Jake Anderson is an adventure photographer who scours the land in search of incredible places to shoot. Here are the 10 best photography spots NSW.

 

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

1. The Three Sisters

Location: Katoomba, Blue Mountains

The selling point of the entire Blue Mountains and one of the top 5 most visited places in Australia. Also one of the easier places to get to, only a 1.5 hour drive from Sydney, so it’s a perfect place to start. Rugged ancient rock formations and views of sweeping valleys make for perfect subjects. The three sisters is perhaps the most significant rock formation in the Blue Mountains and is great to photograph. Take advantage of the easterly direction by photographing the sisters at sunrise.

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Jake Anderson Three Sisters Blue Mountains

2. Blue Mountains Crags and Canyons

Location: Blue Mountains

The canyons and crags of the Blue Mountains require a little more experience than just hiking capabilities but there’s a range of tour providers in Katoomba with the capabilities to get virtually anyone into these mystical places.

Crags and canyons provide optimal locations for photography. Different textures, colours and angles make for unique compositions. Like the photos below, it’s also a great way to capture interesting and enchanting patterns of light.

3. Kosciusko National Park

Location: Snowy Mountains

Kosci is a place that possesses incredible beauty no matter the season, whether you’re hiking through summer or skiing in winter. You’ll be able to capture a variety of colours and shapes, textures and perspectives and you’ll have the time and the space to practice your new craft in this stunning yet under-visited location. As pictured below, the majestic granite tors that litter the plains are great to photograph and provide interesting contrasts to the often blue sky.

 

jake anderson adventure photography Airies pool

 

Kosciusko is a photographers dream in both summer and winter. The cool greens and vibrant wildflowers of summer provide gorgeous opportunities for bright and splashy photos while the enchanting whites of winter are always worth braving the cold for.

4. Norah Head

Location: Central Coast

The Central Coast has a whole bunch of amazing places to shoot – I could go on and on. Norah Head Lighthouse is one of these truly amazing places to watch the sun come up and welcome in the new day. Maybe even jump in the water or do some beach sprints to cap it all off!

You can capture the vastness of the ocean from the headland or the magic of the lighthouse from the beach. Any underwater photographers will also find joy in the colourful reef that fills the rockpools surrounding the headland.

 

jake anderson adventure photography Norah Head Lighthouse

5. Putty Beach/ Bouddi National Park

Location: Central Coast

This national park is another insanely cool place to shoot on the Central Coast. Rock erosion from the ocean makes for some incredibly strong foreground details.

 

jake anderson adventure photography Putty beach Storm

6. The Castle and Monolith Valley

Location: Morton National Park, South Coast

Possibly the best kept secret in NSW up until about a year or two ago. Just from a hiking point of view this place has to be up there as one of the best in the state. The views are hard to put into words and you constantly feel dwarfed by the vastness of the area.

There are numerous places along a vast plateau from which to photograph the sweeping valley below that looks amazing against the rocky outcrops of the cliffs above.

 

jake anderson adventure photography Mooryan

 

Like the photograph above, there are plenty of rocky outcrops to get great photos of a friend posing or looking wistfully into the distance.

 

jake anderson adventure photography Pigeon House vert

7. Nymboida River

Location: Nymboida National Park, Northern Rivers

Glassy rivers meet turbulent whitewater in steep sided gorges in the stunning Nymboida River National Park! Passing through a variety of different landscapes, the Nymboida offers so many different landscapes. From farmland to rainforest, its all so gorgeous to photograph. Take snaps from the banks or jumpn in a kayak and experience the river in all it’s glory.

 

8. Belmore Falls and Fitzroy Falls

Location: Southern Highlands

These spots in the Southern Highlands are two of the most photogenic waterfalls in NSW and to make it super easy for you, they’re situated just half an hour apart in the Southern Highlands.

Fitzroy Falls are surrounded by rugged sandstone cliffs and ancient Gondwana rainforest, creating a stunning backdrop for photography. The Falls  have several viewing platforms, allowing visitors to admire the falls from different angles and fully appreciate their grandeur.

 

jake anderson adventure photography Fitzroy Falls

 

Belmore falls cascades down a sandstone cliff face, plunging approximately 100 meters into the lush valley below. The falls are known for their dramatic beauty, with water rushing over multiple tiers, creating a mesmerizing display of power and grace.

The surrounding landscape is a picturesque blend of towering eucalyptus trees, ferns, and moss-covered rocks, all perfect for photographing.

9. Point Perpendicular

Location: Jervis Bay, South Coast

For the brave, the shooting results here can be outstanding. It’s a coastal spot on the Shoalhaven that offers incredible exposure and unique perspectives.

The defining feature is its towering sandstone cliffs that rise dramatically from the turquoise waters below. These cliffs create an awe-inspiring backdrop, with their vertical faces and intricate rock formations. Point Perpendicular offers a remarkable vantage point to witness the sheer power of the ocean as waves crash against the cliffs, sending sprays of mist into the air.

You’ll have to put on a climbing harness but it’s well worth it for the wild shots you’ll get of these coastal rock faces.

10. Nowra

Location: South Coast

This place is a climbers haven and a place I really can’t get enough of. The more sweet little spots you find, the more you’ll understand how much there is to find! You’ll most likely be able to combine adventure with photography like the below pic where some night climbing has been combined with a sweet photo shoot.

 

jake anderson adventure photography Rod climbing Nowra