Tasmania is renowned for its wilderness, which makes it a favourite destination for photographers. Filled with rainforests, mountain peaks, sandy beaches, and so much more, Tasmania will offer you plenty of photo opportunities.

But how to narrow down your options is another thing altogether! Below, we’ve listed our favourite places to capture the essence of Tasmania.

1. The Bay of Fires

The Bay of Fires is a stunning stretch of coastline in northeast Tasmania famous for its pure white sands, crystal clear water and orange-red lichen-covered rocks.

Easily accessed by road, it’s a popular spot for landscape photographers who are looking for grand, sweeping vistas. But it’s also a good place to get some more intriguing shots of the lichen patterns on the rocks.

Since it looks out over the water to the east, it’s the perfect place for sunrise shots. Just make sure you bring a cover to throw over your camera as it can get pretty windy there and your camera will be vulnerable to sand in the air.

Particular points of interest in the Bay of Fires includes Binalong Bay and Mt Wiliam National Park.

2. Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park

This national park is renowned for its primordial forests and alpine heaths. It boasts ancient pines, glacial lakes, ice-cold creeks and, of course, jagged mountain peaks.

A hotspot for hikers and photographers alike, the national park offers some of its most picturesque photo opportunities at Dove Lake Carpark. From here, a short walk will bring you to Dove Lake, where you can get photos of Cradle Mountain reflected in the water.

Of course, the weather is temperamental in this area, so bring wet weather gear for both yourself and your camera. Make sure you have a tripod to get crisp shots of the reflection in the water.

Try to come at the end of winter and you can get some enchanting photos of the lake and mountain with the final patches of snow on the ground.

If the weather is proving too difficult or the mountain is obscured, venture instead into Pine Valley or Weindorfer’s Forest. There, you can capture some magnificent shots of pine and pandani rainforests.

3. Painted Cliffs on Maria Island

Accessible only by ferry, Maria Island is most renowned for its historic convict probation centre as well as its status as a natural wildlife sanctuary.

You’ll find quiet beaches and plenty of marine life, but a photography highlight has to be the Painted Cliffs at Hopground Beach. The Painted Cliffs are patterned sandstone formations created by mineral rich water and natural erosion.

Head there in the afternoon when the sunlight lights up the cliffs, and then stay until evening to capture stunning sunsets over the water.

The cliffs can be difficult to access if the tide comes in or there’s a swell, so keep an eye on tide times and make sure you carry a portable camera kit.

4. Tessellated Pavement State Reserve

Tessellated Pavement on the Tasman Peninsula is a geological phenomenon only an hour’s drive from Hobart.

It’s a favourite photographic spot because of the deep, strong lines in the rock, fractured by years of earth movement and subsequent erosion by waves and sediment.

Tessellated Pavement is accessed by a short walk from the carpark. If you want to get the best effect, make sure you’ve considered the tidal movements, time of day, and the weather before you go. A fantastic time to shoot is at sunrise when long exposures can capture a sweeping vista of the rocks and the sunrise beyond.

Be sure to bring your tripod if you want to do long exposures. You might also want to carry a macro lens if you plan to shoot the tiny marine creatures crawling about in the rock crevices.

5. Aurora Chasing

While not as famous as its northern cousin, the aurora australis, also known as the Southern Lights, can provide a light show just as stunning as the aurora borealis. But it’s trickier to find – and Tasmania is one of the few places far enough south to give you a good opportunity to view it.

To capture the aurora australis, head somewhere you can get clear views of the south. The Facebook group Aurora Australis Tasmania will provide you information about photographing the Southern Lights, as well as letting you know when there are favourable conditions to view the lights.

Photographs of the aurora australis will always look more captivating if you already have an interesting foreground, so try to find somewhere that can hold its own (a good idea in case the aurora lets you down anyway!).

To photograph auroras, we recommend you bring:

Below are our tips for setting up your camera:

  • Shoot in RAW
  • Select the widest possible aperture (usually f2.8-f4)
  • Set ISO to between 1600 and 3200
  • Select a fast shutter speed (anywhere between 10 and 30 seconds)

Do you have a favourite photography destination in Tasmania that we haven't listed? We love for you to share your recommendations with us in the Comments section below! Alternatively, check out some of our other favourite photography spots, along with other photography tips and advice, on the Camera House blog today!