Photographing Portland

About Portland

Portland is a historic coastal city on Victoria's far south-west coast, approximately 360 kilometres west of Melbourne. Situated on Portland Bay and surrounded by some of the most rugged coastline in Victoria, it makes an excellent base for landscape, seascape, wildlife, maritime and architectural photography.

Portland was established in 1834 and is generally recognised as Victoria's first permanent European settlement. Its long maritime history remains evident in the working harbour, historic buildings, lighthouses, fishing fleet and the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre.

What makes Portland particularly attractive to photographers is the extraordinary variety of subjects within a relatively small area. In one day it is possible to photograph a working deep-water port, an historic lighthouse, Australasian gannets, dramatic limestone cliffs, beaches, forests and the open Southern Ocean.

A short drive from the city brings you to Cape Nelson, Cape Bridgewater and the Great South West Walk, while the internationally significant Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is also readily accessible from Portland.

Portland is particularly rewarding when the weather is dramatic. Strong Southern Ocean swells, rapidly changing skies and winter storm fronts can produce much more interesting photographs than perfectly clear weather.

More information: Visit Portland

Viewpoints

1. Cape Nelson Lighthouse

   Cape Nelson Lighthouse is probably the most important landscape photography location around Portland. The 32-metre-high lighthouse has stood above the Southern Ocean since 1884 and is surrounded by low coastal heath and spectacular limestone cliffs.

   

   

   

   Best for: lighthouse landscapes, dramatic skies, coastal cliffs, long exposures, whales and storm photography.

   Best light: late afternoon and sunset are particularly useful, although the lighthouse can work at virtually any time when cloud formations are interesting.

   Photography tip: rather than photographing only from the lighthouse car park, explore sections of the surrounding Lighthouse Walk and Sea Cliff Nature Walk. The lower coastal heath provides excellent foreground and allows the lighthouse to be isolated against the sky.

   A 16-35mm lens is excellent for environmental photographs, while a 70-200mm allows cleaner, compressed compositions from farther along the walking tracks.

   GPS: -38.43094, 141.54290

   Address: 1119 Cape Nelson Road, Portland West VIC 3305

   Parks Victoria - Cape Nelson Lighthouse

2. The Enchanted Forest

   The Enchanted Forest in Portland, Victoria, is a magical 45-minute coastal walking trail featuring a dense canopy of gnarled Moonah trees, hanging vines, and dramatic ocean lookouts.

   Trail Details
   Length: About 1.4 miles (2.2 km) out-and-back or loop options.
   Time: Takes around 45 minutes to complete.
   Location: Starts off Scenic Road/Norman Wade Scenic Drive, roughly 15 minutes south of Portland town and part of the Great South West Walk.
   Highlights: Interlocking tree tunnels, sea bird watching, seasonal whale sightings, and rugged cliff views.
   Rules: Dogs are not allowed on this trail.

   

3. Whalers Bluff Lighthouse

   Whalers Bluff Lighthouse stands on an elevated grassy headland at the northern end of Portland and provides sweeping views over Portland Bay, the harbour and the city.

   The relatively small white lighthouse with its red lantern makes an attractive photographic subject in its own right, particularly when combined with the surrounding grassland and the bay beyond.

   Best for: lighthouse photography, Portland Bay panoramas, harbour photographs, sunrise light and whale watching.

   

   Best light: early morning. The elevated position also makes it an excellent location when interesting clouds are moving across Portland Bay.

   Photography tip: carry both a wide-angle lens for the lighthouse and a telephoto lens for the harbour, ships and any passing whales.

   View Whalers Bluff Lighthouse on Google Maps

4. Lee Breakwater and Portland Harbour

   Portland's working harbour provides a completely different type of photography from the surrounding wild coastline. Fishing boats, tugboats, large commercial vessels, the breakwater and Portland Bay can all provide interesting compositions.

   

   

   The long Lee Breakwater extends into Portland Bay and is one of the district's recognised whale-watching locations.

   Best for: harbour landscapes, ships, fishing activity, sunrise, blue-hour photography and whales.

   

   Best light: sunrise and early morning. Calm conditions can produce useful reflections around the harbour.

