After years of photographing everything from the red centre to the tropical north, I’ve learned what actually matters in a travel photography kit for Australian conditions. This isn’t about carrying every lens you own—it’s about smart choices that cover the situations you’ll face without wrecking your back.

The Core Kit

Your camera body is the obvious starting point. I prefer taking one solid body rather than two cheaper ones. If it fails, you’re done either way, so invest in reliability. Weather sealing matters here more than megapixels. Australia throws dust, humidity, and sudden weather changes at you constantly.

For lenses, I’ve settled on a three-lens approach that handles 95% of situations. A 24-70mm f/2.8 does the heavy lifting—landscapes, street photography, environmental portraits, food shots, you name it. Add a 70-200mm f/4 for wildlife and distant subjects without the bulk of the f/2.8 version. Finally, a 16-35mm f/4 for dramatic landscapes and architecture. That’s it. Everything else stays home.

The Overlooked Essentials

Circular polariser filters are non-negotiable for Australian travel photography. Our harsh sunlight creates glare that ruins coastal shots and washes out skies. Get quality filters, not cheap ones that degrade image quality. I run B+W or Hoya filters on every lens.

Memory cards deserve more thought than most photographers give them. I carry multiple 64GB cards rather than massive 256GB ones. If a card fails, you lose less work. I’ve had cards die in remote locations—better to lose one day of shooting than an entire week.

Cleaning supplies matter more here than in gentler climates. Microfiber cloths, sensor swabs, and a rocket blower live in my bag permanently. Red dust gets everywhere in the outback. Salt spray coats your gear at the coast. You’ll clean your sensor more often than you expect.

Power Management

Australian travel often means long drives between locations and limited charging opportunities. I pack a minimum of three batteries per camera body, more if I’m heading somewhere remote. Battery life drops in extreme heat, which you’ll experience across most of the continent from November through March.

A dual battery charger beats single chargers for travel efficiency. While you’re shooting with one battery, two more can charge back at accommodation. USB-C charging has simplified this recently—many newer cameras charge via USB-C, letting you top up batteries from power banks in the car.

Speaking of power banks, bring a high-capacity one (20,000mAh minimum) for charging phones, cameras, and other devices. Remote Australia has long stretches between power outlets.

Protection and Support

A sturdy camera strap prevents drops and reduces fatigue during long shooting days. I prefer Peak Design’s system for quick-release capability—you can move from handheld to tripod without threading straps through tiny loops.

Tripods spark endless debate among travel photographers. I bring a carbon fiber travel tripod that extends to eye height but packs down to 40cm. Yes, it cost more than my first camera, but it’s logged tens of thousands of kilometres without issues. For landscapes and long exposures, there’s no substitute.

A rain cover saves cameras during unexpected downpours. Garbage bags work in emergencies, but proper rain covers offer better access to controls while protecting gear. They weigh almost nothing and pack flat.

The Digital Workflow

This is where many photographers underestimate their needs. I carry a lightweight laptop and portable hard drive for backing up photos each night. Memory cards alone aren’t backup—they can fail, get lost, or stolen. I don’t consider photos safe until they exist in two physical locations plus cloud storage.

Cloud backup from remote Australia is challenging with limited mobile data. I use accommodation WiFi when available, but mainly rely on physical backups until returning to reliable internet.

What I Learned to Leave Behind

Fast prime lenses seem essential until you realize how rarely you need f/1.4 for travel work. They’re heavy, expensive, and duplicative if you’re carrying quality zooms. Unless you’re specifically shooting astrophotography or extreme low-light work, save the weight.

Multiple camera bodies sound professional but usually sit unused in your bag. The situations where you truly need instant lens switching are rarer than you think. Save your back and budget.

Filters beyond a polariser and neutral density rarely get used. Graduated ND filters have been largely replaced by exposure bracketing and post-processing. I stopped packing them years ago.

The Reality Check

Your packing list should match your shooting style, not some idealised version of it. If you never shoot wildlife, skip the telephoto. If you hate tripod work, don’t force yourself to carry one. I’ve refined this kit through actual use, not theoretical needs.

Test your full kit before departure. Wear your loaded camera bag for an hour around home. If your shoulders ache, you’ve packed too much. Travel photography means walking kilometres daily—comfort directly impacts the quality and quantity of shots you’ll capture.

Australian conditions demand reliable, practical gear over impressive specifications. Pack smart, shoot more, complain less about your aching back. That’s the real travel photography wisdom nobody tells you until you’ve learned it the hard way.