Blog 1 • Discover South Australia: 8 Unique Locations for Photographers.
Littlehampton twin tunnels.
This railway tunnel in Littlehampton is a great place to explore, with many different angles and perspectives for photographers. It’s a little tricky to locate and hidden amongst the forestry that surrounds it. My recommendation would be to park your car on Child’s Road in Littlehampton and walk through the pedestrian tunnel and turn right. You’ll make your way towards the track where you can climb your way up. You’ll be greeted with a giant opening to a 96m long railway tunnel. If you have the time, head to this tunnel at night and get experimenting with some steel wool and long exposure in the tunnel opening to create some unique flicks. I will attach the exact coordinates of the location for your guidance.
* -35.05705170450487, 138.8586522384127 *
Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens.
Nestled in the Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens is a photographer's paradise. With ever-changing seasonal colours, diverse themed sections, and panoramic summit views, it offers endless opportunities for creative flicks. If you’re game enough, get the drone up and capture the gardens from another perspective - just be mindful of others as some people don’t like the buzz from the drone. The tranquillity and abundant wildlife make it a perfect backdrop for photographers of all levels and there are so many options and places to wander through to find what you like most.
Greenly beach rockpools.
Located over on the Eyre Peninsula, about 45 minutes from the picturesque town of Port Lincoln, is this oasis called Greenly Beach. Not only is it the perfect spot to cool off and relax when the weather is scorching hot, the surf breaks at the beaches that surround is something to behold. With an ever-evolving rockpool, to the stunning coastline and backdrops, this place has something for everyone’s adventures. It does require a fair trek on a dirt road to reach this destination but is well-worth the effort. If you have the energy, Mount Greenly is right next door and has a breathtaking view from the peak of the 1-and-a-half-hour hike. This place is perfect for anyone with a drone, with so many options to capture different compositions from the sky.
Adelaide city drain tunnels.
Next up is the illusive drain tunnels under the city of Adelaide. Now this location isn’t for everyone but well worth the struggle to get into them. Many people have heard of stories surrounding these tunnels but never actually heard or seen if they are true. Well, they are, and they are quite spectacular if you can manage to find your way in. Be mindful of how much rainfall has occurred when you go looking for these as my first time, I walked through knee deep water for most of the tunnels. Plenty of things to explore once you’re inside, feels like an underworld and almost surreal when cars are driving overhead. There are a few entry points to these and numerous amounts of drains, but if you want more information on how to find them, reach out to me!
Carrickalinga rockpool.
Another location that I would consider to be reasonably unknown as it only becomes visible at certain tide levels is this love heart rockpool near the beach of Carrickalinga. This place took me a few attempts to find before I managed to enjoy a swim in this cool bath as my first tries were on high tide where this place wasn’t visible / underwater. To get here, head to the carpark at the northern end of the Carrickalinga beach. From here, walk towards the cliff and head right around the coastline until you see another secluded beach called Secret Cove. Head down to the edge of the water and work your way along towards this other beach. This rockpool is hidden from plain sight and hides behind other rocks but I’ll let you have the adventure of finding the exact location yourselves. Experiment with different angles to find the perfect love heart shape for your photo. If you need any tips, feel free to reach out and I will be happy to help.
Second Valley coastline.
One of the best beach locations in South Australia would have to be Second Valley. From cliff jumping, snorkelling and hiking, this place has it all. For those that crave some adrenaline, turn left at the jetty and follow the coastline around to the cliffs where you’ll find an epic spot to enjoy cliff jumping and even a cave that glows when the sunlight hits the right spot. The coastline featured above in the image is a great hike and offers endless views in every direction. Possibly one of the best spots to enjoy the sunrise or sunset over the ocean. And for those that like to lounge around and relax, there is a small beach next to the jetty, where the water is crystal clear. Before the entrance to the parking area, there is a corner store to fill your stomach, and a campground for those wishing to stay overnight. All in all, this place has plenty of opportunities for photographers to capture a wide range of shots.
Torrens River footbridge.
The Torrens River footbridge in the heart of town is a statement to the cityscape of Adelaide. The photo featured above is taken underneath the footbridge in one of the triangular supports that holds the bridge up. This structure is forever changing colours to reflect the events that surrounds it. The perfect spot to take portraits of a model or experiment with different angles to create something new. Zooming out from the bridge, it creates a lovely foreground for photos when capturing flicks of the city of Adelaide itself, with Skycity on one side and Adelaide Oval on the other.
Currency Creek Railway bridge.
Lastly, one of my favourite locations that is better suited for drone photography is this railway bridge in Currency Creek. About an hour or so drive from Adelaide itself, this bridge is hidden behind the little town of Currency Creek and is almost invisible from the road when passing by. If you search for the location of the Currency Creek waterfall hike on google and park in the carpark mentioned, the bridge is a short 200m hike along the creek from there. The railway is quite old and frail so some parts have deteriorated so be careful when walking across the bridge itself. Also not suited for people with a fear of heights either. This is an epic location for sunrise and sunset with the drone to create photos of a place that has hardly been explored before. Don’t be afraid to reach out with any questions!
