A Day at Healesville Sanctuary: Photo Walk with the Tamron 28-200mm lens
Healesville Sanctuary is one of my favourite spots to get up close with Australian wildlife—without trekking through the outback! It’s also the perfect place to put the Tamron 28-200mm lens to the test. This lens is lightweight, super versatile, and makes switching between close-ups and wider environmental shots a breeze.
Armed with my camera and a good dose of patience, I set off to photograph some of Australia’s most iconic (and downright adorable) creatures.
Koalas: The Masters of Doing Absolutely Nothing
Koalas are like that one friend who always cancels plans to stay in bed—except they do it for 18-22 hours a day. These sleepy little marsupials don’t have the most exciting routines, but when they do decide to move, it’s worth the wait.
📸 Photography Tips:
The 200mm zoom lets you get tight shots without climbing the tree (which is frowned upon, apparently).
Use a wide aperture (f/5.6-f/6.3) to blur the background and make the koala pop.
Be patient—eventually, they will blink or change positions, and that’s your moment!
Kangaroos: Australia’s Bouncy Gym Rats
Kangaroos are basically built like athletes—strong legs, a six-pack (under the fur), and a diet that’s probably healthier than mine. The red kangaroo can jump up to 3 meters high and 9 meters in a single bound—which is impressive until they decide to just lie down and sunbathe instead.
📸 Photography Tips:
Use a shutter speed of at least 1/1000s if you’re capturing a hopping ‘roo.
Go wide for environmental shots, or zoom in at 200mm for expressive close-ups.
Try low angles to emphasize their height and power—just don’t get too close, or you might get a friendly kick.
Echidnas: Nature’s Quirky Little Hedgehog Impersonators
Echidnas are proof that nature has a sense of humour. They’re one of only two mammals in the world that lay eggs (the other is the platypus), and their tongues move faster than a snake’s—up to 100 times per minute when slurping up ants.
📸 Photography Tips:
Use continuous autofocus (AF-C) because these little guys don’t stay still for long.
Get low to the ground for an eye-level perspective (if you can).
Zoom in on their spiky quills with a narrow aperture (f/8-f/11) to capture all that crazy texture.
Dingoes: The OG Aussie Dogs
Dingoes look like cuddly pups, but don’t be fooled—these guys are skilled hunters that can turn a doorknob (seriously). Unlike domestic dogs, they don’t bark much, but they do have an eerie howl that sounds straight out of a horror movie.
📸 Photography Tips:
Aim for eye contact—dingoes have piercing eyes that make for powerful portraits.
The 28-200mm range means you can capture both tight headshots and full-body action shots.
Overcast days help soften the shadows on their golden fur, so take advantage of diffused lighting.
Birds: The True Show-Offs of the Sanctuary
From flamboyant parrots to cheeky lorikeets, the birds at Healesville love an audience. Fun fact: Some Australian parrots can imitate human speech, so don’t be surprised if one says "G'day" before you do!
📸 Photography Tips:
The long zoom (150-200mm) helps frame birds neatly on a branch without spooking them.
Focus on sharp eyes and feather details—birds are all about the textures!
Try to capture a moment of interaction, like a parrot tilting its head or a kookaburra mid-laugh.
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
After a full day at Healesville, I can confidently say the Tamron 28-200mm handled everything like a champ. It’s an ideal lens for zoo photography—letting you shoot wide when needed, but also zoom in for gorgeous close-ups without lugging around a heavy telephoto lens.
If your camera has animal tracking, set that to animal/bird and put your focus on AFC (Continuous)., Remember to keep you shutter speed twice your focal length, ie 200mm shutter 1/400secs..
Healesville Sanctuary is a must-visit for any wildlife photography enthusiast, and if you bring the right lens (and a good dose of patience), you’ll walk away with some fantastic shots. Now, if only I could nap like a koala after a long day of shooting…
