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Having spent the night in Port Campbell, we were right on the doorstep of Port Campbell National Park and the world renowned 12 Apostles. I was excited to see the towering limestones stacks once again, even though there are only about seven or eight of them remaining due to erosion, but they are still a magnificent sight to behold.

It is also worth getting to the 12 Apostles early to avoid large crowds and find the best photo spots and whilst you're in the national park, you're also just a short drive from other natural attractions such as, Loch Ard Gorge, Tom and Eva Lookout, Bay of Islands and more, so allow at least half a day to enjoy them at leisure.

Limestone stacks of the 12 Apostles

12 Apostles

Gibson Steps is also well worth a visit, just a 2min drive from the 12 Apostles, the vast stretch of beach is open to the full brunt of the Southern Ocean with stunning views towards the limestone stacks of the 12 Apostles. The steps were carved into the cliff face by early settler Hugh Gibson, whose homestead, coincidently offered refuge to Loch Ard George shipwreck survivors Tom and Eva. Speaking of Loch Ard Gorge, it is 3 minutes drive west of the 12 Apostles and the site of the above-mentioned shipwreck. The small bay is especially tranquil, a direct contrast against the windswept shore of Gibson Steps Beach, the water is exceptionally blue here and the surrounding sandstone cliff faces are a warm, golden sand, like a scene out of a movie.

Gibson Steps Beach

Loch Ard Gorge

Tom and Eva Lookout is a lookout named after the two shipwreck survivors mentioned above, and the Razorback, another limestone formation in the vicinity has been withered to form a sharp, jagged ridgeline. In fact,  signs of erosion are commonplace, sights like London Bridge once had a central arch but today the midsection has collapsed.

Tom and Eva Lookout

London Bridge

I'm sure there are places that I've missed, hidden gems as there is just so much worth seeing in Port Campbell National Park, but I definitely saw a lot more than my first trip more than a decade ago and crossed off many things on my to-do list.  We left in the afternoon filled with wonderful memories and mesmerised by the beauty of the natural landscape. What are some of your favourite lookouts in Port Campbell?

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The walk is broken into several sections, each with its own unique landforms and vistas. Most Aussies would be familiar with the iconic movie Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and first up on the walk is what is known as Priscilla's Crack, a V-shaped formation made famous by scenes from the movie. The sandstone domes here tower above you shaped almost like giant hives, they are both eerie and magnificent in the cool morning light. Throughout the walk, our guide pointed out particular bush plants that were once used by the Aborigines for food and hunting purposes, and many take on rather sculptural forms.

Once you reach the rim, you're offered magnificent, panoramic views of the canyon and the grandeur of its sheer sandstone walls and the chasm beneath becomes apparent. I think this is the moment I've been waiting for, nothing can quite describe the feeling of seeing the canyon in its entirety as you walk from the north wall to the southern side. For some rest and snacks, we headed down to the waterhole, also known as the Garden of Eden, where a shady pool surrounded by sandstone walls and cycads offered us some well-needed rest before making our way back up and out.

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The day ended with sunset viewing of Uluru while sipping on some chilled sparkling wine and munching on crackers and dips. It was an awe-inspiring sight; watching Uluru change with the fading light and surrounded in silence.

Uluru sunset viewing

But we were in for a treat the next morning as we got up well before dawn and headed out of camp at 6:30am to make it to the base of Uluru right before first light. The Kuniya Walk is around 1hr at a leisurely pace, starting at Kuniya Piti and ending at the Mala carpark. To witness sunrise over Uluru at such closeness, see it change from a deep reddish purple to a vibrant ochre as the sun slowly rises was truly a magical and rather spiritual experience. No wonder this place is famous for its spectacular sunrise and sunsets! This is a must!

Sunrise

Uluru at dawn

Uluru at sunrise

If you have time, I would also suggest taking the shorter Mala Walk, where you will see some of the sacred sites used by the Aboriginal people for ceremonies, teachings and food preparation. It is best to opt for a guide, this way you will not only learn about the land and its stories but also of the various bush plants and their uses. 

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It was a very long day; up at 4am for a 4+ hour drive down the south coast to Batemans Bay, and after an 8+ hour work-related site visit, I didn't get back home till 12am. But all in all, the scenery down south and the township of Batemans Bay was worth the long drive and thank goodness for all those coffee breaks!

Batemans Bay

The township of Batemans Bay lies within the Eurobodalla region, it unfolds along the banks of the Clyde River and is surrounded by forests, waterways and National Parks, it is also a popular holiday destination for Canberrans. As a first time visitor, I knew very little about this quiet, seaside town, but I've long heard about the iconic Batemans Bay Bridge and its oysters and oyster farms (I was told not to leave Batemans Bay without trying the oysters), and the atmosphere of the township is relaxed; fishing village vibes with residential properties as well as holiday homes. 

Batemans Bay from the northern foreshore (1/100 sec at f/11)

View of Batemans Bay Bridge from the northern foreshore (1/800 sec at f/5.6)

Waiting pelicans (1/200 sec at f/8.0)

Clyde Street, Batemans Bay (1/160 sec at f/11)

Batemans Bay Bridge
The bridge is a well-known and loved icon by the locals, it is a lift span bridge which allows larger marine traffic to pass beneath and was quite an engineering feat for its time. Today, it is still a vital link for both pedestrians and vehicles crossing the Clyde River, and worth a walk across to inspect the steel truss structure

For the return trip, a detour to Pebbly Beach,  Jervis Bay was a great spot to chillax before the long drive back, and if you time, hang around till sunset for the Kangaroos to come out onto the beach.

View along the northern foreshore (1/1000 sec at f/5.6)

Lifting span (1/125 sec at f/11)

One of the great things about learning photography for a homebody like myself, is the opportunity to be outdoors more often; leaving the comforts of the house, soaking up some sun while exploring one's surrounds and in the process you become more aware of your environment and also are more appreciative of the beauty that exists in even the mundane things. Since starting photography, I've been to many beautiful places like Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Balls Head Reserve and more recently Barangaroo Reserve, but I think this has to be one of my favourite discoveries of the year!

Waverley Cemetery

This Easter Sunday, my friend and I decided to do a photography day out to the historic Waverley Cemetery (another Instagram inspired visit). A short bus ride from Bondi Junction train station, Waverley Cemetery is perhaps one of Sydney's most beautiful and historically significant cemeteries with many Edwardian and Victorian era headstones and also the graves of many prominent Australians such as Sir Edmond Barton and Henry Lawson. 

Situated on cliffs overlooking the ocean, the cemetery covers a vast expanse of land with headstones as far as the eye can see. It is one of the most tranquil, sombre yet beautiful places I've been to, a kind of serene beauty that stops one in its tracks. Though the weather was a bit unpredictable, but the grey clouds only enhanced the dramatic scale of this place and made for some really interesting black and white photography.

But the best was yet to come.

Procession.

I'm your angel.

Bronte to Clovelly Coastal Walk

Once on the island, I walked past the restaurant through a doorway, up a set of narrow steps to reach top of the fort. Atop sits the Mortello Tower, canons, a mast and flag and that is pretty much the entire island. But I wasn't going to let size deter me, for there were still points of interest and historic details all around. one just has to know where to look. 

The historic architecture, the sandstone against a backdrop of the harbour made it perfect to try out some black and white photography to capture the textures.