Nick Robinson travels to film remote beauty, the Kimberley is his No.1
The director/cinematographer of The Kimberley doco series, Nick Robinson always seeks out adventure.
I travel to... Film stories in the wildest places I can find. My work allows me to travel to extremely remote and beautiful places, from deserts to remote coral reefs, usually with a very basic camping set-up. We save all our weight and space allowance for a couple of hundred kilos of camera equipment. I love this job because every film is a new expedition full of physical and creative challenges. Telling stories about the natural world has given me a wonderful reason to spend time connecting with the wild things.
Nick Robinson behind the camera.
We started researching what to film for The Kimberley by listening – to Elders, scientists, rangers, local people we met, anyone with a deep knowledge of the place really. The Kimberley is layered. You can't just rock up with cameras and hope for magic, you have to earn it. We spent months doing our research, looking at the seasons, migrations, weather patterns, the logistical challenges and, most importantly, building relationships with the people of the region.
Of all Australian destinations, my favourite is the Kimberley. The wild landscapes, the animals are pretty incredible, but ultimately it's the First Nations people and their spiritual connection to the natural world that creates the magic for me.
I'd love to say I switch off on holidays, but... The truth is I'm always looking for adventure. Even on a lazy trip, I'll spot a rock formation or a river bend and start dreaming up ways to capture the beauty and magic of the place. I need a mission even on holidays, but after a day of exploring, I love the feeling of sitting quietly by a fire surrounded by wild things, a river bend or a mountain top. Anywhere I can sleep under the stars is my happy place.
I plan the trip myself... Half the fun is poring over the maps, calling locals, figuring out how far off the beaten track we can get, and coming up with novel strategies to film the animals we're searching for.
Nick Robinson with the Robinson 44 used to film an aerial sequence at Mornington Sanctuary.
My tips for aspiring adventurers are... Travel light, be kind, let curiosity be your guide, never let your adventure goals outweigh the risks.
Inside my carry-on you'll always find... A camera, a whole lot of batteries, and a great nonfiction book. I'll also pack a spot tracker or other personal locator beacon; it could save you or someone else.
I pack my suitcase... Like a camera bag. My clothes are only in there to keep the camera safe.
Nick Robinson with camera operator Paul Bell in The Kimberley.
My favourite thing about travelling by expedition ship is... Seeing places no one else does. Watching landscapes and animals drift past and having the time to take it all in. Expedition ships offer an incredible sense of adventure without all the effort and discomfort.
My tip for seasickness is... Keep your eyes on the horizon. If that doesn't work go with the sick, you'll feel better almost instantly. And don't have your eye in a camera while bouncing up and down, it's the quickest way to make yourself sick.
When travelling long distances by car I always prepare by... Fuelling up and stocking the Esky. I have a great playlist, and always bring a paper map. Phones go flat, maps don't.
Nick Robinson preparing to film on the Martuwarra/ Fitzroy River.
Camping or luxury hotel? Camping – every time. Give me a swag under the stars over a mini bar any day.
I always ask locals for advice because... They know things that Google doesn't, including the best tracks, the local traps, where to find the wild things and where to get a cold beer in the middle of nowhere.
I always get travel insurance because... When you're filming in the middle of nowhere, it's not optional, it's a survival plan.
My tip for keeping valuables safe is... Keep them in something that looks like it's not worth stealing. A battered Esky works better than a shiny case.
A frilled-neck lizard in the Kimberley. Picture: Nick Robinson
I save money when travelling by... Camping, cooking, and fixing things instead of replacing them.
The destination I think is best bang for buck is... The Nullarbor, South Australia. It has world-class wilderness, incredible free camping, fishing, and beaches to yourself. There are so many mini adventures to be had in the region.
The travel app I swear by is... In Australia, I use ExplorOz Traveller with Offline Maps. They have most of the small bush tracks marked on the map. It's all you need for basic navigation, beyond a compass and a map.
The Kimberley is available on ABC iview.
