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Couple walking in North Head Sanctuary with views of Sydney Harbour in the background.

Filming and photography

From former defence sites and scenic coastal parklands through to historic dockyards and convict-era landmarks, our protected places on Sydney Harbour represent an opportunity for filming and photography against an iconic backdrop.

The Harbour Trust offers low-impact and student filming and photography permits to shoot on Harbour Trust land. Our lands are also available for wedding photography, media shoots, and medium to high impact filming and photography, including feature films, TV series, commercial and fashion shoots.

For information on wedding photo shoots, see: Wedding venues. To apply for a permit with respect to other filming and photography activities, continue reading.

How to apply for a permit

To apply for a permit or license for a filming or photography activity, please consult the Venue Use Guidelines (available below) and complete the relevant application or enquiry form.

The Venue Use Guidelines outlines the criteria for obtaining a permit and helps applicants determine whether their proposed activity will be deemed a low, medium, or high impact undertaking. This resource also provides guidance on every step of the application process – from submitting a venue hire enquiry through to the approval and delivery of an event or activation.

Remotely piloted aircrafts (drones)

Use of remotely piloted aircrafts – otherwise known as drones – on Harbour Trust land for recreational purposes is not permitted. An application for the use of a drone must be in conjunction with a permit or licence for a filming or photography activity, or in conjunction with a licence or permit for an event or commercial activity. Please mention the requirement of the use of a drone at the time of your application and further details will be forwarded. For enquiries regarding drones, email planning@harbourtrust.gov.au.

Further information

[Note: Receipt of an application by the Harbour Trust does not constitute a confirmed booking. A booking will not be confirmed in the Harbour Trust calendar until the application has been fully assessed and approval granted.]

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IMPACT CATEGORY

TYPE FORMS

ADDITIONAL
(if applicable) 

AGREEMENT TYPE
Low impact
  • Wedding ceremony
  • Venue hire
  • Filming and photography
Permit
Medium impact
  • Venue hire
  • Filming

 

Standard Licence Agreement
 High impact/complex
  • Venue hire
  • Filming
Custom Licence Agreement
Require further assistance?
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us – we’re here to help. Submit your question via our enquiry form.
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Helpful links

Interested in a photo or video shoot at our places on Sydney Harbour? Here are some useful resources.