Wild About Shellharbour 2026
We are excited to announce that the Wild About Shellharbour Nature Photography Competition has returned for 2026. Entries open on Monday 23 March for National Eucalypt Day and will close on Monday 11 May at 11.59pm.
Wild About Shellharbour is a chance for Shellharbour City Council residents to celebrate their local environment. This year, we invite you to enter photos taken in the Shellharbour region that showcase our theme Tree Tales.
Tree Tales celebrates the stories held by the trees around us. From shady backyard favourites to towering eucalypts in our bushland, every tree plays a part in caring for our climate, our wildlife and our neighbourhoods. We invite you to capture a tree you value and tell us what it means to you.
Categories
There are two main categories and a People's Choice award.
Prizes for 18 years and over
- First prize is a $200 Visa gift card and a $100 voucher for Shellharbour City Council Nursery.
- Second prize is a $100 Visa gift card and a $50 voucher for the Shellharbour City Council Nursery.
Prizes for under 18 years
- First prize is a $200 Visa gift card and a $100 voucher for Shellharbour City Council Nursery.
- Second prize is a $100 Visa gift card and a $50 voucher for the Shellharbour City Council Nursery.
People's Choice prize
- A People’s Choice winner will be awarded by public vote for both age categories. Each winner will receive a $50 voucher for the Shellharbour City Council Nursery.
- One randomly selected public voter for the People's Choice prize will also receive a $50 voucher for the Shellharbour City Council Nursery.
Entries must be completed by Monday 11 May at 11.59pm. Please submit your photo entries here. If you have any issues with submitting your files, please email your submissions to wildaboutshellharbour@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au.
Read the full terms and conditions here.
What is the theme for the 'Wild About Shellharbour' competition and what does it entail?
This year’s theme is Tree Tales. The competition invites you to photograph a tree in the Shellharbour area and share the story behind it. Tree Tales celebrates how trees contribute to our climate, our wildlife and our neighbourhoods, as well as the personal connections people have with them.
As part of your entry, you will be asked the competition submission question:
Tell us a tale about this tree. What role do you think this tree or trees like it play in caring for our climate, wildlife, neighbourhood and you.
Your photo and written tale should highlight why this tree is meaningful and how it contributes to the environment and community around it. This could be about shade, habitat, food, beauty, cooling or connection. Whatever it means to you.
How many photos can I submit?
Entrants may submit a maximum of 3 photos. Photos must be submitted as a JPEG file of a size between 1MB to 5MB. Photos must not have any watermarks/names/logos on the images.
When will submissions close?
Entries must be submitted by Monday 11 May, 11.59pm. Entries received after this date will not be accepted.
Do the photos have to be taken in Shellharbour?
Yes, all photos must be taken in the Shellharbour City Council Area by people who live in the area. This include suburbs and rural localities of Albion Park, Albion Park Rail, Barrack Heights, Barrack Point, Blackbutt, Calderwood, Croom (part only), Dunmore, Flinders, Lake Illawarra, Macquarie Pass, Mount Warrigal, North Macquarie, Oak Flats, Shell Cove, Shellharbour, Shellharbour City Centre, Tongarra, Tullimbar, Warilla and Yellow Rock Ridge (part only). Includes Killalea State Park and most of Macquarie Pass National Park (excluding small parts of the far west of the park in the Wingecarribee Shire). You must be standing in the Shellharbour Local Government Area when you take the image. Images cannot be taken from another Council area (e.g. Wollongong or Kiama), looking across to the Shellharbour City Council area.
Do I need consent for people pictured in my photos?
Yes, any people who are clearly identifiable in your photo must have granted you consent to be photographed.
Can I manipulate original image?
The content of the photo must not be changed or manipulated in any way; that is, no cloning, montaging, AI image generation or digital manipulation other than cropping, toning, digital spotting, burning and dodging is permitted. No addition or removal of subject matter is accepted. Retouching is limited to removal of normal scratches and dust spots. Colour adjustment should be minimal.
Can I submit a drone image?
Yes, however if you are using a drone for your photography, all images submitted must comply with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority rules regarding drone usage. For more information please see Drone safety rules.
What are the guidelines for including images of native wildlife in my competition entry?
Photos must not contain images of native wildlife being fed by people or from bird feeders. Images of native animals at bird baths/water troughs are permitted. Animals must not be handled or stressed in any way for the purpose of this competition.
Who will be judging the competition?
A panel of judges approved by the competition organisers, representing photography and environmental expertise will select the winners. Judging will be ‘blind’ with no names given to the judges. The judges decision is final. The people's choice will be selected from members of the public based off the shortlist displayed at the Shellharbour Civic Centre.
How will the entries be judged?
Entries will be judged on how well the photo reflects the theme, the quality of the image and accompanying caption.
What are the requirements for entering the under 18 category?
Entrants in the under 18 category must be under 18 years of age at the time of entering. They must have the entry form declaration agreed to by their parent/guardian.
What permissions do I need to grant and what are the originality requirements for my entry?
Entrants in this competition give permission for their works to be reproduced by print and electronic media by Shellharbour City Council for not-for-profit publications, advertising and promotional purposes. Your entry must be your original work and no other party can have any right, title, claim or interest in it.
Who is not eligible to enter the 'Wild About Shellharbour' competition?
Shellharbour City Council staff and Councillors, as well as members of the judging panel, are not able to enter the competition.