When looking for great Sydney photography locations to capture with your camera, there is an overwhelming number of choices on where to visit.

Therefore, I wanted to create this resource that shares my favourite photography locations in Sydney. Each location is a place that I have been lucky enough to visit and photograph.

Sydney is one of the most photogenic cities in the world and a place that I love visiting with my camera. Nearly everywhere you turn, there is a photograph waiting to be captured.

I hope that this article provides you with the following:

  • New photography locations to visit in Sydney.
  • Helpful tips on how to get the most out of photographing each of these locations.
  • Advice on what makes a good Sydney photography location.
  • Tips for travelling to Sydney.

To add an extra element of fun and help you better choose a Sydney photography location, I have ranked them in the following order.

Please note:

  • Many of these locations are also worth visiting at other times of the day or night. You will notice that under each location is the point, ‘best time to visit’. Here I will list other times that I feel are optimal for visiting a particular place with your camera.
  • For each of these categories, I have also included a runner-up. I did this to provide you with additional options and to the fact that it is nearly impossible to limit a resource like this to only three locations.

My list of photography locations in Sydney

As someone who has written an ebook on Sydney photography locations, more to come on that later, limiting this guide to only six places was quite challenging. There were a lot of spots that deserved to be on this list that are not.

However, this is the following list that I have settled upon.

Sydney sunrise photography locations

Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal

Sydney Sunrise Location, #1

A photo of the Sydney Habour Bridge taken from the Overseas Passenger Terminal

This photo shows the view of the Sydney Habour Bridge when standing on the circular black platform at the end of the Overseas Passenger Terminal. If you turn to your right, you have just as good of a view of the Sydney Opera House. This spot is a fantastic Sydney photography location for capturing these two iconic structures. (HDR Image | Sunrise | October 2013)

  • Best time to visit: Anytime
  • Rating: 9/10
  • Google Maps: Link

As I mentioned in my location review of the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal, if I had to suggest one Sydney photography location, this would be it!

I love this location as it provides a unique opportunity to get a couple of stories high in the heart of Circular Quay. You can capture uninterrupted views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge from this vantage point.

I feel like people don’t realise they can access the upper levels of the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal and the black circular staircase at the end. Therefore, I believe it is one of the best-kept secrets in Sydney!

Well, at least it was until now… 😉

This location is also the place to be for special events like Sydney’s Vivid. During these exhibits, dazzling light shows are projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House. The projectors required to achieve this are situated at this exact location!

I have added this as my top sunrise Sydney photography location, which is true. The sun will rise from behind the Sydney Opera House during this time, making for fantastic photography opportunities.

However, I am yet to catch a good Sydney Opera House sunrise photo from this location. I have other great sunrise photos of the Sydney Opera House but not from here.

But on a positive note, I will just have to keep going back to the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal until I do. 🙂

Overseas Passenger Terminal, Location Review

Observatory Hill

Sydney Sunrise Location, #2

A photo of Observatory Hill in Sydney during sunrise.

This is the view from Observatory Hill, looking past The Rocks and over to Lavender Bay. As you can see, the Sydney Habour Bridge flanks the right-hand side of this image at a slightly lower level than your position on the hill. (HDR Image | Sunrise | February 2014)

  • Best time to visit: Anytime
  • Rating: 8/10
  • Google Maps: Link

Observatory Hill is a spectacular photography location and one that provides a slightly different perspective of Sydney.

You look out atop the hill over The Rocks with the Sydney Harbour Bridge positioned to the right. At this level, you are close to parallel with the Cahill Expressway, the main road leading out over the Harbour Bridge.

Observatory Hill is like Bradleys Head in that it offers a unique angle from which to photograph Sydney compared to the other locations in this list.

When visiting Observatory Hill, there are many different items that you can include in your photos. These include some incredible Moreton Bay Figs (trees), park benches and a stunning rotunda, to name just a few.

