READ THIS If YOU WANT TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS OF SYDNEY S CLASSIC SKYLINE.
URBAN WALKABOUTS Issue #1 2018 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA URBAN WALKABOUTS SYDNEY SKYLINE FIELD GUIDE Standing on Circular Quay in Sydney, just after dawn on a summery weekday morning, breathing in one of the world's finest views; never gets old. To the right, sitting majestically in the wan early morning light is the famous Opera House with its energetically angular roof and mesmerizing creamy tiled skin. To the left is the Harbour Bridge. And across the sparkling water, criss-crossed by much-loved green and yellow ferries, is the laughing face of Luna Park, a Coney Island like amusement park. This Field Guide for Urban Photographers covers these famous Sydney icons as seen from along the shorelines of Sydney Harbour. The recommended shooting spots cover almost all of the classical Sydney city and skyline views. All of the places and lookouts mentioned are easily accessible by foot, public transport, or by car. Download our Photographing Skylines tip sheet. Click here for an online version of this Field Guide.
View an online map with GPS coordinates at UrbanWalkabouts.com/field-guides/sydney-skyline URBAN WALKABOUTS SYDNEY SKYLINE FIELD GUIDE
Spot 1: Kirribilli This lookout is located near Jeffrey St. Wharf (below the "intersection" of the Broughton Street and South Drive) in Kirribilli. There are a lot of parking spots there in the morning but in the evening it gets crowded. You can also use trains to get to the Milson's Point station. Walk down to the wharf and continue walking to the left. There is a nice flat place with benches at the harbour bank. You will get great view to the city and the Harbour Bridge from here. The best time for photography from Kirribilli is predawn, around sunrise, around sunset and up to 1 hour after sunset. Spots 2 and 3: Mrs Macquarie's Chair Mrs Macquarie's Point provides two slightly different spots: i) Mrs Macquarie's Chair and ii) the walking path on the Farm Cove Bay bank, below Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Mrs Macquarie's Chair is elevated spot and offers excellent view to the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The walking path below the Mrs Macquarie's Chair provides almost the same view to the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, but from a lower point. It also gives a great view to the Sydney city. However if Spot 4: Milson's Point This lookout is located at the Milson's Point ferry wharf near the Luna Park entrance. It provides a great view to the Harbour Bridge as the main point of interests and the city and Sydney Opera House in the distance. Parking is available on the South Drive. You can also use trains to get to the Milson's Point station. The best time for photography from Milson's Point is late afternoon, around sunset and after sunset. Spot 5: Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout The Pylon Lookout is located in the South East Pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It offers spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the harbour and the city. Access is via the pedestrian pathway on the Eastern side of the Bridge from the city side (use the "Bridge Stairs" in Cumberland Street, The Rocks). Or if you are coming from the North side use the steps near Milsons Point Railway Station. Admission fee is $9.50 for 13 years and over. The best time for photography from Harbour Bridge pylon is in the afternoon and before sunset (May - July). It's not possible to do sunrise and sunset sessions as it opens at 10 AM and closes at 5 PM. So pre-sunset shots can be done only from May till July when sunset is around 5 PM.
