Melbourne is not as well known for its photography spots as Sydney but its mix of urban laneways, street-art and traditional buildings mix seamlessly with the beautiful river, parks and beaches creating plenty of great spots to choose from.
Melbourne is also blessed with being a sunset city which is always a bonus for getting some great light without an early start!
We’ll take you through our top photography locations in Melbourne and the surrounds as well as the best time of day to shoot.
1. Princes Bridge
The Yarra River is at the heart of Melbourne, and shooting Princes Bridge is a must for photographers.
This waterway offers plenty of photographic opportunities looking back to the city. The first spot we’d recommend is the view from the Arts Centre looking back over Princes Bridge.
Visit at sunset for some really soft colours and light, and bring a tripod and filters to get some silky water from a long exposure.
2. Evan Walker Bridge
Further west down the river you’ll reach another great viewpoint - especially if you want to include a person in the photo for some perspective or foreground interest. The steps near the Evan Walker Bridge enable you to look back on Federation Square and Flinders Station as well as the river and bridge.
This is probably a better sunrise spot, but you will still get some nice light at sunset. The picture below is taken at sunset.
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3. Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is one of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings and the city’s central train station. Its French Renaissance architecture makes it an interesting subject in itself, but it’s the busy intersection which makes it an even better place for photography.
I recommend visiting at night where you can get light trails from the trams that regularly pass by. Set your camera on a 5 - 10 second exposure and shoot just as the lights change to let the tram through. You should get some pretty cool leading lines across your photo if you time it right!
4. Hosier Lane
In a city full of hundreds of laneways, Hosier Lanes really stands out. This narrow street is packed with incredible grafitti and street art, bringing a really gritty edge to a polished city.
There is no specific spot here, so pick a place you like and get snapping! It can get busy, so I recommend visiting in the morning or late afternoon to miss the majority of crowds.
5. Birrarung Murr
If you want a sunset spot by the river in Melbourne, then head to Birrarung Murr. This parkway looks west and straight down the Yarra River, showcasing the city with a gorgeous sunset backdrop.
The park is on the northern bank of the river and we chose here because it offered more of a view to the horizon than the Southbank (but we imagine the Southbank would still be good).
In between photos you’ll probably see rowers and boats on the river and the whole area has a really good vibe at dusk.
6. Princes Pier
We love Princes Pier and have rarely seen a place as unintentionally mesmerising as this one. This spot is a collapsed pier where the posts are still standing, continuing in an evenly matched distance for a long way. At sunset it’s incredibly photogenic with the soft light and golden sky. You could also visit at sunrise for great light.
Princes Pier is just outside the main city at the Port of Melbourne, and should take around 15 minutes to get to if you’re driving.
7. Brighton Beach Boxes
The multi-coloured Brighton Beach Boxes have become an Instagram sensation and it’s easy to see why when you get your first glimpse of these quirky little seaside sheds. You’ll find over 50 beach boxes here with enough different murals and colours to find a few that really catch your eye.
However, this small stretch of sand can become incredibly busy. It’s best to avoid weekends and public holidays as these are the busiest times. It’s a great sunset spot and a lovely place to sit and watch the sun slowing sink into the ocean once you have your shots.
8. The Fairy Penguins at St Kilda
So technically this isn’t a landscape photography spot, but we had to include it as the chance to photograph these little penguins right next to the city was one of our favourite things to do in Melbourne.
At sunset, head to St Kilda Pier. At the far end of the jetty you’ll begin to see fairy penguins return to their burrows in the breakwater. The best time to see them is the hour after sunset when they begin to arrive in large numbers. Make sure you give them a lot of distance and don’t use a flash at any time.
Photo Spots in Victoria
9. The Twelve Apostles - Great Ocean Road
When I think of Victoria as a state, the Twelve Apostles is the image that always springs to mind. This iconic view is breathtaking at sunset and is one of those places that the camera struggles to do justice.
The viewpoint is just outside Port Campbell and we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before sunset to get a spot for your tripod. It does get very crowded but it doesn’t tend to interfere too much as the viewing platform is pretty big.
This spot is a 2 hours 45 minute drive from Melbourne city centre.
10. Gibson Steps - Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is packed with incredible photo spots and Gibson Steps is another place which has to be seen to be believed. This is one of the few beaches on the Port Campbell side of the Great Ocean Road that you can walk along and see the sea-stacks at ground level. It’s only at ground level that you can really take in the sheer size of them, making it our favourite beach along the whole of the Great Ocean Road.
Gibson Steps is another place best visited at sunset as you can get the sun slowly dropping below the stacks.
