Cider Gums
Photography Tour 2027
A$2,950 per person - 2 Spots Left
Friday 9 July 2027 - Sunday 11 July 2027
Limited to 6 guests with 2 instructors
Pay a deposit of A$500 today and we invoice the balance which is due 60 days before departure.
Capture the Cider Gums
The Miena cider gum is an iconic eucalypt found only around the edges of frosty low-lying areas within a 20-kilometre radius of Miena. There are only a small number of Miena cider gum stands left.
Since the early 1990s, it has faced a gradual decline in numbers, leading to its current listing as an endangered species. Climate change is the overarching threat to the Miena cider gum as it is sensitive to drought and the warmer temperatures are decreasing its resilience. The Miena cider gum is an iconic tree of Tasmania’s Central Highlands that has evolved to be the most frost-tolerant of the eucalypts. It has a rich cultural history of use by the Tasmanian Aboriginal people, who would drink the rich sugary sap or ‘cider’ that leaks from crevices in the trunk.
Tasmanian Photography Tours has secured special access to locations that allow us to carefully capture the haunting silhouettes of the perished and also enjoy moments with the few still remaining. With a focus on spending time amongst the cider gums this tour suits those who love capturing trees and want to pay homage to these beauties while they still exist.
What Happens On Tour?
Beyond the incredible locations and great company, no two days on tour are the same. We plan around the light, weather and conditions, adapting the day to make the most of what Tasmania gives us.
This is the rhythm most days follow, but there is always flexibility to change plans when the location or conditions call for it.
Day one includes practical technical sessions to prepare you for the days ahead, followed by a mix of guided field sessions and classroom time throughout the tour. From camera settings and composition in the field to editing and finishing your images back in the classroom, we help you put the whole process together.
The goal is simple. You leave with new skills, great memories and finished photographs you’re proud to take home.
First light
Up early, out in the dark with head torches, setting up compositions in preparation for first light. Six guests and two instructors, so there is always someone beside you when the settings are not doing what you expected.
Mid-morning - early afternoon
It’s time to work through the morning's files together in Lightroom and Photoshop. Shooting well is half of it. Knowing what to do with the file is the other half. Editing sessions are held on big screens with one instructor giving instruction and another floating from person to person. Lunch-time brings on a break before a second editing session and then we head out again for the afternoon.
Golden hour and sunset
It’s time for sunset, our second favourite time of the day. By day two you will be reading the conditions and choosing your own compositions, which is the point. You’ll also be fresh off an editing session so you can put the learnings into practice.
Evenings
Dinner together with good food and conversation. If the sky is clear and you have the energy we head back out for astro. On the right night the Aurora Australis is a possibility.
What We Teach
Three things sit at the heart of good photography, whatever your experience or skill level. We combine creative thinking with practical technique, helping you make better decisions both in the field and through the eyepiece.
Learn to see
Learn to read a scene, find stronger compositions and understand what makes an image work. We look at light, depth, foreground, lines and the decisions that turn a view into a photograph.
Learn to shoot
Build the technical skills to respond to the conditions in front of you. From long exposure, focus stacking and HDR to ICM, astro and aurora, you'll learn how and when to use the right technique, and the formula to repeat them.
Learn to shape
Take control of the final image. We explore RAW processing, exposure blending, layer masks and other techniques that help bring your vision to life while developing an editing style that feels like your own.
Your Instructors
Francois Fourie @ffourie
A Tasmanian landscape and adventure photographer who has spent years exploring the island's wildest corners. From the Western Arthurs to the remote takayna/Tarkine, the rugged West Coast to the quiet forests of the highlands. Francois brings a considered, unhurried approach to photography that is entirely his own. He describes photography as therapy, a way of slowing down, seeing more, and enjoying time in nature. That philosophy carries directly into his teaching. With Francois, you won't be rushed through locations. You'll be guided on how to see and capture them.
