Karijini National Park Photography Tour

This Exclusive small-group photographic adventure has been carefully put together, allowing you to experience a diversity of breathtaking Western Australian landscapes and iconic coastal scenery. We guarantee a wealth of photography opportunities, including small group tuition, practical notes and one-to-one support tailored to your individual needs while on-location learning the importance of image composition, available light and night photography techniques.

• Experience a unique itinerary specially designed for photographers
• 11 night accommodation (refer to itinerary)
• Option* Deluxe Eco Tent accommodation in Karijini Nat’L Park
• Daily breakfast and lunch during the duration of the tour
• 6 evening meals, including welcome dinner in Karijini and last evening dinner in Cervantes
• Comfortable air conditioned 4WD/ Bus (incl. 2 water bottle pp p/day)
• A smorgasbords of photography opportunities throughout the 12 days
• All entrance fees to National Parks, exhibits & locations visited for photography
• BHP Billiton Mt Whaleback guided mine tour in Newman
• Entry fee to Monkey Mia Resort and Dolphin Discovery Center
• Wilderness and discovery stops, iconic panoramic views, wildflowers in season
• Short accessible walks to explore some of the best photo locations on tour
• Dale Gorge, Fern Pool, Hancock George, Joffre Gorge – the list is endless!
• Night photography sessions in the breathtaking Australian Outback
• Fresh local produce & outback tucker in Karijini & Wooramel Station
• Fish BBQ dinner at the iconic Finlay’s Kalbarri
• Sunset session overlooking the World Heritage Shark Bay coastlines
• Karijini Nat’l Park & Nigaloo Reef Nat’l Park discovery drive
• Turquoise Bay, Francois Peron, Carnarvon Space Station, Pinnacles Desert
• As it is our own personalized photo tour, we can stop when and where we want!
• Professional photography advise
• Fully escorted tour in English (some knowledge of french)
• Photography group of 2 – 6 participants maximum
• Complimentary Lightroom / Photoshop editing session, advice and trouble shooting

Private Tour: Flexible with dates between April to October

Upcoming tour dates:

April 28th – 9th May 2021 / This 12-Day itinerary starts in Newman (opt.2 Road trip Ex-Perth + 2 Days )

June 9th – 20th, 2021 / This 12-Day itinerary starts in Newman (opt.2 Road trip Ex-Perth + 2 Days )

July 30th – 8th August 2021 / This 10-Day itinerary starts in Newman (opt.2 Road trip Ex-Perth + 2 Days )

September 1st – 12th, 2021 / This 12-Day itinerary starts in Newman (opt.2 Road trip Ex-Perth + 2 Days )

April, June and September 12-day itineraries include a mixture of accommodations with some nights in tents to give us close access to the mesmerising Western Australian night sky. Tents and bedding linens are provided, however if you prefer bringing your own pillow and sleeping bag, you are welcome. Note; Camp/Tents are the only accommodation option authorised overnight in the Karijini National Park, however Deluxe tent options are available at the ECO Retreat from $280 – $390 p/night, pending availability.

July/August 10-day photo tour is an amended itinerary with accommodations based purely on motel, chalet and villas except for Karijini National Park where camp/tent are the only options, however Deluxe tent options are available at the ECO Retreat from $280 – $390 p/night, pending availability.

Expression of interest and booking are now open for the 2021 & 2022 Karijini Photo Tours seasons

Cost: AU$ 4,285 pp | single supplement AU$ 575.00 (C-19 Special 2021 / Early Bird Special. Flight to Newman not included)

Take 5% off of the total costs of any tours when you sign up for 2 participants or more tours* (conditions apply)

Escape the busy tracks and experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn how to shoot dramatic scenery from sunrise to sunset, and capture the breathtaking night sky shining over some of the most iconic landscape in Western Australia. This Karijini Outback photo tour is offered as a stand-alone tour with option to add a pre – Perth tour extension or a post Xtended tour down WA’s Southwest or to the Pinnacles National Park. It is a perfect tour to include a non-photographer companion.

Observers/ non-photographers companions can either tag along while you are out taking photographs, or do their own exploring of the surroundings and we’ll all meet up in the evenings to share a few stories of the day’s events.

