Early Morning Photography Session Southport, Gold Coast. Australia

Waking up early and watching the sunrise is one of the most grounding and enjoyable ways to start the day. Sure, you’ve got to get up while it’s still dark and sacrifice a sleep-in, but it’s definitely worth the early start. It’s a chance to reconnect with yourself and the world around you and see something naturally beautiful. If you’re a budding photographer, it’s also a great time to practice your skills.

Aren't we so lucky to live at the Brisbane?!  This beautiful city of ours is such an awesome location half-way between the Sunshine and Gold Coast with great backdrops for landscape photography. Whether you’re into nature, greenery, urban settings or beaches, there’s a beautiful location that’s bound to compliment your branding. After rain and showers for the last couple of days, I risked the 3am drive down the M1 to capture sunrise at The Spit, Southport.

The Spit is hands down one of my favourite Gold Coast beaches to shoot at.  Starting the day with your toes in the sand is pretty much ideal. Maritime landmark The Southport Spit isn’t just a favourite for local fishermen throwing in a line. There’s beautiful beach paths with greenery, there’s a rock wall, jetty, dunes with long grass and of course the beautiful ocean. But make your way to the permanent sand spit that separates Southport Broadwater from the Pacific Ocean at sunrise, and you’ll see one of the district’s best vistas. Budding photographers can’t afford to forget their camera; the jetty and its population of local fishing fans make excellent subject matter.

I then quickly headed further down to Main Beach which is the most photogenic stretch of sand in the 57 kilometers of coastline running along the city of Gold Coast, though it’s much more than a pretty postcard. The beach itself contains many hidden delights and overlooked sights dotted up and down the Spit, such as the old bathing pavilion, Pavilion 34 which has been refitted as a casual beach cafe.

 

I then headed high on the hill at Currumbin, the type of impossible incline that induces lactic acid in even the most experienced athletes. At this hour, frilled lizards frolic up here, while down below in Currumbin Alley, surfers and paddlers squeeze for the early sun’s rays. I headed down to Currumbin’s Elephant Rock, home to the iconic annual Anzac Day dawn service and climbed the steep steps to capture a few shots

If you own a dog, you’ll know the places you can go and things you can do are limited, especially without your best friend mortally embarrassing you by spontaneously dropping one at the worst possible moment. If you don’t own a dog, there’s a good chance you wish you did, and want to go somewhere you can pretend you own a dog, without the hassle of knowing you’re literally responsible for an animal’s excrement.

So, for dog-owners and dog-lusters, searching for a place to take your pooch for a fab day out or, alternatively, annoy the crap out of dog owners by stopping every time you see a cute doggy and asking for a picture… This one’s for you. We’ve rounded up our best dog-friendly spots on the Gold Coast and Brisbane, so you’ll know where to head for a coffee or swim with your four-legged pal.

Brekkie @ Brown Dog Cafe, Wooloongabba

One of our favourite Cafes to visit would be Brown Dog Café. With a sunny corner outlook and simple facade, Brown Dog Cafe is an unassuming, hole-in-the-wall style cafe. Popular with cyclists, dog walkers and nonchalant wanderers, the cafe offers a footpath dining area and for pooches and their walkers to relax. Red-hued high-school lockers, pop art and colourful stools add a splash of colour to the interior, while the glowing cake cabinet is full of fresh takeaway options for breakfast and lunch  on the run. On that note, one of the standout dishes happens to be the Dog breakfast – scrambled eggs, haloumi, avocado, roma tomato and spinach.

Todd & Pup

Moorooka may be the go-to suburb to buy a second-hand car, but it’s also becoming the place to find quality brunches thanks to a burgeoning café scene in the winding streets behind the “magic mile”. One such café to have popped up is Todd & Pup. As the cute name suggests, dogs are welcome here. So are Todds. For those of us on the other side of town who aren’t in the market for a new SUV, is it worth the drive to this café?