New South Wales Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in New South Wales? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in New South Wales

For an introduction to shooting in New South Wales see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, premiums, fringes, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

New South Wales Film Locations 

New South Wales, The Premier State, is a popular destination for international productions looking for opposite season looks, generous film incentives, experienced crews, and state of the art film equipment. The state is known for its modern cities, beautiful beaches, eucalyptus forests, mountains, waterfalls, rivers, and outback locations.

Agricultural film locations include farms that produce wheat, hay, corn, rice, grapes, sugarcane, citrus fruits, apples, cherries and pears, legumes, alfalfa, maize, nuts, oats, oilseeds, bananas, cotton, timber, oysters, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Thoroughbred horses are bred. New South Wales is also known for its vineyards. Fishing trawlers are available for filming. The state mines coal, copper, silver, lead, and zinc. Sydney is an Asia Pacific regional headquarters for the finance, insurance, banking, and real estate industries. Energy locations include thermal fired power plants, hydroelectric dams, solar and wind farms.

New South Wales has hosted a long list of major motion pictures including Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), The Invisible Man (2020), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Unbroken (2014), The Great Gatsby (2013), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), Moulin Rouge (2001), The Matrix (1999), Babe (1995), Muriel’s Wedding (1994), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Mad Max 2 (1981), and Wake in Fright (1971).

Film Locations can be divided into the following regions:

Sydney

Sydney is the NSW state capital, Australia’s largest city, main film production centre, and main entry point by air. Its modern city skyline and sprawling suburbs offer a diversity of unique locations and locations that double well for modern American and Asian city looks. Film locations of note include the magnificent Sydney Harbour, a modern city skyline, unique buildings, bridges, colonial architecture, museums, universities, entertainment venues, markets, city parks, national parks, marinas, lighthouses, and world famous beaches.

City skyline views are can be filmed from locations such as Sydney Harbour, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Kirribilli, Fort Denison, Taronga Park Zoo, Nielsen Park, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, and Sydney Tower.

Sydney is a large sprawling city known for its unique neighborhoods. Surry Hills, Newtown, and Marrickville are known for their trendy nightlife. Point Piper, Vaucluse, and Double Bay are affluent neighborhoods. Bondi is a famous beach suburb home to models, surfers, and backpackers. Chinatown doubles for Hong Kong and China. Chatswood doubles for Singapore.

Sydney has several buildings designed by famous architects. Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at the University of Technology Sydney was designed by Frank Gehry. One Central Park was designed by Jean Nouvel. Barangaroo’s International Towers Sydney was designed by Richard Rogers. The Exchange in Darling Square was designed by Kengo Kuma. Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney Modern Project building was designed by Kazuyo Sejima. Aurora Place was designed by Renzo Piano. 1 Bligh Street was designed by Ingenhoven Architects. The Sirius Building is a Brutalist structure.

Entertainment venues include the Sydney Opera House designed by Jørn Utzon, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, State Theatre, Capitol Theatre, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney Coliseum, Luna Park, and Cockatoo Island.

Museums of note include the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art, Australian National Maritime Museum, Museum of Sydney, Powerhouse Museum, White Rabbit Gallery, Carriageworks, Sydney Jewish Museum, and Sydney Tramway Museum.

Colonial era locations include The Rocks, Queen Victoria Building, Government House, Parliament House, Sydney Observatory, Sydney Town Hall, Customs House, General Post Office, Department of Lands building, The Mint, Sydney Hospital, State Library of New South Wales, Darlinghurst Courthouse, Hyde Park Barracks, and Fort Denison.

Religious film locations include St Mary’s Cathedral, St Andrew’s Cathedral, St Patrick’s Church, Great Synagogue of Sydney, Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, Baha’i Temple, and Sze Yup Temple.

Sydney University buildings of note include the Quadrangle Building, Great Hall, St John’s College, Wesley College, St Paul’s College, Faculty of Law Building, Faculty of Arts Building, Abercrombie Building, Chau Chak Wing Museum, and Charles Perkins Centre staircases.