   Photography tip: a 24-70mm lens is very useful around the waterfront. Carry something in the 100-500mm range during whale season.

   The Portland Visitor Information Centre and Maritime Discovery Centre are situated immediately beside this area.

   View Lee Breakwater on Google Maps

5. Point Danger Gannet Colony

   Point Danger is one of Portland's outstanding wildlife photography locations and supports Victoria's only mainland breeding colony of Australasian gannets.

   A public viewing area allows visitors to observe the birds without entering the protected breeding colony. Lawrence Rocks offshore support a much larger colony and can also form an attractive background in longer-lens compositions.

   Best for: Australasian gannets, birds in flight, wildlife, ocean landscapes and whales.

   Best period: approximately August through February is particularly interesting because it overlaps the breeding season.

   Recommended lens: 300-600mm for detailed wildlife photographs and birds in flight.

   GPS: approximately -38.39342, 141.64867

   Stay behind barriers and follow local access restrictions around the colony.

   View Point Danger Gannet Colony on Google Maps

6. Portland Botanic Gardens

   Established during the 1850s, Portland Botanic Gardens provide a useful alternative when conditions along the coast are excessively windy or harsh.

   

   The gardens contain mature trees, historic plantings, approximately 300 varieties of roses and around 130 varieties of dahlias. Unfortunately we were there too early for the dahlias.

   

   Best for: flowers, macro photography, trees, garden landscapes and detail photography.

   Best light: overcast conditions or early morning, when soft light reduces harsh contrast on flowers.

   GPS: -38.35262, 141.60568

   Address: Glenelg Street, Portland VIC 3305

   Portland Botanic Gardens

7. Nuns Beach and Portland Foreshore

   Nuns Beach curves around the Portland foreshore close to the centre of town and provides accessible views across Portland Bay.

   Best for: sunrise, beach landscapes, waves, reflections, Norfolk Island pines and photographs incorporating Portland's waterfront.

   Best light: sunrise and early morning.

   Wet sand after a receding wave can provide excellent reflections, particularly when the sunrise sky has strong colour.

   View Nuns Beach on Google Maps

8. Pivot Beach / Madeira Packet Road

   Located only a few minutes south of Portland, this section of coast is useful for photographing whales moving between Portland Bay and the exposed waters around Cape Nelson.

   Best for: whale photography, rocky coastline, surf and dramatic seascapes.

   Recommended lens: a long telephoto of at least 300mm for whale photography.

   View Pivot Beach on Google Maps

9. Cape Nelson Clifftop Walk

   The clifftop country surrounding Cape Nelson is worth treating as a photographic destination separate from the lighthouse itself.

   Walking trails pass through windswept coastal heath and provide elevated views over limestone cliffs and the Southern Ocean. Depending upon the section walked, opportunities include cliffs, wildflowers, seabirds, whales and highly textured coastal vegetation.

   

   Best for: panoramic landscapes, storm fronts, whales, wildflowers and environmental photography.

   Best period: spring for wildflowers; winter and spring for whales and dramatic weather.

   Cape Nelson State Park

How I photographed Portland

What I took - what was in my kit

I took my LowePro Backpack loaded with Canon 5DMkII body, Canon 24-105mm zoom, Manfrotto 190 Tripod, and of course a range of lens wipes, spare batteries, sunscreen and bug repellant. I tended to shoot 28-55mm

Techniques

TBD

Other things to look out for

Some of the best photographic locations in the Portland district are outside the city itself but still within approximately one hour's drive.

1. Cape Bridgewater - approximately 20 to 25 minutes

   Cape Bridgewater should be regarded as an essential side trip for photographers visiting Portland. The cape was once a volcanic island and contains some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in south-west Victoria.

   Bridgewater Bay forms a magnificent approximately four-kilometre crescent of sand below high coastal cliffs. Bridgewater Beach is one of the nicest beaches I have seen.

   

   Best for: beaches, surf, huge cliffs, whales, sunsets and panoramic landscapes.

   Exploring Cape Bridgewater

2. The Petrified Forest - approximately 25 minutes

   Despite its name, the Petrified Forest is not actually fossilised timber. Its unusual vertical formations are limestone solution pipes created as water dissolved the underlying limestone and later cemented surrounding sand.

