Embark on a 3-day photo tour of Charters Towers, a historical town in Queensland, Australia, known for its gold mining history, stunning heritage buildings, and nearby scenic landscapes. This photo tour balances history, nature, and night photography, giving you a variety of shots from heritage architecture to outback landscapes and wildlife. Don’t forget to pack lenses suitable for wide landscapes and close-up architectural details, and enjoy the rich photographic opportunities Charters Towers offers Charters Towers was once one of the richest gold mining towns in Australia, known as “The World” because it was so self-sufficient. Today, the town offers a journey back in time through its well-preserved heritage buildings and landmarks. Here’s what you can explore in detail
Heritage Buildings: The town boasts beautifully preserved 19th-century architecture, including:
- Stock Exchange Arcade: Built in 1888, a key site for the town’s gold rush history.
- World Theatre: A functioning theatre housed in a restored 1891 bank building.
- City Hall & Post Office: Grand colonial-era buildings perfect for photography and exploration.
Towers Hill Lookout: A prime vantage point for panoramic views of the town and surrounding countryside. It’s also a historical site with World War II bunkers and signage explaining the town’s history. A great spot for sunset views.
Lissner Park: A relaxing green space in the heart of town, ideal for picnics and wildlife spotting. There are numerous heritage features like Boer War memorials and grand trees over a century old.
Venus Gold Battery: Explore Charters Towers’ mining history at one of the largest surviving gold mills in Australia. Guided tours reveal how the battery extracted gold, and it’s great for historical and industrial photography.
Burdekin River & Weir: Just outside town, this river is a scenic spot for nature walks, birdwatching, and photography. The weir is especially picturesque at sunset.
Dalrymple National Park: A 45-minute drive from Charters Towers, this park features the Burdekin River, basalt lava flows, and remnants of the old Dalrymple township. It’s an excellent location for bushwalking, wildlife photography, and stargazing, thanks to its remote, dark skies.
White Mountains National Park: About 1.5 hours from Charters Towers, this park is known for its dramatic outback landscapes, including rugged ranges, gorges, and unique flora. It’s ideal for hiking and capturing the stunning natural beauty of the region.
Great Basalt Wall: A geological wonder located on the way to White Mountains National Park. It’s a natural barrier formed by ancient volcanic activity, offering dramatic scenery for photographers and adventurers alike
Ravenswood: A 1-hour drive from Charters Towers, Ravenswood is a historic gold mining town with well-preserved heritage buildings. Visit the Ravenswood Courthouse, and don’t miss the rustic Imperial Hotel for a unique pub lunch
Burdekin Falls Dam: The dam wall is an impressive structure, especially after heavy rains when water cascades over the spillway. The area around the dam provides several vantage points for panoramic photos, capturing the sheer scale of the dam and the surrounding landscapes.
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This photography tour to the Charters Towers region promises a mesmerizing blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and artistic inspiration, providing photographers with the opportunity to hone their craft amidst some of Australia’s most captivating landscapes. Whether capturing the fleeting beauty of a sunrise or the timeless allure of a starry night sky, every moment is an invitation to explore, create, and connect with the world around us.
**Medium level of fitness required.
If you are interested in attending this 3 day/2 night photo tour to Charters Towers, but can’t make it along on the available date, please send me a message so I can keep you up to date with all the information for future Cardwell photo tours
Tour Details
Friday 7 March 2025 – Sunday 9 March 2025
Friday 07 March 2025
Day 1: Historical Charters Towers
Morning:
- Breakfast & Orientation at Stock Exchange Arcade
Start the day with a coffee at a local café in the iconic Stock Exchange Arcade. This building, dating back to 1888, offers beautiful architecture for morning shots. Capture the arcade’s unique glass roof and ironwork. - Charters Towers Visitor Information Centre
Stop by for maps and information on local spots to photograph, including a chance to photograph the historical architecture of this heritage-listed building. - Heritage Walking Tour
Take a self-guided walking tour of Charters Towers’ historic buildings like the World Theatre (originally a bank), the Post Office, and City Hall. Photograph intricate facades and vintage signs.
Afternoon:
- Lunch at a Local Pub
Many local pubs retain the charm of Charters Towers’ gold rush era. Enjoy lunch at one of these venues and capture the authentic interiors. - Photograph Towers Hill Lookout
In the afternoon, head to Towers Hill, an iconic spot for panoramic views of Charters Towers and its surrounds. It’s perfect for landscape shots, especially in the soft afternoon light. Also, capture the World War II bunkers and the interpretive signs about the area’s history.
Evening:
- Sunset Shoot at Burdekin Weir
End the day at Burdekin Weir, located a short drive from Charters Towers. Capture the sunset reflecting off the weir and the surrounding nature, using long-exposure techniques to blur the water for dramatic effect.
Saturday 08 March 2025
Day 2: Mining History & Nature
Morning:
- Breakfast at a Local Café
Enjoy breakfast in town, then prepare for a day of mining history and natural landscapes. - Ravenswood: A 1-hour drive from Charters Towers, Ravenswood is a historic gold mining town with well-preserved heritage buildings. Visit the Ravenswood Courthouse, and don’t miss the rustic Imperial Hotel for a unique pub lunch.
