LOCATIONS
Australia is a playground for storytellers. We’ve got sun-drenched beaches that look too stunning to be real, expansive deserts and red rock formations, lush tropical forests, endless beaches and modern cities brimming with character–all within one country. One moment you could be capturing a bustling downtown scene, and later be filming against a backdrop of rolling vineyards or a rugged outback sunset. The variety here is astounding, offering you every kind of location you could dream of for your story.
With THE SWEETSHOP by your side, you’re not just discovering these places – you’re unlocking the stories within them. We’ve spent decades scouting hidden gems and crafting scenes that make jaws drop. Let us show you the Australia we know and love.
CITIES
Sydney, Australia’s largest city seamlessly combines a stunning harbour-side skyline (hello, Opera House and Harbour Bridge), historic sandstone architecture, and vibrant, diverse neighbourhoods. As one of the main hubs of Australia’s screen industry, Sydney is home to some of the best crews in the game and world-class facilities – including Fox Studios Australia (Disney Studios) – offering everything you need to kick off your production. It’s no wonder The Matrix, Mission Impossible 2, The Fall Guy, The Wolverine, and The Great Gatsby all turned Sydney’s landmarks into iconic cinema moments.
Melbourne pairs modern skyscrapers with charming laneways and Victorian-era landmarks, giving productions a versatile urban backdrop with an artistic twist. This cultural capital buzzes with creative energy and has its own top-tier studio complex (Docklands Studios Melbourne), plus a deep talent pool of cast and crew. Melbourne’s streets have doubled for cities like New York and London in various productions, and the city’s coffee-fueled creative scene ensures you’ll be working in one of the most vibrant and film-friendly atmospheres around.
Queensland’s Gold Coast is a film production paradise. It boasts golden surf beaches, nearby subtropical rainforests, and the sprawling Village Roadshow Studios – home to some of the biggest sound stages and water tanks in the Southern Hemisphere. Major Hollywood blockbusters have chosen the Gold Coast for its combination of reliable sunshine and infrastructure; Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales filmed its spectacular ship scenes in these waters, and Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok brought alien worlds to life on the Coast’s stages. If you need big studio capabilities with tropical vibes, the Gold Coast has you covered.
Don’t overlook Adelaide–this boutique hub is punching above its weight. South Australia’s capital offers a mix of charming city locations (think elegant colonial buildings and trendy warehouse districts) and easy access to dramatic outback vistas just a few hours’ drive away. Adelaide Studios provides high-quality sound stages and production facilities, and the local crews are top-notch. Productions like Mortal Kombat (2021) took advantage of Adelaide’s cutting-edge facilities and the otherworldly landscapes of South Australia’s outback to create something truly unique. Adelaide is a growing production centre that delivers creativity and value in equal measure.
COASTLINES & BEACHES
Australia’s coastlines are the stuff of legend. From the iconic curve of Sydney's Bondi Beach with its golden sands and crashing waves, to the wild, windswept beauty of Victoria's Great Ocean Road’s cliffs and sea stacks, our shores offer an incredible range of looks.
Tropical paradise on your wish list? The Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, with powder-white sands and turquoise waters (featured in Pirates of the Caribbean), can double as a dreamlike fantasy island.
Need rugged drama? Western Australia’s rocky coastlines and South Australia’s remote beaches provide cinematic isolation and epic scale. Whether it’s a serene sunrise over calm waters or a stormy sea against jagged rocks, Australia’s beaches and coastlines deliver picture-perfect scenery that’s ready for its close-up.
DESERTS & OUTBACK
Vast, remote, and undeniably cinematic, Australia’s deserts and outback regions offer a sense of epic scale and adventure you won’t find anywhere else.
The red dunes of the Simpson Desert and the cracked salt flats of Lake Eyre create an almost otherworldly backdrop—ideal for post-apocalyptic thrillers or soulful journeys. The towering silhouette of Uluru (Ayers Rock) at dusk is an image that stays with you, radiating a powerful spiritual presence.
Our outback has played a starring role in classics like Mad Max, which harnessed the raw, untamed expanses to define its gritty aesthetic. From the rugged ranges of the Kimberley in Western Australia to the wide-open plains of the outback in the Northern Territory, if you’re chasing epic scale and dramatic vistas, you’ve come to the right place.
With The Sweetshop’s connections and expertise, these breathtaking, remote locations are more accessible to your production than you might think—let’s make it happen.
RAINFORESTS & BUSHLAND
Lush, green, and teeming with life, Australia’s rainforests feel like stepping into a lost world. Far north Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest — the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth — envelops you in dense jungle, complete with prehistoric ferns, cascading waterfalls, and misty moss-covered valleys that look straight out of Jurassic Park (minus the actual dinosaurs!).
Meanwhile, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales and the ancient forests of Tasmania, temperate rainforests offer ethereal scenes with filtered golden light and drifting fog that bring a magical realism to the screen.
And then there’s the bush. Our native bushland, with its iconic eucalyptus (gum) trees, golden wattle, and rugged scrub, provides an authentic Aussie character to any story. The Australian bush can be enchanting and peaceful or eerie and mysterious as seen in films like Picnic at Hanging Rock, which captured the haunting beauty of our wilderness.
From friendly koalas dozing in tree forks to the distant laugh of kookaburras at dusk, the rainforest and bush settings here add rich texture and atmosphere to your project that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
COUNTRYSIDE & RURAL LIFE
Rolling hills, patchwork fields, and postcard-perfect country towns – Australia’s countryside offers an authentic slice of rural life that can easily stand in for just about anywhere.
In the lush Hunter Valley and Yarra Valley, vineyards stretch to the horizon, providing romantic, orderly backdrops (and perhaps a post-shoot wine tasting on the side). Quaint farmsteads and homesteads dot the landscape of New South Wales and Victoria, exuding a timeless, rustic charm.
Need proof of our countryside’s storybook appeal? The classic family film Babe was filmed on an Australian farm, the setting so idyllic it became a character of its own.
For something more rugged and remote, head to the vast cattle stations of the Australian outback or the wheat fields of South Australia. Those wide-open spaces and big skies delivered all the isolation and drama needed for films like The Proposition and Australia.
Whether you’re after bucolic tranquillity, old-fashioned country roads, or an epic Wild West vibe, Australia’s rural landscapes offer warmth, authenticity, and a touch of adventure to elevate any story.