Optional Accommodation: Deluxe En-suite Eco Retreat Tent in Karijini (extra TBA)

A $1000 deposit will secure your spot.

• 11 nights accommodations* (refer to itinerary)
• Breakfast (11x) lunch (12x) and dinner (6x) during the duration of the Tour
• Private transportation (incl. 2 water bottle pp p/day & snacks)
• All entrance fees to exhibits, national parks & locations that we visit for photography
• Martial’s expertise in guiding and photographic instruction

Other Options Available

• Diving with the Blue Whales in Exmouth  (extra TBA) 
• Scenic Flight in Kalbarri  (extra TBA) 

This 12-Day Tour starts in Newman and finishes in Perth. It is suitable for beginners and experienced photographers of all ages. A moderate level of fitness is required (some walking). 

Option2. You can also opt to start in Perth and do the 1280 kms road trip between Perth and Newman with us, there is no extra cost if you choose the 14-day road trip option, however evening meals are not included. (CB, PL, Camp) – Motel/hotel accommodation options are available in Cue and Newman (cost TBA).

PERTH – CUE (PL, Camp). Leaving early, we drive through the Swan Valley to the Abbey of New Norcia. Established in 1847, it is the only monastic town in Australia. After a short break we continue our journey on the great Northern Hwy through the Mid West and travel to the iconic gold rush mining town of Cue. 650kms North-East of Perth.

CUE – NEWMAN (CB, PL, Camp). We continue north to cross the Tropic of Capricorn. On our way to the iron ore Mecca of the North, we pass many large sheep stations (some over 1 million acres in size). Newman was built in the 1960s by the Mount Newman Mining Company following the discovery of rich iron deposits on nearby Mount Whaleback (conducted mine tour). As the day draws to a close, we set-up camp in Newman’s newly completed campsite, and enjoy a nice pub meal in the town centre. 638kms

NEWMAN – MT ROBINSON/DALE GORGE (CB, PL, CD, Camp). Early morning flight to Newman. Airport pick-up. Conducted mine tour in Newman in the morning. On the way to Karijini, we get off the beaten track to view recently discovered ancient indigenous art. As the day drawn to a close, we set-up camp in the breathtaking Karijini National Park, near Mt Robinson/ Dale Gorges, and enjoy a bush BBQ in the spectacular Pilbara Scenery in the evening. (Flight not included ~ 1196kms) 154kms  

KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK (CB, PL, CD, Camp). It’s photography time! Two full day is the perfect amount of time needed to explore the Karijini National Park and its amazing gorges. Formed over 2,500 million years ago, the Hamersley Ranges are some of the most unusual land formations on earth. Deep in the gorges you’ll come across cascading waterfalls and still water holes, a little paradise for both novice and experienced eyes, offering amazing photo opportunities. Dales Gorge, Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool, Circular Pool, Weano Gorge and Hancock Gorge are just some of the stunning areas we’ll get to. Definitely a highlight!  112kms 

KARIJINI – EXMOUTH (CB, PL, PM, Motel/ Villa). Departing the Karijini Eco Retreat we travel via Tom Price to Nanutarra on the Ashburton River. Cape Range National Park and the spectacular scenery of Charles Knife Road, where oil was first found in Western Australia in the 1950’s. Onto Exmouth where we set-up camp overlooking the magnificent Ningaloo Reefs.  

EXMOUTH (CB, PL, Motel/ Villa). A most fascinating place and another day of spectacular landscapes! We travel to the head of the Gulf then onto the amazing Cape Range National park where we’ll enjoy the rest of the day.  

