Beerbarrel Beach

Beerbarrel Beach is an amazing shooting gem along Tasmania's northeast coast, tucked into the St Helens Point Conservation Area. It is a compact, two section beach with a rocky headland in the middle It is quite photogenic with its white sand, clear turquoise water, and granite boulders coated in bright orange lichen. That lichen is the real star here. It covers the rocks in deep rusty orange tones that contrast hard against the white sand and blue water. The colour combo is already strong in flat light, but it really delivers at dawn when low sun turns everything warm and saturated. Overcast days work well too. The orange actually pops more when the light is soft with no harsh shadows washing it out. Composition wise, the rock pools scattered among the granite give you easy foreground interest, and the headland in the middle is a great vantage point for wider shots along the coast. You can also scramble along the rocks at the far end of the beach for tighter frames of lichen textures and wave wash. A car park behind the headland gives quick access to both sections of beach. It is quieter and more intimate than the busier stretches of Binalong Bay further north, which makes it a solid pick if you want the unique Bay of Fires look without the crowds. (St Helens, Tasmania, Australia)