I have had great success in capturing the waking harbour city from this hill during sunrise. There is something about the light and how it plays on the landscape from this location. You can cut the atmosphere with a knife…

That said, it is funny how we photographers attribute this to the place rather than the weather conditions when it happens more than once at a particular location.

Sydney sunset photography locations

Bradleys Head Amphitheatre

Sydney Sunset Photography Location, #1

Bradleys Head Amphitheatre in Mosman NSW

This photo was taken at the top of the amphitheatre, looking over the grassed area, steps, and down to the jetty. In the distance, you can see the Sydney skyline and the sun escaping to the right. (HDR Image | Sunset | June 2014)

  • Best time to visit: Sunset
  • Rating: 9/10
  • Google Maps: Link

I always enjoy visiting Bradleys Head Amphitheatre for its uniqueness. The large outdoor amphitheatre that resides there captures the imagination as you move around composing your photos.

A large sandstone jetty is at the bottom of the amphitheatre, extending out into the water. This solid (pun intended) feature adds much to any landscape photo.

The jetty does assist you with your composition with its various leading lines. The mixture of sandstone, cement or rock used in its construction provides great texture and detail. These details alone add a lot of extra character to an already beautiful scene.

In addition to the amphitheatre and jetty, many other items lend themselves well to photography. I have listed each of these in the full review of this photography location, which is linked below.

Where the other Sydney photography locations listed within this article might be good at different times of the day or night, Bradleys Head Amphitheatre is only suitable for sunset.

Depending on the time of year you visit, the sun will set somewhere to the right of the Harbour Bridge and behind the Kirribilli area. This makes Bradleys Head Amphitheatre a prime position to capture the retreating sun.

Bradleys Head Amphitheatre, Location Review

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair

Sydney Sunset Photography Location, #2

Mrs Macquarie's Chair at sunset

From Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, the view you get of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge can make it seem that the two are attached. I used a zoom lens in this photo to get a tight shot of the two together. It also helped that we had a terrific sunset that evening, with the sun going down directly behind the Opera House. (HDR Image | Sunset | November 2013)

  • Best time to visit: Sunset & Nighttime
  • Rating: 9/10
  • Google Maps: Link

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair provides a stunning side-on angle of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. From here, you get the quintessential postcard view of Sydney, with these two icons appearing to be attached to one another.

Like Bradleys Head Amphitheatre, there are many different areas in and around this location where you could capture amazing yet different views of Sydney.

You could set up your tripod and camera along the small stone fence that borders Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. This fence will give you uninterrupted views of Sydney, which is the popular composition when first visiting this spot.

You could then look to move further into The Domain to try and take a creative composition through the trees, utilise other natural elements, etc.

While this is undoubtedly one of Sydney’s best sunset photography locations, it is even more so at low tide. At the very tip of Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, large rocks protrude out of the water of Sydney Habour. These rocks look magnificent in the foreground of your photos, with the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge showing in the distance.

I have put Bradleys Head Amphitheater in front of Mrs Macquarie’s Chair as my favourite Sydney sunset photography location. This decision is purely a personal preference, yet it might be the most controversial call in this article.

I find Bradleys Head Amphitheater a little more unique than Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. To me, that makes it more fun to photograph. But it is certainly no more beautiful a photography location, and it really came down to splitting hairs when choosing between the two.

All that said, Mrs Macquaries Chair is a must-visit for any aspiring landscape photographer!

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Location Review

Sydney nighttime photography locations

Kirribilli

Sydney Nighttime Photography Location, #1

Kirribilli in Sydney at sunset

This might not be the best representation of Kirribilli at sunset, but it should give you an idea of the style of photo you can capture during blue hour. (HDR Image | Blue Hour | February 2014)

  • Best time to visit: Anytime
  • Rating: 10/10
  • Google Maps: Link

I have listed Kirribilli as my favourite night-time photography location. This location is stunning at blue hour as the city’s lights bring the town to life.

