Melbourne Wildlife Photography Workshop
2025 dates TBC!
Join me on a journey from Melbourne CBD all the way to Wilsons Promontory, on a mission to photograph some of Australia’s most iconic and fascinating creatures!
Highlights:
4 days of photography and post-processing guidance with Kate; helping you create images that you’re proud of.
Cruise along the southernmost tip of mainland Australia in search of migrating humpback and southern right whales.
Observe Melbourne’s colony of grey-headed flying foxes and watch them grace the skies at sunset.
Learn from a conservationist as we watch the world’s smallest penguins run to their burrows from the ocean’s shore. Walk through the heart of the penguin colony as we observe them through high-tech night vision scopes.
Visit Millowl’s Koala Conservation Reserve.
Spend 4 days photographing an array of other incredible native species including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, emus and more!
Day 1 ⏤
After being picked up in the morning from your hotel/the arranged meeting point in Melbourne CBD, we will begin our trip by heading south toward Lysterfield Lake. We will wander around the park in search of the many wonderful creatures that call this area home, particularly eastern-grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies, echidnas and birdlife. This will also be the introduction to all things wildlife photography; the techniques, camera settings, composition tips and more.
We will then head towards Phillip Island (Millowl), spending some time at the Nobbies to photograph swamp wallabies, pacific gulls and cape barren geese on the coastline.
After settling into our accommodation, we will spend the evening with a ranger from Phillip Island Nature Parks, where our group will go to a secluded beach to witness the world’s smallest penguins running to their burrows from the shore. Unlike the main viewing areas of the penguin parade, we will be watching the penguins through high-tech night vision scopes and walking through the heart of the colony. We won’t be photographing the penguins during this experience, but trust me when I say that it will be an incredibly special night regardless!
Accommodation:
Tonight’s shared accommodation will be at the Phillip Island Cottages.
Penguin images taken under permit with PINP and photographed with low-light camera.
Day 2
After spending the morning photographing at the Millowl Koala Conservation Reserve, we will begin our drive to Wilsons Promontory National Park; one of the most picturesque regions in all of Victoria. Here we will look for emus, wallabies, kangaroos, reptiles, and many native bird species. As a group we will decide what walks we’d like to do/what we’re most interested in photographing, and we’ll plan the day accordingly!
After cooking dinner together as a group, we will spend some time looking for the incredible wombats that reside in Tidal River, as well as some of the other nocturnal animals around the campground. This could be a great place to try out some astrophotography too.
Accommodation:
Tonight’s shared accommodation will be at the Tidal River cabins in the centre of Wilsons Promontory.
Day 3 ⏤
Today we will continue to enjoy the magic of Wilsons Promontory and look for/photograph the wonderful mammals and birdlife that surround the area, and focus on how we can photograph them with the moon.
In the middle of the day we will be embark on a 2.5 hour cruise along the coastline of Wilsons Prom, looking at the incredible landscapes and search for Australian fur seals, coastal birdlife and potentially whales & dolphins (it is the tail end of whale watching season but there is always the chance)!
Accommodation:
Tonight’s shared accommodation will be our 2nd night at the Tidal River cabins in the centre of Wilsons Promontory.
Day 4
After our final morning enjoying the beauty of Wilsons Prom, we will begin our journey back to Melbourne.
Our final stop will be at Yarra Bend Park photographing the huge colony of grey-headed flying foxes that roost in the trees along the river bank. At this time of year, we will see a number of babies clinging to their mother’s chests as they hang from the branches. For those that would like to see the bats take flight, we will also have the option to stay until sunset to watch them grace the skies.
This is where the workshop comes to an end and we will sadly part ways!
Details:
⏤ 2025 Dates TBC ⏤
Price: $2100 AUD
Group size per round: Max 6
What is included:
✓ Photography guidance over the 4 days.
✓ Accommodation and transportation for the duration of the trip (3 nights and 4 days).
✓ All tickets, entry fees etc.
✓ Editing/post-processing workshop + take home PDF
✓ 2 breakfasts + 2 dinners + 1 lunch.
✓ Continued guidance from Kate long after the workshop is complete ⎯ you are able to ask me for help at any time!
✓ A guaranteed fun experience!!
What’s not included:
✗ Your flights/transport to and from Melbourne.
✗ Photography equipment.