EXMOUTH – WOORAMEL STATION (CB, PL, CD, CAMP). Sleep-in or take an early morning walk to capture the sunrise. We make the short drive to Coral Bay, the Jewel of the Northwest, where we explore and discover the wonders of the Ningaloo Reefs and its fascinating marine life. Free time; take the time to edit your images or work on your suntan. Back onto the Hwy to Carnarvon, where we visit the Babbage Island Jetty and the Fishing Harbour. This is the old North West, sheep station country, where so many farmers over the last 130 years have battled drought and great floods. Further south on the road to Shark Bay we come to Wooramel River Retreat, a unique station campground nestled under the majestic gum trees on the bank of the Wooramel River. Relax in the naturally heated therapeutic artesian bore baths from the Birdrong aquifer or enjoy the abundant bird and wildlife, camp fire, amazing night sky and the friendly outback atmosphere. 349kms 

WOORAMEL STATION – DENHAM (CB, PL, Motel/Villa). Shark Bay UNESCO World Heritage Area is one of the world’s greatest wilderness treasures, located on the edge of the Australian continent. As we come to the historical town of Hamelin Pool. Build in the 1884, and also known as Flagpole Landing in the early 1900’s, Hamelin Pool was an important telegraph and transport terminus. It was the landing point for cargo vessels bringing in supplies and taking out wool from surrounding stations as well as one of the main suppliers of Sandalwood in WA. The Stromatolites of Hamelin Pool are reputed to be the oldest form of life on earth, tiny singe cell organisms combine with the sediments of the sea water to create these rock like domed structures which are typical of life forms around over 200 million years ago. 210kms

DENHAM (CB, PL, Motel/Villa). Early morning start, this morning we make the short trip to world famous Monkey Mia Dolphins Resort– a unique encounter with dolphins and some fantastic photo opportunities. Pod of wild bottlenose dolphins have been regularly swim to Monkey Mia’s shore for the past 50 years, usually between four to seven dolphins visit the area daily, with up to twenty others visiting occasionally, often sighted in the bay with swimmers or on wildlife cruise.

After brunch, we travel back towards Denham on the other side of the Peron Peninsula, and experience a wild 4WD afternoon exploring the spectacular Francois Peron National Park. A smorgasbord of breathtaking red dunes and turquoise waters!

DENHAM – KALBARRI (CB, PL, Villa). After breakfast, we travel to Kalbarri via Useless Loop and Kalbarri National Park, on our way back to the Brand Hwy, we explore the mesmerising Shell Beach. This beautiful snow-white beach is made up of billions of tiny shells up to 10 metres deep and stretching for over 70 kilometres and the shallow water is just divine! Time allowing we’ll explore the Ross Graham and Hawk Head Lookout, and capture the late afternoon light filtering on the rich red 100 meters high gorges walls  of the peaceful Murchison River, as we enter the Kalbarri National Park from the North side.  374kms. 

KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK (CB, PL, BBQ, Villa). Early morning walk to capture the sunrise, nature and coastal cliffs. After lunch, we take a short drive to Kalbarri National Park where we explore some of the Murchison River hidden treasures, Nature’s Window and Z-Bend Gorge (it is a steep descent but well worth the effort when you get there). Optional spectacular 45 min. River Gorges and  

Coastal Cliffs via Pink Lake scenic flight. We share our last evening together around the BBQ as the sun set over the Murchison River. 

KALBARRI – CERVANTES (PINNACLES) (CB, PL, MD, MOTEL). The Hutt Lagoon, also known as Pink Lake near Port Gregory is a favourite stop to most people, however, under the right light and with clement weather conditions, it turns into a travel photographer’s paradise. Back to the North West Coastal Highway through Northampton to Geraldton. Following the coast we travel through many Cray fishing towns, Dongara, Leeman, Jurien Bay and Cervantes. As the day draws to a close, we explore the majestic Pinnacles in the Nambung National Park, although the best period of the year to capture the Milky Way in the southern hemisphere is Autumn, Winter and Spring (March to October), the Pinnacle Desert is an amazing place to visit through out the year at sunset, Golden/ Blue Hour and after dark. As the night fall, the starry sky become this amazing back drop blanket, creating this breathtaking surreal landscape with thousand of stars lighting-up the Pinnacles with ever-changing light shadow all year round. 359kms 

