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