From the moment we stepped off the ferry into sunshine and blue skies, Maria Island welcomed us with calm winter conditions that set the tone for a truly enriching few days.

Our small group of women photographers made ourselves at home in Bernacchi House – a warm, cosy base kindly made available to us by our wonderful experience partner, Maria Island Walk. With wood fires, private rooms and delicious meals thoughtfully prepared for us by our attentive and accommodating host Meisha, we were very well looked after in every way.

After settling in on day one, we eased into the rhythm of the retreat with a relaxed briefing and a hearty lunch. Our first tutorial, Camera Confidence, gave everyone a gentle introduction to key techniques and settings, tailored to their own gear. The afternoon brought us into the field – starting at the Oast House ruins and continuing to the Painted Cliffs for our first golden hour shoot. Though access to the cliffs was limited by tide, we sought out new and different perspectives to shoot before making our way to Mrs Hunt’s cottage where the setting sun filtered through the gaps between increasing cloud cover.

Day two began with a pre-dawn walk to Miller’s Cottage for our sunrise shoot. The light was soft and golden and we were treated to an unexpected moment of magic – two Forester Kangaroos sparring in the distance, putting on quite a show. Throughout the day, we balanced time in the field with image review sessions in the cosy warmth of the house. These moments were spent deepening our understanding of camera settings, creative choices and refining the skills we’d been building since day one. Wildlife encounters were plentiful – wombats, wallabies, pademelons, a curious Brown Bandicoot and a lot of Flame Robins flitting about. We even had a Wedge-tailed Eagle soar nearby.

Our tutorial sessions at various times sparked insightful discussion, with time to talk through images and explore a range of photography topics in more depth.

In the late afternoon, we headed to the shoreline for a guided session on long exposure techniques to capture motion in the water. Back at Bernacchi House, another nourishing meal awaited – followed by relaxed fireside reflections and chats about the day’s highlights and ongoing learning.

On our final day, another chance to venture out for sunrise once again – with learnings of earlier days providing greater confidence and clarity.

We ventured back to the house for coffee before heading outdoors for another photo walk – this time through Darlington’s historic precinct. Surrounded by the Penitentiary, Mess Hall and ‘Coffee Palace’, we found ourselves in the right place at the right time to witness a wombat mum with a joey in her pouch. After a bit of patient watching, the joey poked their tiny nose out for a curious peek at the world. A heartwarming moment and definitely a photographic highlight.

With our Escape coming to a close, we enjoyed a delicious brunch followed by a final

photo walk wandering independently for an opportunity to capture a few final frames before leaving the island. After this, we all came together again for the afternoon ferry ride back to Triabunna.

It was a great few days of learning, connection and meaningful creative growth – or as one participant beautifully summed it up, “this experience not only improved my photography skills – it enriched my soul.”