✗ All items of personal nature.
✗ 1 breakfast, 1 dinner + 3 lunches.
Testimonials
FAQs
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Whilst a lot of the focus will be on photographing the species we see, that certainly doesn’t mean that you need to be a photographer to join! As long as you are interested in wildlife and nature, you are bound to enjoy this experience as it’s basically an Aussie wildlife safari.
If you are a photographer however, this is most certainly open to any and all skill levels!
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My personal suggestion is to have a DSLR or mirrorless camera body, with a lens of at least 300mm in focal length if you’re interested in creating portraits (a 100-400mm for example would be perfect). However, the aim of this workshop is for you to learn how to make the most of the equipment you already have, so do keep that in mind.
In terms of other accessories, we will not be photographing from a vehicle so a beanbag will not be necessary. But if you prefer to shoot with a tripod or monopod, bringing that is definitely recommended (along with a wide-angle lens if you’re interested in some astrophotography).
You will also need to bring your laptop and an external hard drive (preferably 2 so that you have a backup) for editing and image organization.
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Absolutely! Whilst at Wilsons Promontory we will spend the evenings going through our images and working on them together ⏤ from image organization to post-processing and diving into any questions you may have!
You will also receive a PDF with all the information so that you can look back at it for years to come!
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Due to the locations we will be visiting, the accommodation is basic but very comfortable! The most important thing for me when organizing this trip was that we were in perfect locations that give us wonderful access to wildlife.
Night one we will be at the Phillip Island Cottages where you will share a cosy cabin with 1 or 2 other people (per gender).
Our accommodation for nights 2 & 3 are in shared cabins (1-2 bedroom with lounge and kitchen) with 2-4 other workshop guests (grouped via gender) where you will be individually sleeping on a single, double, or bunk bed. Whilst they might be ‘basic’, being warm and comfortable is an absolute guarantee!
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
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Once again, the wild nature of this trip made organizing group meals quite difficult…
However, here is a brief run down of which meals are included each day/which ones are not.
Day 1 - Lunch and dinner not included.
Day 2 - Breakfast not included, lunch not included, dinner included (group meal cooked in the National Park)
Day 3 / ROUND 1 - All meals included (breakfast and dinner cooked in the National Park).
Day 3 / ROUND 2 - Breakfast and dinner included (cooked in the National Park). Lunch not included.
Day 4 - Breakfast included, lunch not included.Before entering Wilsons Promontory, we will be in areas where you can buy your lunch and dinner from a variety of lovely places. However when we are in the National Park, there is one cafe and general store only open from 9-5pm, so we will be deciding on group meals and cooking breakfast and dinner together (included in the price) in our lovely cabins with a fully equipped kitchen. We can choose to buy from the cafe for lunch, or cook them in the cabins too. It’s a great bonding experience and adds to the National Park adventure if you ask me!
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Whilst you definitely do not need to be a marathon runner, we will be spending a lot of time walking so being comfortable on your feet is a must! Nothing will be too strenuous, however, there are some incredible short hiking experiences in Wilsons Promontory that we can decide on as a group if it’s of interest ⏤ but they will of course be optional.
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Melbourne weather can be very unpredictable at the best of times! Whilst the spring weather can result in beautiful sunny days, it can get very chilly at night and there is always the chance of rain… A warm coat, beanie, and light rain jacket is definitely recommended.
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⏤ Bookings are made via a first come first serve basis, and spots will be held upon the receipt of the deposit.
⏤ Payments are to be made via direct bank transfer or via credit/debit card (with a 2.9% processing fee).
⏤ Failure to make payments may result in the loss of your spot on the workshop.
⏤ Deposits are non-refundable.
⏤ After your deposit has been paid, any cancellations made before August 15th 2024 (for Round 1) and September 15th 2024 (for Round 2) will incur a 25% cancellation fee of the trip cost. Any cancellations made after August 15th 2024 (for Round 1) and September 15th 2024 (for Round 2) are non-refundable.
⏤ In the event that the trip is cancelled by the operator due to unforeseen events or circumstances, refunds will be given or the trip will be rescheduled.
⏤ Travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover flight cancellations, trip interruptions, illnesses and circumstances beyond our control (e.g. climate events, natural disasters, epidemics, etc.)
If you have any other questions feel free to email me! ⏤ hello@katenewman.com