Other universities of note include University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, and Macquarie University.

Markets of note include Sydney Fish Market, Paddington Markets, The Rocks Market, Paddy’s Markets, Glebe Markets, and Parklea Markets.

Gardens of note include Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park, Centennial Park, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Auburn Botanic Gardens, and The Australian Botanic Garden.

Bridges of note include the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, Pyrmont Bridge, and ANZAC Bridge.

Sporting venues include the Sydney Cricket Ground, Stadium Australia, Sydney Showground Stadium, Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Sydney SuperDome, Sydney Football Stadium, State Sports Centre, Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre, Dunc Gray Velodrome, Penrith Whitewater Stadium, Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Sydney International Shooting Centre, Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre, and North Sydney Olympic Pool.

Transport locations include Central Station, Circular Quay, Sydney International Cruise Terminal, and Sydney Airport.

National parks inside the city include Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney Harbour National Park, Lane Cove National Park, Garigal National Park, Kamay Botany Bay National Park, and Royal National Park. Wildlife includes eastern grey kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, possums, sugar gliders, blue tongue lizards, eastern bearded dragons, eastern brown snakes, funnel web spiders, cockatoos, galahs, rosellas, rainbow lorikeets, kookaburras, magpies, wedge-tailed eagles, and a diversity of sea life.

Sydney has some of the world’s best city beaches including Bondi Beach, Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Coogee Beach, Manly Beach, Curl Curl Beach, Freshwater Beach, Whale Beach, and Palm Beach, to name a few.

Lighthouses include Macquarie Lighthouse, Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Norah Head Lighthouse, and Hornby Lighthouse.

Cemeteries of note include Waverley Cemetery, Rookwood Cemetery, and Gore Hill Cemetery.

White Bay Power Station is a decommissioned power station.

Light Horse Interchange is the largest interchange flyover in the southern hemisphere.

Central Coast / Hunter Valley

The Central Coast / Hunter Valley region is located in the central eastern part of the state.

The Central Coast / Hunter Valley is known for its beautiful beaches with warm waters. Examples include Old Bar Beach, Boomerang Beach, Treachery Beach, Sandbar Beach, Anna Bay, Fingal Bay, Zenith Beach, Caves Beach, and Avoca Beach to name a few.

Newcastle film locations include Newcastle Court House, Newcastle Customs House, Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle Post Office, T&G Mutual Life Assurance Building, Victoria Theatre, University of Newcastle, Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle Museum, Fort Scratchley, Nobbys Beach, Nobbys Lighthouse, and Newcastle Ocean Baths.

Stockton Beach doubles well for desert sand dunes.

Barrington Tops National Park has a landscape of mountain ranges, granite boulders, eucalyptus rainforest, and rivers. Wildlife includes eastern grey kangaroos, pademelons, echidnas, bats, owls, cockatoos, rosellas, kookaburras, and paradise riflebirds.

Bouddi National Park is known for its beautiful beaches, cliffs, rainforest, and ocean life.

Baiame Cave is an important cultural site of the Wonnarua people located near Milbrodale.

Norah Head Lighthouse is also located on the Central Coast.

The Hunter Valley is known for its wineries such as ​Brokenwood, and Tyrrell’s.

Thoroughbred horses are bred in the Scone area.

Bayswater Power Station is located in Muswellbrook.

North Coast / New England

The North Coast / New England region is located in the northeast of the state.

The North Coast has many beautiful beaches with warm waters all along the coast. Some examples include Tallow Beach, Spooky Beach, Red Rock Beach, Corindi Beach, and Killick Beach, to name a few.

Coffs Harbour is close to several beautiful beaches including Emerald Beach, Sapphire Beach, Diggers Beach, Moonee Beach, Bongil Beach, and Sawtell Beach.

Byron Bay is a trendy beach town known for its beaches, surfing, and dive sites.

Yamba is an upcoming beachside town.

Tweed Heads was filmed for Muriel’s Wedding (1994).

Nimbin is a rainforest mountain town known for its cannabis counterculture.

Bellingen is a pretty rainforest town located on Waterfall Way.

