From rugged coastlines and crashing waves to hidden waterfalls and Australian wildlife, the Great Ocean Road has something for every landscape photographer.
The Great Ocean Road is one of my favourite regions in Victoria to explore with a camera. There's far more to photograph here than the famous Twelve Apostles, with dramatic limestone cliffs, powerful ocean swells, lush rainforest and plenty of opportunities to spot native wildlife.
Over the years, I've found some incredible scenes along this stretch of coastline and inland through the Otways. Here are a few of my favourite locations worth adding to your photography bucket list.
(Hopetoun Falls)
Gibson Steps
One of the best places to experience the scale of the Great Ocean Road's coastline. Head down to the beach (when conditions are safe) for towering limestone cliffs, giant rock stacks and waves rolling across the sand.
Photography tip: Visit on golden hour before sunset for softer light, a lot of the time if the sun is out it can be super misty and you'll have an unreal atmosphere to shoot. Always check the tide before heading down to the beach, it can get super gnarly down at this spot.
Sparkes Gully
If you want to escape the 12 Apostles madness, Sparkes Gully is worth exploring. Look for interesting rock formations, waves wrapping around the coastline and opportunities to capture the power of the Southern Ocean. Be careful heading out on the narrow ridge in winds or if the light is low, there are no fences here and you’ll most likely meet god if you fall off.
Photography tip: Walking out to the tip of these cliffs you can see an enormous sea stack and there is also a cave waterfall tucked away in land.
Childers Cove
With its impressive limestone cliffs and rugged coastal scenery, Childers Cove is a fantastic location for experimenting with composition. The shapes, textures and movement of the water provide plenty of opportunities, even when the light isn't perfect. Get low, shoot the flow!
Photography tip: Overcast stormy conditions can work beautifully here, having these rock stacks being totally separate from the background.
Bakers Oven
Another great spot for photographing the rugged Victorian coastline. Spend some time exploring the rock formations and looking for natural leading lines that draw the viewer into your image.
Photography tip: There are 2 access points to view the Bakers Oven. The image below is from a more eastern location and involves a short hike in which is great for sunset, whilst the more known Bakers Oven spot works great for sunrise.
Hopetoun Falls
Heading inland into the Otways brings a completely different photographic experience. Hopetoun Falls is surrounded by lush rainforest, making it a great location for waterfall photography and capturing the atmosphere of Victoria's temperate forests.
Photography tip: Overcast or lightly rainy conditions are often ideal for photographing waterfalls. Bring a tripod, polariser filter and a few cloths to keep water off your lens.
Beauchamp Falls
Another of my favourite waterfall locations in the Otways. The surrounding forest, moss covered rocks and cascading water provide plenty of opportunities to create images with depth and atmosphere.
Photography tip: Don't just photograph the waterfall itself. Look for smaller details, interesting textures and compositions that include the surrounding forest. Walking back down the river also has a heap of really nice compositions.
Marriners Falls
For those who enjoy a little adventure, Marriners Falls is worth looking into. The walk through the forest is part of the experience, with plenty to observe along the way before reaching the falls.
Photography tip: Allow extra time for the walk and photography, be prepared to get wet and duck under and over a bunch of old fallen tree's.
Photographing Big Waves
One of my favourite things about this coastline is watching the Southern Ocean put on a show. When the swell picks up, familiar locations can become completely different photographic opportunities.
(Looking toward Port Campbell, 12 Apostles glowing in the distance)
Try freezing the action with a fast shutter speed, or use a longer exposure to capture the movement of the water around the rocks. Keep an eye on surf reports to find the days with the biggest waves.
Photography tip: Watch the ocean carefully and photograph from a safe position well back from the water. Never risk your safety for a shot.
(Loch Ard Gorge)
Keep an Eye Out for Wildlife
The Great Ocean Road and surrounding Otways aren't just about landscapes. There's plenty of wildlife to look for while exploring, including koalas, native birds and echidnas.
Kennett River and the Cape Otway Lighthouse road are my goto spots for some Koala action. Another must visit location is Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, located just out of Warrnambool. Set inside an extinct volcanic crater, it offers open grassland, wetlands and bushland, with kangaroos, emus, koalas and echidnas among the wildlife you may encounter. 
Best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon.
Glow worms can also be seen in a few areas of the Otways, your best chance is to visit Melb Gully at night and venture into the forest on the boardwalk. Take a head torch to find your way in, but you need to be quiet and to be in total darkness for them to appear.
Photography tip: Be patient, keep your distance and let wildlife behave naturally. I find the best sightings happen when you're least expecting them.
Planning Your Trip
The secret to getting the most out of these locations is choosing the right conditions. High cloud can help create colourful sunrises and sunsets, while overcast weather is often ideal for waterfalls and forest scenes.
Check the tides and swell before visiting coastal locations, allow plenty of time to explore, and don't try to squeeze everything into one day. The region deserves a little time.
(Gibson Steps)
Final Thoughts
The Great Ocean Road and Otways offer an incredible variety of photography opportunities, from dramatic coastal landscapes to rainforest waterfalls and native wildlife.
These are just a few of the locations I'd recommend exploring. Take your time, watch the conditions and don't be afraid to look beyond the obvious composition. Sometimes the best photographs come from simply slowing down and seeing what's around you.
(Razorback and Aurora Australis)
Want to improve your landscape photography?
If you're looking to get more out of your images, check out my landscape photography guides and post-processing tutorials, or take a look at my fine art prints at www.tysonwaldron.com.
I also offer tailored 1 on 1 online processing lessons available here https://tysonwaldron.com/pages/workshops
Happy shooting!
(Marriners Falls)
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