   The result is an extraordinary almost other-worldly landscape of cylindrical formations standing above the Southern Ocean.

   

   Best for: geological details, wide-angle landscapes, dramatic skies and abstract photography.

   Photography tip: late-afternoon side lighting is useful because it emphasises the shapes and textures of the formations.

   Access is from the car park at the end of Blowholes Road, Cape Bridgewater.

3. Cape Bridgewater Blowholes - approximately 25 minutes

   The Blowholes are only a short walk from the Petrified Forest car park. During large Southern Ocean swells, waves force air and spray through cavities in the basalt and scoria coastline. Ideally, you want a nice sunny day right after a big storm has come through. Unfortunately, you mostly get grey skies with little difference between the sea and the sky at the end of a storm. This was the conditions that we had.

   

   

   Best for: breaking waves, sea spray, storm photography and rugged coastal landscapes.

   The most spectacular conditions are usually associated with large swells, although photographers should remain well back from cliff edges and exposed rock shelves.

   View Cape Bridgewater Blowholes on Google Maps

4. Cape Bridgewater Seal Colony - approximately 25 minutes plus walk

   Cape Bridgewater supports a major breeding colony of Australian and New Zealand fur seals.

   The colony can be viewed from the coastal walking trail, or visitors can investigate locally operated boat tours when they are running.

   Best for: wildlife, seals, cliffs, birds and coastal landscapes.

   A long telephoto lens is strongly recommended. Do not approach or disturb wildlife for a closer photograph.

5. Bridgewater Lakes and Discovery Bay - approximately 25 to 35 minutes

   The lakes and enormous dune systems west of Portland provide a much quieter photographic experience than the major coastal lookouts.

   Best for: dunes, wetlands, birdlife, reflections and minimalist landscapes.

   Early morning is particularly attractive when conditions are calm and mist is possible over the water.

6. Budj Bim National Park - approximately 45 to 55 minutes

   Budj Bim provides one of the most interesting changes of landscape within an hour of Portland.

   The area includes the volcanic crater of Budj Bim, Lake Surprise, lava flows, caves, forest and a culturally significant landscape associated with the Gunditjmara people.

   Best for: volcanic landscapes, forest, Lake Surprise, wildlife and environmental photography.

   Photographers should remember that this is an important living cultural landscape. Follow signs and any photography directions provided by Traditional Owners.

   Parks Victoria - Budj Bim National Park

7. Tae Rak / Budj Bim Cultural Landscape

   For a deeper understanding of the surrounding landscape, consider a Gunditjmara-guided visit to the World Heritage-listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape.

   The landscape contains sophisticated systems of channels, dams and weirs developed by Gunditjmara people for the harvesting and management of kooyang (short-finned eel).

   Tours begin from the Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre at Lake Condah and should generally be booked in advance.

   Budj Bim Cultural Tours

8. Nelson and the Glenelg River - approximately 50 to 60 minutes

   Nelson lies close to the South Australian border where the Glenelg River reaches the Southern Ocean.

   The river provides a striking contrast to Portland's exposed coastline, with calm water, limestone cliffs, forest and opportunities for reflections.

   Best for: river landscapes, reflections, kayaking, limestone cliffs, birds and misty mornings.

   Early morning and late afternoon are generally the most productive periods for photography.

9. Princess Margaret Rose Cave area

   The limestone country beside the Glenelg River contains the Princess Margaret Rose Cave and surrounding river viewpoints.

   Important: the cave itself is currently closed while Parks Victoria completes redevelopment and safety works. Check current conditions before planning a visit.

   The surrounding Lower Glenelg National Park remains photographically interesting for river, forest, wildlife and limestone landscapes.

   Current Princess Margaret Rose Cave project information

10. Tarragal Caves

    These 'caves' are more rock shelters that are in the side of the cliff overlooking Bridgewater Lakes.

    

    

Location

Portland Visitor Information Centre and Maritime Discovery Centre

Address:
Portland Visitor Information Centre
Lee Breakwater Road
Portland VIC 3305
Australia

Google Maps: Portland Visitor Information Centre