Spectacular Winning Images from the 2025 Nature Conservancy Oceania Photo Contest

Grand Prize Winner: “Tauhi” by Miesa Grobbelaar, Australia

The 2025 Nature Conservancy Oceania Photo Contest just dropped its winners, and wow—they’re stunning.

Over 3,500 shots came in from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, which is almost double last year’s entries. Every photo feels like a love note to Oceania’s wild beauty and deep cultural roots. The big winner was Miesa Grobbelaar from Australia with “Tauhi,” a moving shot taken while rescuing a humpback whale tangled in a chain. That quiet moment between whale and human sums it up perfectly—this contest is all about respect, awe, and connection with nature.

More: Nature Conservancy Oceania Photo Contest, Instagram

People & Nature – 2nd Place: “Return to the Wild” by Tony Stoddard, New Zealand

People & Nature – 3rd Place: “School Boy” by Tiana Reimann, Papua New Guinea

Plants & Fungi – 1st Place: “Pluteus’ Fireflies” by Nic Wooding, New Zealand

Plants & Fungi – 2nd Place: “Galactic Ghost” by Benjamin Alldridge, Australia

Plants & Fungi – 3rd Place: “Witch’s Hat” by Chin Kang Chia, New Zealand

Climate – 1st Place: “The Collapse of Green” by Cheng Kang, Australia

Climate – 2nd Place: “New Planet” by Chi Chan, Australia

Climate – 3rd Place: “Bleached” by Brooke Pyke, Australia

Lands – 1st Place: “Winjana Gorge” by Scott Portelli, Australia

Lands – 2nd Place: “Aurora Australis” by Dylan Giannakopoulos, Australia

Lands – 3rd Place: “Nightfall” by Olivia Wenztell, New Zealand

Water – 1st Place: “Rocket” by Scott Portelli, Australia

Water – 2nd Place: “Icepop” by Benjamin Alldridge, Australia

Water – 3rd Place: “Peacock Mantis and Eggs” by Peter McGee, Australia

Wildlife – 1st Place: “I’m Watching You” by Donald Chin, Australia

Wildlife – 2nd Place: “Double Breach” by Danielle Smith, Australia

Wildlife – 3rd Place: “Emergence” by Christine King, Australia