This spot is right beside the 12 Apostles and a 2 hour 45 minute drive from Melbourne.
11. Loch Ard Gorge - Great Ocean Road
Loch Ard Gorge used to have an incredible photo opportunity at the top of the gorge looking down to the opening, but sadly that has been fenced off - it was a little sketchy as the cliff edge looks quite crumbly.
Nonetheless, you can still get an interesting shot from the beach. It can get crazily crowded during the holidays, so we recommend going very early morning to avoid the crowds and to get some lovely light. We went at sunset and it was absolutely packed both times.
Loch Ard Gorge is right beside Gibson Steps. The walk to the gorge from the car park is less than five minutes.
12. Hopetoun Falls - The Otways
Waterfall lovers should head to the Otways, just a couple of hours west of Melbourne. It’s best to start at Hopetoun, a beautiful waterfall which feels wild, lush and green, surrounded by tall tree ferns with fallen logs adding to the atmosphere.
It is a short hike (500m) down some steep stairs to get there, but the views are definitely worth it. It’s also very close to the Redwood Forest which is another beautiful spot to visit.
The falls are a two and a half hour drive from Melbourne.
13. Stevenson Falls - The Otways
Stevenson Falls is another epic photo spot tucked away in the forests of the Otways. You’ll head down a dirt track to a campsite, and then after a short walk (500m each way) this impressive waterfall appears! You can photograph the falls from a railed lookout and the view is unobstructed or if you want a person in the shot you can use the rocks just before the lookout but the falls will be partially obscured by a huge boulder. We loved both spots.
Our photograph is taken close to sunset which was lovely light. A cloudy day can also work well so you don’t get glare.
Stevenson Falls are a 2 hour 15 minute drive from Melbourne.
14. The Balconies - The Grampians
The Balconies lookout is simply incredible! A jaw like rock formation on the side of a cliff, looking out to the valley below. It is a truly stunning place to visit at sunset (or sunrise) and one of our favourite places in the whole of the Grampians.
The walk to get there is 1km each way and it’s a flat and easy trail but the lookout is so good it is one of our favourite hikes in the Grampians. There are two railed lookouts but many people choose to walk out on to the Jaws which is done at their own risk as technically it is now fenced off (which wasn’t the case on our first visit).
The Grampians are a 3 hour 30 minute drive from Melbourne.
15. Boroka Lookout - The Grampians
Our final photography spot is also pretty special. Boroka Lookout looks over Halls Gap, the Mount William mountain range and the huge Lake Bellfield and it’s one of our top recommends for things to do in the Grampians.
Again there are two lookout points and sunrise would be the best light, although our picture is taken at sunset.
If you choose to sit on the cliff edge be very careful with your footing.
Boroka Lookout is very close to the Balconies so you can easily do them both together.
The gear we use
Melbourne’s such a photogenic city, and you’ll want the best gear possible to capture it. This is the gear we always pack and make sure we’re never without:
Tripod: Sirui A-1205 - This has been a recent investment and it is seriously good! It’s very light, rock solid and dead easy to use. I wouldn’t take a waterfall photo without it. Check it out on Amazon
ND Filters: NISI Filters - To get that dreamy look on your photos, you will need an ND filter. I’ve used NISI Filters for years as they are superb, have a great build quality and always deliver the best photos. I recommend the starter kit on Amazon.
Camera: Canon 5D MkIV - The camera I’ve been using almost every day for 3 years. This still takes incredible photos at a full frame aspect. It’s going to take a lot to make me change! Check it out Amazon.
Lenses: 16-35 f/4, 24-70 f/2.8 and 100-400 f/4.5 - These three focal lengths are perfect for city photography. You have the wide angle for the tight spaces, the general purpose with a f2.8 for those dreamy blurs, and the 100-400 to zoom in on those epic details you spot.
Where to stay in Melbourne
The Adina, Flinders St
The Adina on Flinders Street has everything going for it. It is central as you can wish for and the rooms are huge, comfortable and quiet, providing a little hideaway from the bustle of the outside world.
We stayed in a one bedroom loft apartment, which was tucked away in a laneway - very Melbournian!
The room had a separate living room and kitchen from the bedroom, which meant you could always make your own food and be only steps away from Flinders Street and the Yarra River in the centre of the city.
The apartment was huge but there wasn’t a lot of decoration so it didn’t feel fancy. The kitchen is also fairly old but very functional.
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Are you planning a trip to Melbourne? Know of any photo spots we didn’t include? Let us know in the comments below!