CERVANTES – PERTH (CB, PL). Sleep-in or take an early drive to capture the Pinnacles at sunrise.  After breakfast we take the recently completed Indian Ocean Drive past Lancelin to Perth. Built in 2010, the new Indian Ocean Drive will take us through an amazing diversity of landscapes, flora and spectacular ocean views along the shore of the Coral Coast. As we approach the sand dunes you could be forgiven for thinking they were snow-covered mountains as the sand is so stunningly white!  The Nambung National Park offer a splendour of photographic opportunities on our way back to Perth, casting dramatic shadows with the ever-changing light all year round. We’ll arrive back into Perth around lunch time, early afternoon, where we make our final goodbye. 230kms 

B = Breakfast | L = Lunch | D = Dinner | P = Picnic | P = Pub | C = Camp | M = Motel | V = Villa/Chalet 

There is a STRICT luggage limit of 15kgs per person, in a backpack or soft bag (Camera equipment not included in the 15kgs). 

Accommodations are subject to availability and may vary depending the seasons. 

A perfect add-on before your KARIJIN Photo Tour is our PERTH HALF DAY TOUR or following straight after, join us on our MARGARET RIVER extension.

Nature, Landscape, night and astrophotography 

In addition to great daily photo opportunities and night excursions, we will also touch on the following photography topics, including: 

• Understanding your camera 
• Working with available light [read & understand the light] 
• Dare to go manual Vs Auto camera settings 
• How to read your histogram and how to fine-tune-it  
• Adjust your image exposure in relation to your subject 
• Depth of Field calculation 
• What lenses should you use? 
• Camera settings to take the perfect shot every time 
• Image composition, the golden rules and how to break it! 
• Filters, Neutral Density and Neutral Density Grads
• Long exposure and waterfalls  
• Night photography tutorial 
• Capturing raw 
• Introduction to Photoshop & Lightroom Post-processing 

Temperature can range from: 4 – 25C in winter to 18 – 35C in autumn/ spring (50C+ in the peak of Summer) 

 Average  monthly rain  for this time of year: 2day/ March to July and 0.4 day/ Aug – Sept. 

 Be organised and pack smart on this Karijini Photo Tour, as you will be on the go to fit as much photography session as we can and you will have to wheel your luggage from the 4WD to your accommodation during the trip. You will have access to your luggage at anytime during the trip, however I recommend to pack a basic easy to grab change of cloth (jacked or light weight rain coat, etc.) in a smaller backpack or in your camera bag for the overnight or in case the weather changes suddenly. 

Two pairs of shoes: One sturdy pair for in the field that you can get wet if we have a rain day. One pair for evenings or the next day in case the first pair is not dry. 

Light weight rain jacket and rain pants. You don’t have to go all out here, but it will also help you to keep warm at night. * I really suggest a rain jacket if nothing else, the rain gear will keep you dry when walking in the parks. I have a pair of Teflon rain pants & jacket, super light and perfect to keep in you camera bag in case of a sudden change in the weather. 

A warm jacket, long trousers and a jumper or light jacket for those late evening and early morning shoots.  It can get really cold in the middle of winter or on wind days. 

Hat and sun screen protection. 

Your favourite DSLR camera, a multi focal lens (i.e 18-70mm) or fix lens, the wider the angle the better (i.e 14, 18,20mm full frame camera and 10, 12mm cropped sensor camera), and a medium to long-range lens (i.e. 80-300mm), plenty of memory cards and fully charged batteries. A small steady tripod & cable release for long exposure is essential. Don’t forget to bring your camera manual if you are not 100% sure about your camera functions. Please note that for better results a recent DSLR digital camera is preferable (0-5yrs old) as technology changes. Polarizer filter, Neutral Density and grabs filters are not a prerequisite but are great tools to have for long exposure and colour saturation.

This workshop is suitable for beginners and advanced photographers of all ages, however a good sense of humour and minimum fitness is recommended. Sturdy shoes, suitable warm cloths, drink bottle, a head torch and a good camera bag… remember, you will be the one carrying your own photography gears!

A perfect add-on  before or directly after your Karijini Photo Tour is our Half Day Perth photo tour or join us on a Margaret River Region Tour. 

Take 5% off of the total costs of any tours when you sign up for 2 or more.

Flexible with dates |  Available all year round 

Flexible with dates |  Available all year round  

View Cancellations, Refunds, Tour Guides, Weather & Terms & Conditions Policy.