In the evening, you get the star-like effects running along the entire Sydney Habour Bridge. This is caused by the long exposure required to compensate for the sun, which at this time, has set.

Other outstanding elements to photograph at Kirribilli, as they dazzle with lights, is Jeffrey Street Wharf and across the water to Circular Quay.

This is also not to say that Kirribilli cannot be photographed at other times of the day. Kirribilli also makes for a magnificent sunrise photography location. If you are not able to travel here in the evening, I recommend heading to this spot at first light.

The only problem with recommending Kirribilli as a nighttime photography location will be parking. Many people will be visiting Sydney at this time, and parking is already limited. Therefore you might consider catching public transport, with the closest train station being Milsons Point.

Otherwise, you may need to find parking wherever you can secure it and be content to walk the rest of the way.

Kirribilli, Location Review

Milsons Point

Sydney Nighttime Photography Location, #2

A photo of Milsons Point during Vivid.

This photo was taken during the 2014 Sydney Vivid Light Festival from Milsons Point. I love the composition of the Sydney Opera House being framed beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which you can create from this location. Of course, the light display and ferry sailing past really help add some nice extra details to this photo (Long Exposure | Nighttime | May 2014).

  • Best time to visit: Sunrise or Nighttime
  • Rating: 10/10
  • Google Maps: Link

Situated next to Kirribilli, Milsons Point is another stunning photography location in Sydney that is great for capturing the sun disappearing over the horizon.

I love that you can compose the Sydney Opera House directly under the Harbor Bridge from Milsons Point. At this time of the evening, you also get the added benefit of the city lights twinkling in your photos along the Sydney Harbour Bridge and other buildings.

However, this location also puts you directly in front of Luna Park. The large smiling face that welcomes you to the theme park and the various rides within lend themselves well to nighttime photography.

Like Kirribilli, parking is also going to be extremely limited. While Milsons Point train station is still a good option, I have had success in parking in Lavender Bay and walking down.

Parking here has the added bonus of being able to stop and check out a couple of lesser-known photography locations like Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden.

The view from the park bench at Observatory Hill in Sydney

I love this composition taken from the left-hand side of Observatory Hill. The park bench is nicely framed by one of the magnificent Moreton Bay Figs, with the Sydney Habour Bridge in the distance. It is a soothing image; when I look at it, I can see myself happily sitting here, taking in this scenery. (HDR Image | Sunrise | March 2014)

What makes a good Sydney photography location?

Now that I have shared my favourite photography locations in Sydney with you, I wanted to answer what makes a good Sydney photography location.

Capturing Sydney’s icons

When you think about good landscape photos you have seen of Sydney, they undoubtedly contain either the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Sydney Opera House.

These two incredible structures are synonymous with the beautiful harbourside city of Sydney. They are what many photographers of various skill levels travel here to capture for themselves.

When finding a good photography location, you will want to find a place that allows you to capture both, one, or a part of these structures in your composition.

While this article has provided you with many new photography locations in Sydney to explore, it is just the tip of the iceberg!

Many other spots around the city offer spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Some of these might become your go-to place.

I encourage you to get out, explore and create your own list of favourite Sydney photography locations.

But there are also many other incredible Sydney structures to photograph. These include Luna Park, Darling Harbour, Anzac Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, St Marys Cathedral and many more.

Sydney is jam-packed and full of many great places to photograph!

Removing the distractions

Sydney is a busy city with lots going on. This can make photography hard as people and vehicles rush by to get to their intended destination.

When choosing a place to visit with your camera, you want to avoid areas with too much activity. This could include large amounts of foot traffic, vehicles or other structures that might divert the attention from the main subject of your photos.

That is why I am a fan of places like the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal, which allows you to get up high and above the noise.

Travelling around Sydney

If you are anything like me, travelling in and around Sydney is not your favourite thing to do. While it does get easier the more you visit, here are a couple of tips I hope might assist you.

