Twelve Day Victorian High Country Landscape, Bird and Nature Hybrid Photography Tour and Workshop
Workshops, Tours, Adventures with Accredited Professional Photographer Mark Rayner and the Dream Team
When: 21 April to 3 May 2025 - Now open for bookings
Where: Victorian High Country and surrounds
Booking information at the bottom of this page.
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Join experienced professional travel photographer and photography expert and tutor Mark Rayner on an amazing iconic high country adventure not to be missed.
If you don't own a four wheel drive this workshop will give you access to places you just can't get to without one. All the details are below.
Itinerary and Program of Events
Arrive at Melbourne Airport Hotel, meet and greet at 5 P.M. over drinks and dinner.
Overnight Melbourne Airport motel.
Day 2
Depart Melbourne at 8 AM and travel to Bright for our next overnight. We'll start our photography with a visit to the beautiful Alowyn Gardens along the way. Abounding with birdlife, these colourful gardens are a great place to get our cameras set up ready for the next 10 days. We'll look at camera settings and processes here before heading to the Yarra Valley Choclaterie and Ice Creamery for a fun visit to satisfy your sugar cravings.
Overnight Bright
Today we hit the Great Alpine Way as we climb to Mount Hotham. Stunning alpine scenery awaits including a detour to the Dargo High Plains for a taste of what's to come with Snow Gums and Alpine meadows. We'll eventually make our way back to our motel in Bright where will make our base for another three nights.
Overnight Bright motel
An easy day today as we explore the autumn colours of Bright. This place is renowned for the beautiful displays of colour each year and, with nature's cooperation, this year will be no different. We'll wander down tree lined avenues of gold, red, yellow and browns that will have your creativity on overload.
Overnight Bright motel
Day 5
Today we take the road less travelled as we circumnavigate Mount Buffalo on fire and logging trails to access more unusual landscape. We'll pause at Lake Buffalo for lunch and a session using neutral density filters to really make the lake come alive.
After lunch we continue around Mount Buffalo through the picturesque town of Myrtleford and then make our way up Mount Buffalo to the historic Mount Buffalo Lodge. Whilst there you'll take in incredible views of the gorge and valleys below.
Finally today, as we head back down the mountain we'll stop to walk into Ladies Bath Falls and photograph this gorgeous waterfall in the perfect afternoon light.
Overnight Bright motel
We say goodbye to Bright today and head up to Falls Creek high country.
We'll be stopping at our first alpine huts, Wallace Hut and Cope Hut before heading to our accomodation at Falls Creek. Here there will bird photography opportunities including the beautiful tiny Flame Robin as well as Snow Gums extraordinaire! The Snow Gums in this area have largely avoided the horrendous bushfires of recent years and are simply stunning.
Overnight Falls Creek
Day 7
Today we explore more of the alpine country with stunning snow gums and alpine huts.
Overnight Falls Creek
Day 8
Leaving Falls Creek we head back towards the historic town of Glenrowan. Along the way we'll shoot Woolshed Falls, again making use of ND Filters to slow down the water.
Overnight Wangaratta
An early start as we look for the elusive Gang-gang cockatoo. They are known to frequent the caravan park daily for water and the surrounding trees just happen to contain their favourite snacks.
Leaving Glenrowan we make our way the Sebel Pinnacle Valley Resort, our base for the next few days.
Overnight Sebel Pinnacle Valley Resort
Day 10
After breakfast we head to Fry's Hut for the day. Apart from the hut we photograph the pristine mountain stream nearby and the amazing array of birdlife to found here.
Overnight Sebel Pinnacle Valley Resort
Day 11
Mountains huts and waterfalls today. We'll visit Bindaree Falls and Bindaree Hut and we'll check out Kings Hut and the surrounding areas.
Then it's the one you've been waiting for
Craig's Hut. Sunset over Craig's Hut with the amazing Alpine National Park mountains backdrop. The weather can do anything here so you'll never know what you're going to get until it happens. Misty, moody, brilliant blue, this place can do it all.
Around the area the Flame Robins are sure to be in attendance to keep you occupied.
After our sunset shoot we make our way back down the mountain to Merijig.
Overnight Sebel Pinnacle Valley Resort
Day 12
Sadly, our last day. After a scrumptious breakfast we'll make our way back to Melbourne to the same motel we started from. Along the way Yea Wetlands for our final bird-shoot.
Overnight Melbourne motel - included.
Day 13
Workshop ends.
Photographic Prerequisites:
This wonderful and varied photography tour workshop is designed to suit the beginner or serious enthusiast.
A digital SLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens camera camera is recommended.
For landscape needs a wide angle or standard zoom lens such as 14-30, 16-35, 24-70 is ideal.
Best lenses to bring for birding include a longer zoom or prime. Lenses such as Canon 100-400, Nikon 80-400, Tamron or Sigma 150-600 are ideal as are 400, 500 and 600 primes. 1.4x and 2x teleconverters are also very useful.
A sturdy tripod is essential.
Some of the topics that will be covered:
• Bird Photography techniques
• Best camera settings
• Wildlife
• Composition
• Lighting
• Exposure and metering techniques
- Landscape photography
- Use of filters
Cost for the 13 day tour : $ 7950.00 per person
$1000.00 per person deposit required to secure your position.
Please note a 3.2% surcharge applies to credit card payments
Balance payable 30 days before workshop.
Click here to book.
Inclusions :
- Accomodation
- All Dinners
- All Lunches
- All Breakfasts
- All Ground transport
- Guiding and tuition
Exclusions:
- Alcohol
- Items of a personal nature
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is highly recommended and remains your responsibility.