Eagles Nest, Inverloch: Fantastic Sunset Photography
Iconic Eagles Nest near the seaside town of Inverloch in Victoria, Australia.
Eagles Nest is a beautiful location near the town of Inverloch in Gippsland, Victoria. I had a fantastic sunset adventure photographing this amazing location.
Eagles Nest is an iconic sandstone stack formed by erosion from wind, water and salt. Offering great opportunities for landscape photography and exploration, particularly at low tide, Eagles Nest is located in the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park, between the towns of Inverloch and Cape Paterson.
I was lucky to arrive at low tide and made sure to take full advantage of the opportunity to wonder around the rock platform from which the iconic Eagles Nest rises.
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How To Get To Eagles Nest
Perched upon rugged and beautiful coastline, Eagles Nest is about a two hour drive from Melbourne.
In fact the site is just 8 km (5 miles) along the Bunurong Coastal Drive between the seaside towns of Inverloch and Cape Paterson in Gippsland, Victoria.
The drive should only take you around 10 minutes. Just look out for the second beach along the way from Inverloch towards Cape Paterson.
At the conclusion of your Eagles Nest adventure you might want to continue along the short drive towards Cape Paterson and enjoy excellent panoramic views over Twin Reefs, Shack Bay and The Oaks.
Car Parking at Eagles Nest
Though the site does get busy, plentiful car parking is available at Eagles Nest.
Where Is Inverloch?
The town of Inverloch is located 143 kilometers south east of Melbourne at the mouth of the Anderson Inlet in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland.
You’ll find Inverloch situated just 14 kilometers from the town of Wonthaggi, and close to the nearby tourist locations of Cape Paterson and Venus Bay.
There’s plenty to do in and around the lovely town of Inverloch. In addition to visiting Eagles Nest you can look forward to experiencing the following treats:
Beautiful beaches
Secluded coves
Great fishing opportunities
Fresh air
Lovely cafes and great food
Scenic drives
The Bunurong Environment Center in Inverloch is the place to go for information about the region.
Inverloch Population
The 2020 population estimate for Inverloch is 5,901 people. It’s a good sized town offering a great local experience for visitors from the big city.
Frazzled tourists arriving on a weekend visit from Melbourne will likely find the energy of the township and the many local attractions a great tonic for mind and body.
Things To Do At Eagles Nest
There's an easy walk from the Eagles Nest carpark to a viewing platform. Views are good from this vantage point, though safety railings do block part of the surrounding scenery.
The better option, for those who are able to do so, is to take the steep decent down some stairs to a lovely beach with stunning views.
If you’re planning to go down the stairs and explore the beach make sure you first check the tide times.
One of the advantages of arriving at low tide is the opportunity to explore and photograph the variety of shallow rock pools on site.
They make for really interesting compositions, when used as a foreground element in a wide angle photo of Eagles Nest.
Alternatively you could try making some interesting abstract images of the rock pools up close.
It’s always important, when visiting a beach, to stay aware of changing weather and tides.
I became so involved in making photos that, as night descended, I had to scoot across the beach to avoid the fast moving incoming tide.
In the fading light it was quite spooky and it’s important to note that crossing the beach and the rock pools at high tide can be hazardous.
Can You Climb Eagles Nest?
It's possible and, apparently, people do climb Eagles Nest. Personally I wouldn't do it as the volcanic rock is sharp and extremely hard. It's an activity that, to me, suggests the potential of serious injury.
The fabulous shapes and defined edges on Eagles Nest have come about through the process of erosion. Wind and waves have sculptured this landmark over millennia to produced the beautiful, iconic rock we can all appreciate today.
However, both the structure and the surrounding area is composed of very hard rock with sharp, cutting edges.
Please watch your step and, ideally, be prepared for your adventure by wearing tough walking boots to protect your feet from the sharp rocks.
When To Visit Eagles Nest, Inverloch
As stated previously, Eagles Nest is best visited at low tide when it’s possible to explore the site and photograph the numerous rock pools.
Summer is the most popular time to explore and, should low tide coincide with a great sunset, you should be in for a fantastic experience.
Humpback and Southern Right whales can often be seen along this route, from May till October, as they make their annual migration along the coast.
Inverloch’s Dinosaur Bone Graveyard
I was surprised to learn that the first dinosaur bone, known as the Cape Paterson Claw, was discovered at Eagles Nest in 1903 by William Ferguson.
The popular Dinosaur Dreaming site, close to Flat Rocks, is nearby. Over the years thousands of bones, teeth and (small) dinosaur footprints have been discovered there.
A popular place for paleontologists, amateur and professional alike, you’ll want to visit at low tide when many of these discoveries are revealed.
How to Photograph Eagles Nest, Inverloch
There’s no doubt the Eagles Nest is an impressive structure that can be further emphasized by photographing from a relative low angle of view.
You’ll find this to be a simple tip that helps to monumentalize the main focal point or subject in a photo.
Arriving a little while before sunset I immediately noticed how the shapes and textures in the landscape where being emphasized by the warm colored, soft light.
The above photo was made during the afterglow, just after the sun had set. The light on the rocks was soft and warm and provided a lovely contrast with the blue of the sky and water.
An aperture of f/11 produce the large depth of field I needed, while the combination of ISO 100 and a shutter speed of 1.3 seconds produced the soft, yet realistic appearance in the sea.
Playing with Perspective at Eagles Nest
You'll notice how prominent the rock is in this picture. It fills up about a third of the frame and is centrally positioned.
However, while impressive, Eagles Nest is actually not that big. Yet it appears particularly large in this picture in comparison with the much larger cliff face not all that far behind it.
What's the secret?
I employed a 24 mm focal length on my then Canon full frame camera and moved in, nice and close, to make the image.
Moving in close with a wide-angle lens dramatically emphasizes foreground elements while making the background look smaller and further away.
In doing so a greater sense of three dimensional space is achieved.
I hope that little tip helps. It’s a very straightforward technique to implement, yet it can produce a powerful result.
The trick is not to always be using your camera’s zoom lens simply to bring things closer.
By zooming in you reduce the impression of three dimensional space and, as a consequence, a fairly flat, two dimensional image can result.
Before you raise the camera to your eye think about how you want to render the scene in front of you.
If the notion of space and depth seems important choose a wide-angle focal length and actually walk forwards or backwards to achieve a cohesive composition.
That’s precisely how I went about composing this photo. It’s so simple when you know how, and absolutely not the way most folks go about using their zoom lens.
Wherever possible, try to zoom with your feet.
It's a special thing to be in the landscape, near the end of the day. It quietens the mind, revives the spirit and enriches the soul.
Beautiful landscape locations like Eagles Nest provide the opportunity to switch off from the rate race and spend some quality time in the great outdoors.
Eagles Nest is the kind of environment where you’re more likely to tune into what’s really important and to better understand yourself and your place in this world.
And that’s exactly the kind of perspective we all need. Wouldn’t you say?
Conclusion: Your Eagles Nest Adventure
I hope, one day soon, you’ll find your way down to Inverloch and out to the beautiful Eagles Nest.
It really is a wonderful place to visit, particularly around the edges of the day when the quality of the light is soft and warm in color.
Ensure you allow an hour or two to explore the site and make your photos and you’ll be in for a really lovely experience.
Just remember, whenever you’re close to the sea, to watch for the incoming tide.
