Best places to take photos in Sydney

By Roberto (Updated Dec 2022)

⏱ 6 min

When we think about Australia, everybody thinks immediately about empty sand beaches, about kangaroos, surf, and good weather. While this is true (see our road trip in Western Australia), Australia is also the cradle for stunning sunsets with urban skylines. 

Sydney is a huge city along a bay, which offers sensational spots for photographers and travelers. Many tourists just go to the Sydney Opera House or near the area of The Rocks, but the city has better places to take photos from. After some months living here, I have been able to visit many of them, and compile these spots in this Best Places to Take Photos in Sydney list.

If you are going to be here only for some days, pick wisely! Think that Sydney is a huge city, and if you want photos at sunset, you can probably just be at one spot per day. In this post you can also check what travel gear I used for taking the photos. 

I have divided the locations into 3 different sections:

AROUND SYDNEY HARBOUR

Copes Lookout 

The most distinctive elements Sydney has, are the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Without them, the skyline wouldn’t be as impressive. Copes Lookout allows you to frame them both in the same frame, and if you are lucky, you can have a super nice sunset on your right. This spot is close to Milsons Point ferry stop or also accessible by bus.

If you don’t have a wide lens, you can always take a photo of Sydney’s skyline. The best moment is at sunset. You can see how the buildings turn their lights on at blue hour. Just marvelous. 

Milsons Point

Right next to Copes Lookout, there is another good spot to capture the bridge with the Opera House in the background. It’s difficult to get long exposure photos because ferries and cargos are constantly passing through, but it is worth the visit.

The best moments to go are at sunrise or sunset. I took this photo when it was really dark but I like the results. The place is really easy to get from The Rocks, thanks to the ferry stop. 

Lavender Street

Because of Covid, Luna Park was closed, but once it reopened, I was able to take this photo from Lavender St. You only have to follow the street, and near Watt Park, you will see the alignment of these three Sydney’s emblemnatic elements. It’s wonderful at blue hour when the park has the lights on.

Note you will need a tele lens, since the view is narrow due to the trees. You can reach the spot walking thorough the Luna Park walk.

Cremorne Point Wharf

Cremorne Point is one of my favorite places because you get all the skyline in the photo and it is perfect to capture sunsets. I was lucky to catch this outstanding sky. The photo has minimum color adjustment. To come here, you can take the bus or use the ferry. The spot is just at the Cremorne Point Wharf station.

WALKING AT SYDNEY CBD  

Observatory Hill

Compared to the others, this location doesn’t offer the amazing views of the city, but it is a good central spot and it is easy to get to. In addition, the hill has a chill atmosphere and you can relax on the grass. I would say it is a good spot for beers, snacks, and photos.

EXPLORING SYDNEY’S COAST

Along the Bondi to Coogee Walk there are several stops to take nice photos of the ocean and coastline views. I the early morning, photographers go to the main beaches to capture long exposures of the sunrise or action photos with the surfers.

Bondi to Coogee 

La Perouse

In addition to its importance for aboriginals and the quality of its waters for scuba diving, La Perouse has the Bare Island Fort. This fort, built in the 1880s to defend the southern part of Sydney, appeared in Mission: Impossible 2. Also, it’s quite photogenic at sunrise, and easy to get here by bus.

If you’re in Sydney, I hope you’re able to take advantage of this information on some of the best places to take photos. Don’t miss out on capturing some epic photos of your own!

Further Reading…

Check out some of the posts below on other must-visit places in Queensland, Australia!