Afternoon:
- Lunch in Town
Head back to town for a quick lunch at a café or pub. - Lissner Park for Wildlife & Botanical Photography
Spend the afternoon at Lissner Park, a lovely green space filled with native trees and birdlife. It’s ideal for nature photography and capturing moments of local life under the towering trees.
Evening:
- Night Sky Photography at Dalrymple National Park
Head to Dalrymple National Park (45-minute drive) for a night photography session. The remote location offers minimal light pollution, making it perfect for capturing the Milky Way and night sky shots.
Sunday 09 March 2025
Day 3: Burdekin Dam
Morning:
- Breakfast at a Local Café
Enjoy breakfast in town, then prepare for a day of mining history and natural landscapes. - Burdekin Falls Dam: The dam wall is an impressive structure, especially after heavy rains when water cascades over the spillway. The area around the dam provides several vantage points for panoramic photos, capturing the sheer scale of the dam and the surrounding landscapes
Lunch
Afternoon
- Lake Dalrymple: The expansive lake formed by the dam offers beautiful views, particularly at sunrise and sunset, with reflections of the sky on the water. The contrast of the blue water with the dry, rugged landscape around it makes for great photo opportunities.
Our accomodation in Charters Towers has all the facilities you will need; kitchen, toilets, shower facilities, beds, TV to make for a very enjoyable stay
We will be meeting at the BP Service Station at Elliot Springs from 8:00am on Friday 7 March
Inclusions:
Accommodation: 2 nights in shared accommodation (4 people per bungalow). Cost per person is twin share. There is a surcharge for single accommodation in a double bed of $125 per night
Photographic instruction by a professional photographer
Meals from Friday evening to Sunday lunch
What’s not included:
Alcohol
Flights to the destination
Airport Transfers
Photographic equipment
Don’t miss the opportunity to capture some amazing images of the Cardwell region
Reserve your spot today and embark on a photography tour that will leave you with stunning memories to cherish forever and let your creativity flourish.
book now
Adequate clothing for the destination. It may be a little cold when we do the night photography sessions, so dress accordingly.
At PhotoTours Australia, our priority is for you to capture wonderful images, so be sure to pack your camera gear, charge your batteries and include a tripod (if you dont have one, let us know, and we can organise one for you to use). Mobile phones are also handy to capture some great images too
Bring money, as you may wish to purchase something while on the photo tour
How long is the stay at Cardwell?
This is a 3 day/2 night tour
What do I bring?
We recommend you bring
- a refillable water bottle
- camera gear, including spare batteries and tripod, wide angle lenses and filters
- appropriate clothing (hat, polarized sunglasses, light jacket/jumper during winter months)
- reef safe sunscreen
- a small amount of cash for purchases
What food is included?
All food is is included for each guest from dinner on Friday night through to lunch on Sunday. If you have food allergies or specific dietary requirements, please advise me at least 48 hours prior to departure and where possible I will endeavour to meet your request.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
Access to Charters Towers accomodation is wheelchair accessible, however guests may not be able to access all areas such as some of the walks
Can I bring alcohol on this tour?
I have no issues with you bringing alcohol on the tour. However, any consumption of alcohol must be done responsibly and it shpuld only be consumed at lunch or dinner
1. Cancellation by the Traveller
If you cancel your booking the following fees apply:
- Between 14 days and 48 hours before departure: 20% of total cost
- Between 24 hours and 48 hours before departure: 50% of total cost
- Within 24 hours of departure: 100% of total cost
A ‘no show’ will incur 100% penalty. No refunds are given on unused tickets.
2. Booking changes
PhotoTours Australia will accept travel date changes or changes to another PhotoTours Australia North Queensland Tour (subject to availability) up to 48 hours before departure for a $20 p/person administration fee – any difference in tour price is payable by the passenger. Please note cancellation fees apply for any changes within 48 hours – please refer to the above Cancellation Policy.
4. Change of Itinerary
Tours and itinerary are subject to prevailing weather and sea conditions including tides, wind, swell and rain. The vessel master will determine the most appropriate course on the day of travel.
5. Travel Insurance
Holiday plans can be disrupted and cancellation fees can be costly. I highly recommend that you have your own travel insurance. Please note that Travel Insurance may not cover disruptions caused by mechanical breakdowns or adverse weather conditions.
Click here for a full list of PhotoTours Australia Terms and Conditions.
Inclusions:
Accommodation: 2 nights in shared accommodation (4 people per bungalow). Cost per person is twin share. There is a surcharge for single accommodation in a double bed of $125 per night
Photographic instruction by a professional photographer
Meals from Friday evening to Sunday lunch
What’s not included:
Alcohol
Flights to the destination
Airport Transfers
Photographic equipment
Don’t miss the opportunity to capture some amazing images of the Charters Towers region
Reserve your spot today and embark on a photography tour that will leave you with stunning memories to cherish forever and let your creativity flourish.
book now
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