Spots 6 and 7: McMahons Point There ae two points are located at the end of Blues Point Road in McMahons Point suburb. They are providing almost identical views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the harbour and the city. Parking is available at the end of Blues Point Road. You can also get there by a ferry. If you want to use a ferry then check Darling Harbour, Parramatta River and Balmain/Woolwich ferries timetables in advance at Sydney Ferries web-site, especially if you want to shoot sunrise or sunset. The best time for photography from McMahons Point is late afternoon, around sunset and after sunset. Spot 8: Cremorne Wharf Cremorne Wharf is located at the end on Milson Road in Cremorne Point. It offers a great view of the city, the Opera House and the harbour. The Harbour Bridge is slightly closed by buildings. Parking is always a big problem there at any time. If you want to use a ferry to get there then check Mosman ferry timetable in advance at Sydney Ferries website, especially if you want to shoot sunrise or sunset. You can also use bus route #225 to get there. However the bus route #225 is local so you need to use another bus to get to your nearest #225 bus stop. The best time for photography from Cremorne Wharf is pre-dawn, around sunrise, around sunset and up to 1 hour after sunset. Spot 9: Balls Head, Waverton Balls Head is a beautiful bush reserve just 5 to 10 minutes walk (about 1.5 km) from Waverton station. It offers fantastic views of the harbour, the Harbour Bridge, the city, Darling Harbour, and Balmain. There is a lot of parking on Balls Head Drive, Waverton. The best time for photography is pre-dawn, right after sunrise, pre-sunset, sunset and up to 1 hour after sunset. Spot 10: Larkin Street Lookout, Waverton The Larkin Street lookout is located near the Balls Head, at the end of Larkin Street, Waverton. However it offers slightly different view to the city. The Harbour Bridge is almost closed by trees and you cannot see the Darling Harbour. The best time for photography is pre-dawn, around sunrise, pre-sunset, sunset and up to 1 hour after sunset.
Spot 11: Bennelong Point (Sydney Opera House) Bennelong Point is the location of the Sydney Opera House. Walking path on the bank of the Sydney Cove bay and the upper level of the Sydney Opera House ground offer great views of the Circular Quay and the city. It is only a few minutes away from the Circular Quay train station. Parking is always the problem there. The best time for photography is pre-dawn, around sunrise, after sunrise, sunset and up to 1 hour after sunset. Spot 12: Circular Quay (Sydney Passenger Terminal) The top deck of the Overseas Passenger Terminal offers superb views of the Sydney city and the bridge. Metered parking is available in the Rocks suburb nearby. It is only a few minutes away from the Circular Quay train station. The best time for the Harbour Bridge photography is predawn, around sunrise and after sunrise. The best time for City photography is from pre-dawn and up to 1 hour after sunset. The best time for the Sydney Opera House photography is pre-dawn (it will be highlighted from the back), late afternoon, sunset and up to 1 hour after sunset. Spot 13: Darling Harbour (Cockle Bay) The west side of Cockle Bay offers great views of the Sydney city. There two main spots on the west side. 1) South spot, in front of the Harbourside Shopping Centre and the Sydney Convention Centre and 2) North spot at Pier 7, near the Foxtel building. The South spot provides narrow view of the south part of CBD and the North sport offers excellent wide view. Get there by Monorail, ferry, or car. There are a lot of parking places there - large car parks or parking spots along streets. However walking is probably better as there are number of other photo opportunities nearby. The best time for photography from the Darling Harbour is second part of the day, around sunset, sunset and up to 1 hour after sunset. Spot 14: Bradley's Head Bradley's Head is a small cape on Sydney Harbour and it provides superb views of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the city. The lookout is located at the end of Bradley's Head Road (off Military Road) in Mosman. Vehicle entry fees are $3 per vehicle per day. The park has gates that are closed at night so check opening and closing time before entering. The best time for photography from Bradley's Head lookout is pre-dawn, sunrise, after sunrise, sunset and up to 1 hour after sunset.
At Urban Walkabouts, our aim is to point traveling urban photographers towards the best photo opportunities. Urban Walkabouts SYDNEY SKYLINE FIELD GUIDE Our Field Guides for Urban Photographers are designed to help you have a great travel photography experience and find the best photo opportunities in less time. You'll know where to go to create 'sense of place', 'slice of life' and 'beyond the postcard' photographs that make you proud to say, Yep, I made that. We do extensive on-the-ground research and scouting and share locations and photo tips so you can make memorable urban photographs more easily. If you're into human connection and the portraiture of people and place, with our Field Guides for Urban Photographers you can draw back the curtain and discover the true character of alluring destinations. You can access an online version of this Field Guide at: UrbanWalkabouts.com/field-guides/sydney-skyline Field Guides and Photo Adventures for Urban Photographers URBANWALKABOUTS.COM
Field Guides and Photo Adventures for Urban Photographers UrbanWalkabouts.com