Sugarloaf Rock

Sugar Loaf rock is a granite island just of the coast in the Indian Ocean, and separated by a thin and treacherous channel of water. The granite outcrop is approximately connical in shape and rises steeply from the rough waters around it. High up on the shore there is a lookout from which great views of rock can be obtained. This lookout can be easily accessed from the nearby car park and is a safe location for day and night photography. However, some of the best views are down closer to the shoreline. There are only rough trails leading to the shore, and then the coastline is filled with large rocks which can be slippery and subject to waves. Caution must be exercised as there have been occassional drowings in this location. On the shore great compositions can be obtained of the rocky shore and waves with Sugar Loaf rock standing tall surrounded by the narrow channel of furious water. Granite rocks dominate the area surrounding Sugar Loaf rocks, and therefore there is many choices of foreground to choose from with Sugar Loaf as the backdrop. However, standing off the western coast at night the Milkyway must be on the western horizon for nightscapes (if one wants to capture the core). Views to the south and north are also possible, but I couldn't find any good combinations of land and sky that was worth deviating from shooting west.

During the day this spot is heavily frequented by tourists although landscape images are still easily obtainable without too much interference by happy snappers. Night time the place is deserted - but it is still a popular spot for the occassional night photographer (there is plenty of room for all).