Originally published as Nick Robinson travels to film remote beauty, the Kimberley is his No.1
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Nick Robinson travels to film remote beauty, the Kimberley is his No.1
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. The director/cinematographer of The Kimberley doco series, Nick Robinson always seeks out adventure. I travel to... Film stories in the wildest places I can find. My work allows me to travel to extremely remote and beautiful places, from deserts to remote coral reefs, usually with a very basic camping set-up. We save all our weight and space allowance for a couple of hundred kilos of camera equipment. I love this job because every film is a new expedition full of physical and creative challenges. Telling stories about the natural world has given me a wonderful reason to spend time connecting with the wild things. Nick Robinson behind the camera. We started researching what to film for The Kimberley by listening – to Elders, scientists, rangers, local people we met, anyone with a deep knowledge of the place really. The Kimberley is layered. You can't just rock up with cameras and hope for magic, you have to earn it. We spent months doing our research, looking at the seasons, migrations, weather patterns, the logistical challenges and, most importantly, building relationships with the people of the region. Of all Australian destinations, my favourite is the Kimberley. The wild landscapes, the animals are pretty incredible, but ultimately it's the First Nations people and their spiritual connection to the natural world that creates the magic for me. I'd love to say I switch off on holidays, but... The truth is I'm always looking for adventure. Even on a lazy trip, I'll spot a rock formation or a river bend and start dreaming up ways to capture the beauty and magic of the place. I need a mission even on holidays, but after a day of exploring, I love the feeling of sitting quietly by a fire surrounded by wild things, a river bend or a mountain top. Anywhere I can sleep under the stars is my happy place. I plan the trip myself... Half the fun is poring over the maps, calling locals, figuring out how far off the beaten track we can get, and coming up with novel strategies to film the animals we're searching for. Nick Robinson with the Robinson 44 used to film an aerial sequence at Mornington Sanctuary. My tips for aspiring adventurers are... Travel light, be kind, let curiosity be your guide, never let your adventure goals outweigh the risks. Inside my carry-on you'll always find... A camera, a whole lot of batteries, and a great nonfiction book. I'll also pack a spot tracker or other personal locator beacon; it could save you or someone else. I pack my suitcase... Like a camera bag. My clothes are only in there to keep the camera safe. Nick Robinson with camera operator Paul Bell in The Kimberley. My favourite thing about travelling by expedition ship is... Seeing places no one else does. Watching landscapes and animals drift past and having the time to take it all in. Expedition ships offer an incredible sense of adventure without all the effort and discomfort. My tip for seasickness is... Keep your eyes on the horizon. If that doesn't work go with the sick, you'll feel better almost instantly. And don't have your eye in a camera while bouncing up and down, it's the quickest way to make yourself sick. When travelling long distances by car I always prepare by... Fuelling up and stocking the Esky. I have a great playlist, and always bring a paper map. Phones go flat, maps don't. Nick Robinson preparing to film on the Martuwarra/ Fitzroy River. Camping or luxury hotel? Camping – every time. Give me a swag under the stars over a mini bar any day. I always ask locals for advice because... They know things that Google doesn't, including the best tracks, the local traps, where to find the wild things and where to get a cold beer in the middle of nowhere. I always get travel insurance because... When you're filming in the middle of nowhere, it's not optional, it's a survival plan. My tip for keeping valuables safe is... Keep them in something that looks like it's not worth stealing. A battered Esky works better than a shiny case. A frilled-neck lizard in the Kimberley. Picture: Nick Robinson I save money when travelling by... Camping, cooking, and fixing things instead of replacing them. The destination I think is best bang for buck is... The Nullarbor, South Australia. It has world-class wilderness, incredible free camping, fishing, and beaches to yourself. There are so many mini adventures to be had in the region. The travel app I swear by is... In Australia, I use ExplorOz Traveller with Offline Maps. They have most of the small bush tracks marked on the map. It's all you need for basic navigation, beyond a compass and a map. The Kimberley is available on ABC iview. Originally published as Nick Robinson travels to film remote beauty, the Kimberley is his No.1