Tamworth is a rural city that hosts the second largest country music festival in the world.

Dorrigo National Park is known for its rainforest views.

New England National Park has a landscape of moss-covered rainforest and sweeping green vistas. Wildlife includes dingos, koalas, tiger quolls, common bentwing bats, brown antechinuses, northern brown bandicoots, and a diversity of birdlife including lyrebirds.

Koreelah National Park has a eucalyptus rainforest location known for its diversity of birdlife.

Yuraygir National Park is known for its beautiful beaches. Wildlife of note is rufous bettong, tiger quoll, brush-tailed phascogale, and squirrel glider.

Cathedral Rock National Park is known for its granite boulders, and eucalyptus forest.

Waterfalls of note include Ebor Falls, Wollomombi Falls, and Dangar Falls.

Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) is an array of 6 identical 22-metre (72 ft) diameter radio telescope dishes, located near the town of Narrabri.

Lighthouses of note include Cape Byron Lighthouse, Yamba Lighthouse, Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse, and Smoky Cape Lighthouse.

Illawarra / South East & Tablelands

The Illawarra / South East & Tablelands region is located in the southeast of the state.

Wollongong film locations include Flagstaff Point Lighthouse, Wollongong Botanic Garden, Nan Tien Temple, Sea Cliff Bridge, Heritage Hotel, and Wollongong steelworks.

Kiama is known for Kiama lighthouse, Kiama blowhole, Cathedral Rocks, and Kiama Surf Beach.

Jervis Bay is known for Murrays Beach, Hyams Beach, Booderee National Park, and Point Perpendicular Lighthouse.

Headland House was filmed for The Invisible Man (2020).

Kosciuszko National Park is a landscape of mountains, forests, caves, rivers, and lakes. Mt Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest peak. Rivers of note include Snowy River, the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee River, and the Gungarlin River. The lake town of Jindabyne is close to several ski resorts including Perisher, Thredbo Charlotte Pass, and Mt Selwyn. The Snowy scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex. Endangered wildlife includes corroboree frogs, Alpine tree frogs, Alpine water skinks, Alpine spiny crayfish, mountain pygmy possums, and common dusky antechinuses. The park is famous for its brumby wild horses.

Waterfalls of note in this region include Fitzroy Falls, and Minnamurra Falls.

Central West & Orana

The Central West & Orana region is located in the centre of the state.

Bathurst is known for Bathurst Court House, Abercrombie House, Old Bathurst Hospital, St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst Gaol, Bathurst railway station, Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, and National Motor Racing Museum.

Blue Mountains National Park is known for its dramatic vistas of steep cliffs, and eucalyptus forests. Film locations include Katoomba, Three Sisters, Hydro Majestic Hotel, Katoomba Scenic Railway, Leura, Grand Canyon, Blue Gum Forest, Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Lincoln’s Rock, Jenolan Caves, Glow Worm Tunnel, Wentworth Falls, Gordon Falls, Empress Falls, Sylvia Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Jellybean Pool, and Lennox Bridge. The Blackheath area is popular with hikers and rock climbers. The Six Foot track is a hiking trail from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves.

Wollemi National Park is home to the endangered Wollemi Pine.

Warrumbungle National Park has a landscape of grasslands, and spectacular rock formations including The Breadknife. For astrophotography, the park is designated a Dark Sky Park. Star gazing facilities include Siding Spring Observatory, and Milroy Observatory.

CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope is located in Parkes.

Riverina Murray

The Riverina Murray region is located in the south of the state.

Albury is located on the Murray River. Film locations include Murray Art Museum Albury, Albury Town Hall, Albury Post Office, Albury railway station, and Albury Library Museum.

Livingstone National Park has a landscape of box gum woodlands. Wildlife includes eastern grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies, wombats, goannas, and a diversity of birdlife including swift parrots.

Murrumbidgee Valley National Park has a landscape of river red gum forest, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands.

Murray Valley National Park has a landscape of red river gum forest. The park is known for its diversity of birdlife.

Yanga National Park has a wetland landscape that is home to many different birds.

