I’m going to set the scene: your Sunshine Coast wedding venue is booked and your photographer is locked in. You and your loved one are feeling that you want some pretty unique, breathtaking images on the day; something… off the beaten track… you might say. But where to start to search?? We’ve asked Jekka from Naturally Jek Photography to highlight some of her top hidden spots for wedding photos in “Off the Beaten Track: Secret Sunshine Coast Spots For Love Shoots”… 

As a photographer whose passion is to capture people off the beaten track, I want to share some of my reasons why with you. And to really show you how amazing these photos can be, I’ve included some of my favourite locations on the Sunshine Coast to do just this, with photographic evidence, of course!

1. You can create an intentional experience that reflects who you are as a couple rather than feeling the obligation to perform traditions on your wedding day that might not suit you.

2. By going off the beaten track, you can end up having your wedding day memories captured in some of the most beautiful parts of the country without crowds in the background.

3. When you venture off the beaten track, you find a sense of peace and calm away from the hustle and bustle of this world and start your marriage together being completely present. There is nothing better than nature.

Noosa National Park Cliff Top

There is not much that beats the beauty of Noosa National Park. From salty waves, sandy beaches, cliff faces, and rugged oceanic terrain, Noosa National Park has it all. With several distinct locations between 1-4km into the park, you have a world of breathtaking opportunities to be captured off the beaten track. Aside from a few hikers moving past and gliding wedge-tail eagles, you are in the complete privacy of the great outdoors. Your memories and photos will be second to none, knowing that you have done something so rare and beautiful for yourself.

Abandoned Railway Tunnel

This tunnel is nothing like you have ever seen as an “off the beaten track” option for your wedding day. It is an overgrown railway tunnel that is no longer in use. The tunnel is an 800-meter walk from the closest car park, providing you with the privacy you’d desire for an overgrown, abandoned feature to be wedded against. The darkness of the tunnel and the symmetry of the shape coupled with an artistic floral arbor will guarantee that you have a story to remember and breathtaking photos to look back on.

Mount Ninderry 

Mount Ninderry (arguably along with Mt Ngungun) is the most versatile elopement hike on the Sunshine Coast. Unlike the popular spot at Ngungun (one of the Glass House Mountains), it is less known and offers many features on the way up and at the summit. It is a comfortable 3.4km which means most family and friends you would want to bring along can make the climb if you leave enough time. Unlike most of the Sunshine Coast which is a National Park, you can bring your fur babies along to Mount Ninderry too. The diversity of rock faces, fern backdrops, seascape lookouts, and sunset lookouts which is rare to find on the East Coast of Australia can all be found on this incredible climb.

Paddle Boarding on Lake Cootharaba

A wedding should always be a reflection of who you are and thinking of your favourite things in the world to incorporate into your wedding day. In the consultation with all my couples, I chat about their interests and how they imagined their favourite day going. Possibilities are endless if you allow yourself to dream, including paddle boarding on a lake, hot air ballooning through the Noosa Hinterland, dirt biking and hiking. Having your wedding off the beaten track allows the child in you to shine, have a blast and make memories for a lifetime. Plus lots of opportunities to recreate these memories on anniversaries.

Emu Mountain

Emu Mountain is such a gem as it is only a 1.1km return from the summit to the car park but because of its amazing rock features, you’d think you are on top of the world. The whole mountain has so many opportunities to get married and is right next to popular Coolum. A perfect spot for either just your wedding party photos or even ceremony and photos before heading to a popular Sunshine Coast restaurant or venue. You get both the breathtaking sunset in all its glory and ocean views from most parts of the mountain.

About Naturally Jek Photography: I am blessed to have truly found the one thing that energises me with excitement and passion. This means I am more to you than a photographer. I am a friend, a problem solver, and a sounding board. I am passionately committed to creating bespoke and breathtaking images and do what I can to guarantee this. I’m about capturing you for who you really are and what your relationship is. To tell your story because after all is said and done, what really matters is that you come out of it loving each other a little more. I am a lover of creativity, a light seeker, and an experience maker. It’s about getting you to feel comfortable enough so that just for a moment a little piece of your soul shines through. THE REAL YOU.