Visit Sydney at sunrise

Sunrise is often the best time to grab your camera and visit Sydney, if only because fewer people are around. This also makes parking much easier as you are not competing against others for a good parking spot.

While on the subject of parking, most on-street parking takes effect from 8am. Therefore, if you are heading into Sydney to photograph the sunrise, you might get away without paying for parking.

You need to consider tolls

While I don’t believe it is vital, you will want to have an E-Tag with you. An E-Tag will enable you to pay for the tollways you cross over when entering Sydney.

In some ways, it is a necessary evil as it will allow you to get to an area of the city quicker and easier than if you were without it.

Try to pre-plan as much as possible

If there are things that you can plan before making the trip to Sydney, I recommend doing so. This could include booking a parking space or scouting Google maps for an area where you think you might find free parking.

It could also include working out where you might meet other photography buddies who will join you. And making a reservation at a place to eat is always a good idea in anyone’s book.

If you are travelling from a great distance or even planning on heading into Sydney to photograph the sunset or later, this will take on a greater level of importance for you.

A photo of Luna Park in Sydney

The iconic face, which is the entryway into Sydney’s Luna Park, is a fun image to capture when visiting Milsons Point. It is great before and well after sunset, as the lights of the amusement park light up the scene. (HDR Image | Sunset | October 2013)

My Final Thoughts

If you are a landscape photographer planning a trip to Sydney, I hope this list of Sydney photography locations has been helpful!

I love visiting Sydney with my camera for sunrise and capturing the city as it awakes. I also like visiting at nighttime with good friends who enjoy photography. There is always something to see and capture with your camera.

While I have had some fun allocating my favourite times to visit these locations, most can be visited at other times of the day or night with excellent results. I know I mentioned that earlier, but I feel it is important to reiterate it one last time.

Many other great Sydney photography locations didn’t make this list. Like each photography location list I write, it is not a static resource and will continue to evolve as I visit more places in the coming years.

Some other notable mentions include Waverton Peninsula Reserve, Blues Point, and Hickson Road Reserve. Plus, photographing from the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a great place to capture fantastic photos of the Sydney Opera House and the surrounding area.

Download free ebook, My favourite Australian photography locations

Share your favourite Sydney photography locations with me!

I would love to hear what your list would be if you had to choose a favourite Sydney sunrise, sunset and nighttime photography location?!

To do this, jump over to the Grab Your Camera Facebook page and leave a comment under the post where I have shared this article. I would genuinely love to hear what you would say for very selfish reasons…

I am always looking for more great Sydney photography locations to grab my camera and visit! 😉

Sydney Photography Location Guide

As mentioned, I have written a photography location guide in an ebook titled; Sydney, 30 locations in 30 days.

It is 122 pages long and shares 30 locations in Sydney Harbour, Eastern Beaches, Northern Beaches and Southern areas. It resulted from years of travelling and photographing many places and a resource that sold over 100 copies.

I am incredibly proud of this photography location guide.

However, I wrote this guide for an old photography website I had at the time called ‘Photography Hot Spots’. Therefore, I am now rebranding the guide and giving the information contained within a refresh.

Please join my email newsletter if you would like to be notified of when this Sydney Photography Location Guide is re-released. As soon as it becomes available again, I will tell my subscribers the good news.

Now grab your camera and go out and explore Sydney!

Enjoy!
Rob Potter

PS: When writing this article, I didn’t realise how heavily these locations were biased towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge over the Sydney Opera House. It wasn’t until I began adding the photos to this article that I realised this fact.

I wonder if this is because there are more places in Sydney to capture the Harbour Bridge or if I subconsciously prefer our giant coathanger over the Sydney Opera House.

Either way, it led me to write a follow-up article titled, ‘The best places to photograph the Sydney Opera House‘. So if you want to take photos of the Sydney Opera House, check out this article.