Unsplash Around the World: Australia 🇦🇺

Australia’s diverse landscapes and vibrant creative culture offer endless inspiration for photographers and illustrators like Valeriia Miller, Rod Long, Dave Clode, Raelle Cameron, and Amanda Sala.

Discover why Australia should be on your travel list by hearing from those who know it best, as each photographer shares how the country shapes their perspective and work.

Who are you, and where are you located?

Valeriia Miller: I’m Valeriia, originally from Ukraine and now based in Brisbane, Australia.

Rod Long: Hey friends, I’m Rod Long, and Sydney, Australia, is an amazing place to live!

Dave Clode: Hi everyone, my name is David Clode. I live in Cairns, North Queensland, close to the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest.

Raelle Cameron: Hi, I’m Rae. I’m a designer and photographer born in Canberra, and now located on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Amanda Sala: I'm a designer and illustrator. I moved to Australia from Poland three years ago, and I'm currently based on the beautiful Northern Beaches.

What do you love most about Australia?

Rod: I love that Australia is a remote, raw, wild, and untamed wilderness of opportunity.  It is huge - being a similar size to the USA but with a population less than Texas, means there’s plenty of open space to explore.  With an incredible diversity in people, environment and wildlife … it just keeps amazing me.

Raelle: It is home. I have always lived here, and while I love travelling, there’s always something grounding and deeply down-to-earth about our country. From the landscapes to the lifestyle and the people, you can’t beat it.

Amanda: Probably not a surprising answer - nature. Australia feels untamed in a way that's hard to find elsewhere, from dramatic coastlines to unpredictable wildlife. There's always a sense that nature is in control, not us.

How does living in Australia inspire you creatively?

Rod: The huge diversity that is found in Australia means there are endless opportunities for rich, new and sometimes surprising encounters that inspire wonder and creativity. The challenges in trying to capture that help keep me learning, experimenting and exploring. 

Raelle: Australia has one of the most varied and inspiring landscapes and climates anywhere I’ve visited in the world. You can drive a few kilometres down the road and be in a completely different environment from the one you were just in, and I love getting out to explore everything that our country has to offer as a photographer. 

Which regions of Australia do you find particularly captivating for photography? 

Dave: North Queensland, Tasmania and Central Australia. Hopefully, one of these days, Western Australia will be known for the remote wilderness in the North, and spring wildflowers in the South.

Valeriia: Oh, there are so many! I think every region in Australia has its own unique vibe, but of the places I’ve visited, Tasmania has really captured my heart.

Raelle: I lived in Townsville in North Queensland when I was younger, and I feel like that’s where my photography journey really took off. This part of Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, paired with stunning tropical rainforests – I think it’s these environments that really captivate me the most. The beaches, the wildlife, the plants, all of it lends itself so well to what I love photographing. However, I also visited Tasmania on a holiday as a kid, and would love to take a trip back there to explore photographing it now as an adult.

Are there any elements of the Australian lifestyle that you love to incorporate into your art?

Valeriia: The freedom to be who you are while exploring yourself and the world around you. And, of course, caring for nature and staying deeply connected to it.

Rod: Life here is typically laid back, casual and often centred around the outdoors. As I’m also interested in wildlife, these things often direct where my next photograph will come from. 

Amanda: Definitely wildlife. In Sydney, you can go from the city to the ocean or bush in minutes, and suddenly stumble upon a cheeky cockatoo, or take a ferry and see whales swimming freely along the city's coast. This contrast always inspires me.

What is your favorite image you took that really captures Australia?

Valeriia: This one definitely doesn't capture Australia in its entirety, but I love it. There is darkness, and there is light, and you choose which one to focus on. That gloomy day in Tasmania was simply magical.

Rod: I took this photo from a Zodiac boat while on expedition in the remote Kimberley region of Australia. I think it captures the rawness and isolation of this country, thriving against the odds. The interconnection of cultures that make up these people, and the depth of colour and diverse nature of everything in this wild continent. 

Dave: I just returned a few days ago from a holiday in St Helens (North East Tasmania). There was a bush fire in Steiglitz four months prior, so I took photos of nature recovering from the damage. Eucalyptus trees can sprout new leaves directly from the tree trunk, and I think this photo epitomizes the resilience of both Australian nature and people.

Raelle: This photo was taken at Newcastle Ocean Baths on our road trip up from Canberra to the Gold Coast in January 2026. I think it symbolizes a lot for me personally, but I also feel like it captures our beautiful, rugged landscape so well – there can be a calm to our way of life that I feel this image really encapsulates.

Amanda: I think it would be an illustration of a pelican. When I first moved here, I was surprised by how casually these big birds could sit (sometimes four of them) on a street lamp. It felt very Australian to me.

What is the one thing you would like people to know about your country?

Raelle: Everything you think you know about Australia, probably isn’t going to be the same once you’ve been and gone – in the best way possible. There are a lot of misconceptions about our way of life, and I hope people who visit get to see just how amazing we have it here.

Amanda: Australia is not just beaches and sunshine. It's incredibly diverse, sometimes harsh, and full of contrasts, and that's exactly what makes it so inspiring.

What advice would you give to someone visiting Australia for the first time?

Dave: Australia has a very wide variety of climates, scenery and ecosystems, so I would suggest going somewhere that is completely different from where you live. Don’t worry about dangerous wildlife. The locals will be happy to frighten you with tall stories, but, as long as you use common sense, you are much more likely to be hit by a car, especially if you are used to driving on the other side of the road. Be prepared to be quick and versatile. Within a matter of minutes, you could be photographing a landscape with a wide-angle lens, then using a telephoto lens for birds, then a macro lens for flowers or insects.

Rod: Take your time here - this place deserves your attention. It’s a long way from the rest of the world, but so worth it - embed yourself in the city or country or both, chat to everyday Aussies,  and enjoy the richness of a wide range of cultures that have called Australia home.

What makes Australia different from other countries you have been to?

Valeriia: To me, Australia feels like it holds pieces of the entire world. You can find everything from dreamy beaches and tropical rainforests to deserts and charming villages. There truly is something for everyone.

Raelle: Probably the wildlife – being an island nation, we have so many unique animals that are a joy to coexist with as a photographer. And I promise they don’t all want to kill you!

Amanda: The scale and the sense of space. Even in populated areas, there's this feeling of openness and distance. It changes how you experience both nature and everyday life.

Describe your country in one word.

Dave: Quirky
Valeriia: Wonderful
Rod: Vibrant
Raelle: Home
Amanda: Untamed

See you next time at our next around-the-world location!