored here which add a nice splash of colour.  The bridge also allows ou to get out over the water and adjust your angle for sunsets.

Facilities:

There is a public toilet (and a cafe) near the Chambers island footbridge

Best time:

Sunrise and Sunset are best

Tips:

•  Bring some insect repellent – just in case.
• Setup for sunrise early – and be ready to shoot – often the best sunrise moments last just seconds

Redlands Indigiscapes Centre is an environmental education centre at 17 Runnymede Road
Capalaba – run by the Redland City Council.

This area has extensive walking trails through the bushland – with plenty of flora and fauna to photograph, but it is also a great place for model shoots as there are lots of interesting little nooks and spaces which make ideal locations for portraits.

Facilities:

Entry is Free and there is a great little cafe/coffee shop to relax before or after a shoot,

Location and Opening Hours

Address: 17 Runnymede Road, Capalaba QLD 4157

Best time:

Unfortunately the center is not open early morning or late afternoon – so is not available durin  “the golden hours” around sunrise and sunset.

Tips:

• Although there is plenty of shade it can be a little tricky dealing with contrast issues associated with the dappled light caused by sunshine and shadow…. Good idea to bring a  reflector to give you more control over lighting in these situations.
• This centre is pretty popular for school excursions – so if you go during the week be prepared to share the space with a bunch of primary schoolers

The road from Taihape (halfway along Highway 1 between Taupo and Palmerston North) to Napier is long (164km), Very windy, and Very hilly but offers some spectacular scenery and great photo opportunities…

Allow yourself 3-4 hrs because there are plenty of places you will stop along the way (there are also plenty of places you would like to stop, but there is not enough room to pull over or it is not safe to do so).

This is essentially a small country road… but don’t believe the tourist maps, as it fully sealed, and for the most part two lane… There are plenty of tight corners and be on the lookout for tankers and logging trucks.

The beginning and end of this road is mostly farmland – cattle and sheep, with the middle section being primarily forest. If you are lucky you may catch a herd of sheep being moved between paddocks, or hay being bailed… or even trees being felled.

Huka Falls  in the outflow from Lake Taupo has a long channel which is absolutely boiling with water.

You can take photos from a scenic outlook overlooking it, from a bridge over the top of the channel, or from a number of vantage points along the side.

You can get a Jetboat ride which will take you up to Huka Falls themselves (probably not advisable to take your camera though unless it is well protected from splashes… You can also get a helicopter ride (10 minutes for $99 each – for two people) whch will take you on a quick trip over Taupo and Huka Falls – and if you ask nicely they may even take the doors off for you to get some decent photos. (more extensive trips available on request –  for a higher fee of course).

On the way out of Rotorua (travelling South)…you can not miss Te Puia – a thermal activity and Maori culture “theme park” based around the southern hemisphere’s  biggest and most active thermal Geyser.

Fees

Entry fee for adults is $48 (as of Feb 2014), but if you say that you only have an hour and just want to duck in and take some quikc photos (like I did) they may just let you on for $29 🙂

Tips

• I suggest that you stay clear of the “free tour” groups which depart on the hour, but grab a park map and do your own thing.
• There is a shortcut (along a gravel path) to the main Geyser which bypasses most of the traffic.
• The main Geyser itself goes off about twice an hour and is active for about 10-20 minutes and then dormant (steam only) for another 40 minutes.  There is a smaller geyser (called “the indicator” which starts about 10-20 minutes before the main one kicks in).
• Some tour guides seem to bring their groups to the main geyser – then send them off “exploring” for 10-15 minutes – this is a good chance to grab a chat with the guide and learn something 🙂

Okere Falls  are formed from the runoff from Lake Rotorua and are a popular spot for kayakers and white water rafters.
There is a Kayak entry point on the main highway and an exit point at TroutPpool falls – about 2km down a side road.

There are a few spots for taking photos… at the kayakers entry point, at the main Okere falls themselves (two locations here – one right at river level – entry from the bottom of the carpark, and another overlooking the falls.

There are a number of photo opportunities at the exit point which can be accessed via the Trout Pool carpark.  There is also a walk along the river (which I didn’t have time to take) which I expect will provide other photo opportunitues.

A kayaker takes about 20 minutes from the top to the bottom… so it is pretty easy to photograph them at various points (if you drive).  I was there on a week day so it was fairly quiet – but I epect on a weekend it will be pumping – with plenty of action.

Thames, a town at the southwestern end of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand”s North Island, approximately 1hrs drive from Auckland.

All that remains now of “Burke Street Wharf” – an extensive harbour scheme built in the 1920s, is a couple of dozen pylons (with a couple of sculptures that have been added recently).

Best time:

This site is ideal for Sunset shots – particularly at low tide when you can get right down amongst it, although you can still shoot at high tide from the bank.

Tips:

Drive right up Burke Street and park on th footpath.  At low tide it is easiest to walk down the boat ramp – rather than clambering over rocks (which can be a bit treacherous). Make Sure that you wear shoes – there are lots of oysters on the rocks here (and rats in amongst the rocks too).

Wellington Point is a suburb of Redland City, about 22 km south-east of Brisbane.  It is based around a peninsular which juts out into Moreton Bay, providing panoramic views of the bay – with Brisbane City to the East and Stradbroke Islamd to the West.

Wellington Point is a VERY popular destination for a family day out or picnic, (and during the day presents plenty of opportunities for people, pet and boating shots) but where it really shines is at sunrise, sunset.

Wellington Point is also particularly god for light paining photography as it is almost always possible to take advantage of reflections off wet sand or oncoming tides.

How to get there:

From Brisbane, take Old Cleveland Rd to Capalaba, then Old Cleveland Rd East to Birkdale and follow the signs to Wellinngton Point.

Facilities:

There is usually plenty of parking (but it can get busy on weekends.  There are also toilets, a shop/cafe and plenty of picnic tables.

Best time:

Good at weekends for people, pet and boat shots… but I like it best at sunrise/sunset and night time

Tips:

• Check out tide times to0 make sure it suits the type of shot you are after.  On an outgoing tide you can walk out oon a sandy isthmus to King island.
• Take insect repellent – sandflies and mosquitoes can sometimes be a problem.
• On the East side of the peninsular there is a pretty cool Jetty – good for sunrise shots (and also fire painting if there are not too many people about)