Far West NSW

The Far West NSW region is located in the west of the state.

Broken Hill is a desert mining town known for Argent Street, Palace Hotel, Broken Hill Trades Hall, Broken Hill Town Hall, Broken Hill Post Office, Broken Hill railway station, Broken Hill Solar Plant, Junction Mine, and Broken Hill cemetery. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), Mad Max 2 (1981), and Wake in Fright (1971). filmed around the Broken Hill region.

Mungo National Park is known for its dry lakes, sand dunes, Walls of China rock formation, and archaeological remains. Mungo Man and Mungo Woman are among the world’s oldest Homo sapien remains.

Lake Menindee is a spectacular location of dead trees in a floodplain.

Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island, located east of Australia, is under the care of the New South Wales Ministry of Environment.

New South Wales Film Location Permits 

Location Permits. Saturday afternoon and Sunday are the best times to film in Sydney’s downtown business district. All other times are much more restricted. Most inner city locations requiring exclusive use of public space require at least 7 days to process permits. Tracking shots and road closures require up to 10 days. Locations outside of major cities are easier to permit. Please contact us for location specific information.

Insurance. It’s also important to note that most locations require proof of public liability insurance of at least $20 million.

When To Shoot?

New South Wales enjoys a sub-tropical climate all year round, with warm semi-tropical summers, particularly in lower central areas and cool winters.

Summers run from December to February and are hot and dry. Autumn is from March to May with pleasant temperatures and rainfall. Winters from June to August are chilly but snow only falls in the higher Snowy Mountains area. Spring from September to November warms up with flowers in bloom and lush greenery. Spring is a good season to film whale migration.

For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:

• Sydney New Years Eve celebrations are famous for the fireworks that light up the harbour.
• Sydney Festival takes place in January.
• Tamworth Country Music Festival takes place in January.
• The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a colourful spectacle held in February / March.
• City2Surf running race takes place in Sydney in August.
• Tulip Time Festival takes place in Bowral in September.
• The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held in October.
• This Is Not Art Festival takes place in Newcastle in October.
• The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, held in December, is one of the world’s top sailing events.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Australia.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

Costs & Tax Incentives

Costs. Recent devaluations in the Australian dollar have made filming in Australia a more cost competitive option. Distance is a major expense. Both in terms of getting to Australia as well as getting around Australia (the country is roughly the size of the US Lower 48). Australia is a very well established and sophisticated production centre so factors of production cost accordingly. Post production is one area that remains a cost saving attraction with high quality post 30-40% less expensive than in the US. Ultimately, whatever the project, our locally based fixers and service producers will negotiate deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

Tax Incentives. Australia offers qualifying co-productions a Producer Offset 40% tax rebate for feature films, and a Producer Offset 30% tax rebate for documentaries, TV series, telemovies, and short form animation. Some states may offer additional production incentives. For more information visit AUSFILM. There are no tax incentives for commercials.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Sydney has a very good experienced pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers, several being of the highest international standard. Professional and technical crews have had decades of experience servicing long and short-form projects from all over the world. The result is a very deep pool of well trained crew with a great attitude and a world-class reputation.

Contact us if you are looking for a director, DoP / cinematographer, videographer / camera operator, stills photographer, or any other film crew for your shoot in Sydney, Australia.

If you are an exceptionally talented Sydney based director, DoP / cinematographer, videographer / camera operator, or stills photographer, introduce yourself here.

Talent is union and non-union. Talent buyouts are negotiable since the Offshore Agreement expired. For more information about the talent union please visit MEAA.

English is the official language but given Australia’s culturally diverse population, hundreds of other languages are also spoken.

Australia boasts a very large and experienced pool of multicultural talent. The majority of Australians are of European decent. The country’s large population of Asian actors and models makes it a popular destination for visiting productions from Japan, Korea, China and India. Australia also has talent minorities of Pacific Islander and African descent. Heading outside of the cities, filmmakers and photographers can find a wealth of aboriginal cultures.

