Great Ocean Road Photography Tour (1 Day)
Join me on this Great Ocean Road photography tour where you will be taken to the most amazing destinations the Great Ocean Road has to offer.
The Great Ocean Road provides a range of photography opportunities throughout different weather conditions. Some of the locations include the 12 Apostles, Gibson’s Steps, Hopetoun Falls, Californian Redwood Forrest as well as some other stops along the way.
Some of the locations on this tour;
- Hopetoun Falls
- Californian Redwoods
- Gibsons’s Steps
- 12 Apostles
- Loch Ard Gorge
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions (bad weather is sometimes better for photography)
- Not wheelchair accessible
What to expect on the day
This tour is for anyone interested in landscape photography, experience ranging from interested beginner to intermediates wanting to elaborate on there own photography journey. The benefit of a small group is having the dedicated and focused guidance so that each person can receive the level of guidance needed in order to get the most benefit from the day.
With a pick-up from either Melbourne CBD, Werribee, or Geelong (or other pickup locations*) you will be travelling quite a far distance. The trip will include a sunset so we will be returning quite late at night. There will be some hiking as we venture into some of the rainforests to capture a waterfall. The hiking will be minimal, however an average fitness level will be required.
Workshop Guidance
On this workshop you will receive the following guidance;
- 1:1 dedicated photography guidance (small group)
- Using your camera on manual, handling exposure, dynamic range, depth of field and focus
- Approach to landscape locations, composition and use of light
- When and how to use a neutral density filter, graduated numeral density filter and a polarizer
- Capturing multiple exposures for HDR
- How do take a panorama for post production photo stitching
- Landscape photography handbook (containing all the training you will receive on the tour)
- Great fun, a handful of good photos and a day in nature!
Locations
The tour aim to cover the Otway's Forrest, with Hopetoun Falls and the Californian Redwoods, as well as the coast around the 12 Apostles.
Some of the locations on this tour
- Hopetoun Falls
- Californian Redwoods
- Gibsons’s Steps
- 12 Apostles
- Loch Ard Gorge
Captures from the Great Ocean Road
Twelve Apostles
Gibsons Steps
Californian Redwoods
Quick Answers
Photography Handbook
A landscape photography handbook is provided free of charge in advance of the photography workshop
Learn the Technicals:
- Demystifying the Exposure Triangle: Grasp the interplay of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, and learn to control light for perfect exposure.
- In-Camera Mastery: Utilize in-camera metering, histogram analysis, and graduated neutral density filters to capture dynamic scenes.
- HDR and Bracketing: Explore High Dynamic Range techniques to preserve detail in high-contrast scenes.
- Depth of Field and Focus: Understand how these tools influence sharpness and creatively direct the viewer’s eye.
Equipment
The following equipment is required to be self-supplied;
- DSLR or Mirrorless Camera with manual mode, digital or film camera although digital is preferred for on location guidance and critique
- SD card/s (or film), charged batteries, wide angle lens 16-35mm (FF Equivalent) or similar, and a zoom lens 24-70mm (FF Equivalent) or similar and a camera bag.
- A sturdy tri-pod
- Weather appropriate clothing
- 3 or 6 stop neutral density filter, 3 stop medium graduated neutral density filter & Polariser Filter (preferred but optional)
- Hiking boots preferred
- Snack, and Money for lunch and dinner
What’s Not Included
- Travel Insurance
- Meals & Drinks
- Airfares
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 weeks prior your tour date for a full refund. If you cancel less than 3 weeks before the tour date, the amount you paid will not be refunded. This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Provisional Workshop Schedule, Saturday, 22nd August 2026
- 8:30 AM: Pickup at the Ampol Foodary Werribee Maltby Bypass — a reliable spot to leave your car and meet me.
- 9:15 AM: Pickup at Geelong Railway Station for anyone joining from Geelong.
- 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM: Workshop briefing on arrival at the Otways, covering the day's plan, technical review, and safety notes.
- 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Photography at Hopetoun Falls and the Californian Redwoods. Soft, diffused winter light in the fern gully and shafts of light through the canopy — ideal for long exposure and forest interior work.
- 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM: Drive along the coast toward Port Campbell, with a short stop for a bite to eat along the way (bring a packed lunch or grab something at Apollo Bay).
- 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM: Coastal photography at Gibson's Steps and Loch Ard Gorge — working with the low winter afternoon light.
- 5:15 PM – 6:30 PM: Sunset shoot at the Twelve Apostles. Sunset is around 5:55 PM, followed by blue hour and the golden colour that lingers over the stacks after the sun has dropped.
- 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM: Return journey with drop-offs at Geelong Railway Station (~9:30 PM) and Ampol Foodary Werribee (~10:30 PM).
Times are indicative and may shift slightly on the day depending on light and conditions.
Dedicated, Small-Group Mentorship
Benefit from a maximum group size of just three participants, ensuring you receive focused instruction tailored specifically to your skill level.
Great Ocean Road Sunset
Experience the magic of golden hour and twilight while learning professional techniques to capture dramatic coastal light and color.
Master Your Camera in Manual Mode
Stop relying on automatic settings and unlock your camera's full creative potential with personalized, hands-on instruction.