Geraldina Dijkstra @geraldinainthewild
Geraldina’s photography specialises in the extraordinary and often invisible macro detail, night skies, aurora, bioluminescence, glowing fungi, and the quiet magic of Tasmania after dark. She is also a published author, her children’s book Chasing the Lights was inspired by Tasmania’s remarkable natural light phenomena. Geraldina sees Tasmania with the wonder of someone who chose it deliberately and that perspective is infectious in the field.
Your Accommodation
The Central Highlands Lodge, located in the highland village of Miena, is the gateway to Tasmania’s Central Plateau.
Being the most centrally located lodge to the famous Miena cider gums, it is the perfect location for a weekend of photography.
After relaxing in the lounge by cosy log fires, comfortable rooms with crisp sheets on a pre-warmed bed await you.
Your accommodation features ensuite bathrooms, heating, electric blankets, fridge, TV, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities.
What You Will Need
A list of the equipment we recommend. If you need advice or are thinking about a new purchase, let us know because we can get great deals from our suppliers.
A DSLR or mirrorless camera
Fully charged camera batteries
Memory card(s)
Lenses – If you need advice we can guide you
Filters - CPL, ND 3/6/10 stop - we can advise if you do not have any
Laptop - editing sessions
Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop
Tripod – needed for long exposure and astro sessions
Good footwear – walking boots preferably as it will be wet and muddy/sandy
Warm clothing - this needs to be a warm jumper and pants, beanie, gloves and a good waterproof jacket
Head torch
Included / Not Included
Included
Two nights’ accommodation in your own room at the Central Highlands Lodge
Three delicious meals per day – excluding breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on Day 3
Structured coaching and photography tuition from two local expert photographers who know the area well
Private transfers to and from the collection point in Hobart in a luxury rated vehicle
A government-registered and licensed operator. This is important!
All park passes and associated permit costs
An amazing experience with a great group of like-minded people
Not Included
Travel to the collection point in Hobart
Alcoholic beverages
Travel and medical insurance
Why Book With Us
TPT runs a structured learning program built on real-world techniques you can repeat every day after the tour. You go home with the skills and with take-home handouts for the parts you forget.
Dedicated editing sessions so you learn to capture an image and to finish it
Instructors who are specialists in their genre, not generalists
Tasmanian photographers who live here and shoot these locations year-round
Six guests and two instructors means more one-on-one time for your investment
Every price and every date published so there’s no enquiry form needed to find out what a tour costs
All-inclusive of accommodation, meals, private transfers and park passes
Every level welcome, from your first camera to refining a style you already have
Your images are our results. We want you going home with finished pictures you are proud of.
Before You Book
Price - A$2,950 per person
Location - Central Highlands, Tasmania
Date - Friday 9 July 2027 - Sunday 11 July 2027
Tuition - Two local expert photographers
Departure and Return - The tour departs from and returns to the Old Woolstore Hotel, 11/1 Macquarie Street, Hobart City. Departure is 7am on Friday 9 July 2027, returning around 4pm on Sunday 11 July 2027.
For those travelling to Hobart we can help you with a 10% discount at The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel which is the collection point on day one. Simply use TASPHOTO on the Old Woolstore's website at checkout
Payment Terms - A deposit of A$500 is required to secure your booking. Once received, we will email you an invoice for the full tour amount. The remaining balance must be paid no later than 60 days before the tour’s start date. By booking you acknowledge and accept our Terms and Conditions
Not quite the right dates?
Have a look at Southwest Tasmania in June or Bruny Island in May.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this tour suited to?
Photographers of all skill levels, especially people who love photographing trees, landscapes and astro (weather permitting).
What are the fitness / mobility requirements?
This tour involves a low to moderate level of fitness. Participants should be comfortable with short walks to shooting locations, including walking by head torch before sunrise or after dark. Some locations are accessed via slippery forest trails, unsealed paths, steps, and gentle inclines, and conditions may be cold and/or wet.
Do I get my own room?
Every guest is allocated their own private room. Twin share available upon request.
What are the group sizes?
Unless advertised, each group is kept to a maximum of 6 guests and 2 instructors.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free gluten-free and most allergies can be catered for. Tell us when you book so we have time to prepare. If you have a severe allergy, let us know early and we will confirm exactly what is possible before you pay your balance.