Australia also offers unique animals for filming including kangaroos, crocodiles, koalas, wombats, emus, and a wide variety of birds, insects, and reptiles.

Fringes. Crew are either Company or Pay As You Go (PAYG). If the crew member is Company then they take care of their own superannuation and in some cases, workers compensation. Some crew members with Australian Business Numbers require workers compensation to be paid for them. If crew is PAYG then we must pay an additional 9% superannuation and 3% workers compensation. There is a 6% payroll tax.

Premiums. Australia has an eight hour shooting day, time and a half for the next two hours and double time after that. Shooting after 8:00pm is a 25% loading. Sunday is a 100% loading. The industry is currently campaigning for a 10 hour day.

New South Wales Film Equipment

Equipment. Australia offers both Panavision and Arri equipment as well as many boutique equipment companies. There is a great depth of standard and more specialised camera gear including digital cameras (Alexa, RED, Sony, Canon), film cameras (16mm and 35mm), high speed cameras (Phantom), Three-axis stabilized heads (Scorpio, Libra), Motion Control, and much more.

Unlike the US system most gear is provided by individual crew. Grip and lighting trucks are privately owned by crew who accompany them to set. Anything required in addition to this is outsourced. Crew charge a rate for the truck and then individually for lights and gripping gear, burn time and labour rates. Australia offers a great variety of standard and specialised grip and lighting gear including cranes (Technocrane, Phoenix, Giraffe), 3D camera rigs, car rigs, tracking vehicles, sea rigs, helicopter mounts, and underwater housing. Companies of note include Panavision, Red Apple, Brownie Grips, and Big Toys.

For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Australia is an ATA carnet country.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production

Art department and set construction. New South Wales has very experienced art department and set construction crews.

Studios. Facilities are extensive and state of the art. Both major international studios and smaller boutique studios are present. Purpose built studios with extensive facilities such as Disney Studios in Sydney and Byron Studios in Byron Bay. Films shot in Disney Studios include Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), The Invisible Man (2020), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Unbroken (2014), The Great Gatsby (2013), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), Moulin Rouge (2001), and The Matrix (1999).

Post Production. New South Wales offers a variety of high standard post facilities including VFX, animation, editing, and film labs.

Visas & Work Permits

Short stay visa for visits under three months or business visas (meetings) are the most expedient way of gaining entry to Australia. Please note that you cannot attend meetings through the Tourist stream and may be turned around at the airport if there is suspicion in relation to your motives whilst in Australia. In addition, the business holiday visa can only be to attend meetings, sign contracts or undertake (limited) training. Any activity that would normally attract remuneration would need a work visa.

Productions that intend to stay longer than 3 months require Entertainment Visas, unless the production is not being shown in Australia, then a subclass 400 visa will be required.

For international crew to enter into Australia for work purposes, they must be covered by a subclass 408, Entertainment Visa. The local service company sponsors each visitor. For a 408 application the service company also needs to get approval from MEAA, the local Entertainment Union. To process the sponsorship visas, MEAA requires to see the deal memos between the overseas production company and each crew personnel. A similar thing has to be done with the cast’s deal memos as well.

Western passport holders travelling as tourists can an obtain an Electronic Travel Authority prior to departure. Passport holders of EU nations can enter under the E-visa program. Both allow stays of up to 90 days. Given recent changes to Australian immigration policy we would only advise travelling to Australia as a tourist if you intend to only undertake genuine tourist visa activities. Anyone found working on the wrong visa will be deported from Australia and face an immediate three-year ban from applying for temporary Australian visas.

Our local service producer / fixer can assist with organising Australian visas, including turning around last-minute applications.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. Major roads are up to international standards. Some outback roads require 4WD transport. Australia is serviced by most major international carriers and several domestic airlines.

Accommodation. See here for recommended film friendly hotels in Sydney.

Final Notes

Safety. New South Wales is a very safe and reliable filming centre. Strict work place procedures also ensure safety on set. See here for up to date travel advice.

Down Time. Hit the beach.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in New South Wales, please see below:

Hire New South Wales Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in New South Wales, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in New South Wales, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.