Mountains, Sea, and Sky: Late Autumn in Tasmania

Chasing light at the edge of the world

Sunrise along the Friendly Beaches, on Tasmania's east coast

Tasmania has always been on my bucket list, and I'm glad I managed to spend two wonderful weeks discovering the island. It felt like someone packed an entire continent’s worth of landscapes into this one compact location. Think ancient eucalyptus forests dripping with moss, windswept moorlands and jagged mountains, white-sand beaches with roaring waves, and some of the clearest night skies I’ve ever shot. 
Indeed, Tasmania in late autumn is a photographer's playground - and if you're into dramatic light, diverse wildlife, and not having to wake up at 4am every day, this is the time to go.

Mountains and Forests: Tranquility Rediscovered
We started our trip in Hobart, but moved straight on to the nearby Mt Field National Park. Like many other Tasmanian national parks, Mt Field feels isolated and tranquil, with a single12km dirt road as the only access for vehicles. With my parents in tow, we just did some short and easy hikes at the Moorland Mosaic and Pandani Grove, but even those were more than enough to immerse us in the harsh moorlands and the magical Tasmanian eucalyptus rainforests. It’s an easy place to get lost in the colours and textures - white gum trees, towering green tree ferns, and lingering mists.
Mt Field is also famous for Russell Falls and the nearby Horseshoe Falls. Set amidst a carpet of ferns, the falls were a joy to photograph. 

A wonderful sunrise in Ellendale, where we based ourselves to visit Mt Field

Eucalyptus trees, with their sheer white bark, stand out sharply against the surrounding scrub vegetation

Russell Falls amidst the ferns

Rainforests means plenty of mushrooms - including this group with a very special pair

No visit to Tasmania is complete without visiting Cradle Mountain. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and raining during our two days there. But these made for a moody atmosphere, and we made the most of it by taking some walks amidst the rainforests. The Enchanted Walk was an easy 10-minute trail, but I spent a good half hour exploring the forest and found a few special shots which I connected deeply with. As a bonus, we saw a wombat waddling past the boardwalk and a wallaby amidst the bushes. 

Moss-covered trees along the Enchanted Walk, Cradle Mountain National Park

Found a wonderful abstract frame along the Enchanted Walk - my favourite capture of the entire trip

I also highly recommend the Waldheim Chalet area too. We had to walk through the wind and rain amidst the moorlands, but it was all worth it. The chalet provided welcome shelter, and told a great story about Gustav Weindorfer, the founder of the National Park. Right behind the chalet was a short but beautiful forest walk, packed full of moss, ferns, and mushrooms. I also managed to find a fagus tree with full autumn colours - a rare sight this late in the season. 
We got a lucky break with the weather on our final day in Cradle Mountain, when the clouds parted just long enough to sneak in a shot at Dove Lake. 

Pandani ferns growing neatly in Cradle Mountain's moorlands

An abstract take of the autumn fagus leaves

Cradle Mountain in the early morning, as seen from Glacier Rock

The Coast: Roaring Waves and Sheer Cliffs
After the highlands, we hit the coast - starting with the Bay of Fires, where orange-lichen-covered granite boulders meet turquoise-blue water. This place screams ultra-wide angles and low perspectives - tidepools and rocks amidst crashing waves, set against beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The photographic possibilities seemed endless.

Sunset above the orange rocks of Binalong Bay

A different perspective of sunset at Binalong Bay, with the characteristic orange lichen

A glorious and fleeting sunrise amidst a drizzle at Binalong Bay

Crashing waves at Humbug Point near Binalong Bay

We moved next to the Freycinet Peninsula, famous for its postcard-perfect views of Wineglass Bay. But given my parents' age and poor weather, we didn't do the Wineglass Bay trek. Instead, I managed to capture some scenes of Cape Tourville, Sleepy Bay, the Friendly Beaches, and sunset at the Hazards range. ​​​​​​​

Cape Tourville Lighthouse on a cloudy afternoon

Sunset light on the Hazards range, as seen from Coles Bay

Sleepy Bay - jagged rocks and rough seas

A "self-portrait" in late afternoon light at the Friendly Beaches

Then there was Tasman National Park in the southeast of the island, which was packed full of sheer vertical cliffs and unique geological features. There was the tessellated pavement, with neat patterns carved by the sea in the rock - they almost seemed man-made. And most unforgettable of all was the hike I did to Cape Hauy - a solo venture starting early in the dark, and culminating in a glorious sunrise above the Cape. 

The Tessellated Pavement looks almost man-made

Sunrise above Cape Hauy

The dramatic rock pillars of Cape Hauy shoot straight up from the seas

The Sky: A Little Night Magic
One of the biggest perks of a Tasmanian winter trip? Early nightfalls, and a wonderful view of the Milky Way. With little light pollution thanks to Tasmania's sparse population, we had a great view of the Galactic Core, made all the better by my ultra-wide 14mm f/1.8 lens. I also learned about the "Emu in the Sky" constellation of the First People of Australia - traced by the dark nebulae of the Milky Way. 
Tasmania is also a great location to catch the Aurora Australis. There was one night where the auroras were particularly active, but unfortunately the clouds meant we didn't get much of a view. Even more unfortunately, the day we left, there was a massive Coronal Mass Ejection, and I was forced to watch enviously from the plane as Tasmanians uploaded photos of the aurora exploding all across the night sky. Well, there'll always be a next time! 

The "Emu in the Sky" - can you see the "head" near the top right of the photo, and the "body" formed by the galactic core?

The Milky Way rises over the rocks of Binalong Bay

Milky Way at twilight, Binalong Bay

Photography Tips
- Bring an ultra-wide, fast lens: perfect for astro and dramatic coastal shots.
- Pack a long lens: Tassie’s wildlife doesn’t mind the camera - but keep your distance.
- Use ND filters: Especially handy to slow your shutter speeds for waterfalls and coasts. ND grads are your ally for those sunrise/sunset shots on the coast.
- Don’t fear the rain: Wet forests and waterfalls look amazing with overcast light.
- Embrace the low season: 

Concluding Thoughts
Late autumn and winter in Tasmania is pure gold. Not just for the photography, but for the peace and tranquility that the whole island exudes during this season. I left Tassie with a full heart, but also with a longing to stay just a few more days to soak in the magic. I will certainly be back. 
↑Back to Top