This journey brings together three of the most photographically rich regions in Australia—Gippsland, Tasmania, and Kangaroo Island—into one cohesive workshop designed exclusively for Backcountry Journeys travelers. Each location offers distinct ecosystems, wildlife behavior, and shooting conditions, allowing us to work in environments that range from calm lakes and dense forests to alpine plateaus and rugged coastlines. The result is an itinerary that covers far more visual diversity than a typical Australia trip, and one that places photographers in the right places at the right times with the support of expert local guides.

We begin in Gippsland, an underrated region of southeast Australia known for its expansive lake systems, coastal heathlands, and eucalyptus forests. This area is home to a surprising concentration of wildlife, including wallabies, kangaroos, parrots, lyrebirds, and water birds that thrive in the region’s wetlands and forest edges. Early and late light brings out textures in the paperbark forests, mirror-like reflections on the lakes, and excellent opportunities for capturing wildlife in clean, natural settings. The mix of forest, coast, and inland plains makes Gippsland a strong opening chapter, giving photographers a broad range of subjects before we transition into the cooler, more dramatic landscapes of Tasmania.

Tasmania introduces an entirely different visual identity. At Mt Field National Park, we work among rainforest gullies, moss-covered logs, waterfalls, and mountain streams—elements that lend themselves to long exposures, intimate landscape compositions, and close encounters with species such as wombats, echidnas, and platypus. The park’s cool, filtered light and richly textured forest floor offer ideal conditions for photographers who enjoy slow, deliberate compositions and a more contemplative approach to shooting. This environment provides a sharp contrast to Australia’s better-known arid landscapes, revealing a side of the country that feels almost prehistoric.

From Mt Field, we move into the Tasmanian Highlands, an open plateau known for its remote feel and frequent wildlife activity. Thousand Lakes Lodge places us in the center of a sparsely populated wilderness, where Tasmanian devils, quolls, wombats, and raptors are often seen close to our accommodation. The broad horizons, subtle colors, and tundra-like vegetation make this region particularly compelling for landscape work, especially during sunrise and sunset when light moves quickly across the open terrain. On clear nights, the dark skies provide excellent opportunities for astrophotography and, on rare occasions, the Aurora Australis.

Cradle Mountain offers some of the most iconic scenery in Tasmania, combining dramatic alpine peaks with glacial lakes, boardwalk trails, and abundant wildlife. Dawn sessions at Dove Lake provide classic foreground reflections and alpine color, while the surrounding heathlands and grasslands are ideal for photographing wombats, wallabies, and echidnas in natural habitat. The region’s rapidly shifting weather can produce soft fog, fast-moving clouds, and atmospheric conditions that make the landscape exceptionally photogenic. Additionally, our visit to Devils Cradle provides a controlled environment for observing and photographing Tasmanian devils at close range.

We conclude on Kangaroo Island, one of Australia’s most important wildlife refuges. Its combination of protected coastlines, endemic species, and limited development makes it a standout location for nature photography. Highlights include a private dawn session at Seal Bay, where we photograph endangered Australian sea lions before public access begins; coastal viewpoints with turquoise surf and sculpted cliffs; inland habitats where koalas, wallabies, and kangaroos are frequently seen; and Flinders Chase National Park, home to the sculptural Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. The island’s mix of wildlife encounters, rugged shorelines, and varied light conditions provides a strong finale and an unusually comprehensive set of photographic opportunities.

Across the regions we explore, several standout species offer exceptional photographic opportunities. In Tasmania, wombats are often the stars of the show—particularly around Cradle Mountain, where they graze openly in the early morning and late afternoon. Their calm demeanor and predictable behavior make them ideal subjects for close-range, low-angle wildlife portraits. Platypus are another highlight, especially in Mt Field and along rivers near Deloraine; while elusive, they can be photographed during calm periods when they surface repeatedly in predictable patterns. Echidnas, with their slow, deliberate movements and distinctive spines, allow for detailed behavioral shots, and their presence across both Tasmania and Kangaroo Island gives us multiple chances to work with them in different environments. The eastern quoll and Tasmanian devil, though more nocturnal, are species few photographers get to observe closely; controlled nocturnal viewing and sanctuary access allow us to capture sharp, intimate images of these rare carnivores.

Kangaroo Island introduces an entirely different set of species, many of which are endemic or hold important conservation status. The Australian sea lion colony at Seal Bay is one of the most significant in the world, and our private access at dawn provides a rare opportunity to photograph natural behaviors—sleeping juveniles, bulls vocalizing, pups interacting—without crowds. Rosenberg’s goannas, glossy black cockatoos, tammar wallabies, and Kangaroo Island kangaroos each offer distinct photographic potential, from dynamic wildlife behavior to portrait-style compositions. Raptors such as wedge-tailed eagles, ospreys, and swamp harriers are frequently seen along the coastlines and open plains, giving action-oriented photographers opportunities for flight shots and environmental portraits. Combined with the island’s clear light and open terrain, these species create a diverse and compelling wildlife portfolio that complements what we capture in mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Together, these locations form a workshop that emphasizes variety, access, and expert guidance—hallmarks of Backcountry Journeys trips. By combining three distinct regions into a single itinerary, we’re able to offer photographers a rare opportunity to capture Australia’s southern wilds in depth, from quiet rainforest details to fast-moving wildlife and dramatic coastal landscapes. This trip is crafted to deliver a complete photographic experience across environments that most travelers never explore in a single journey!