The search is on for the best outdoor photographers in Aotearoa New Zealand. Now’s the time to submit the top images from your adventures. It’s also not too late to get clicking. You have until April 26, 2026 to enter.
The three categories
1. Huts and camping
Show us what makes New Zealand hut life unique, or share the perfect camping scene. People and other human elements will complete the image.
Featured image above: Joshua Wilson’s image of the sunset view over Brewster Hut won the 2025 Huts and Camping category and the overall Outdoor Photographer of the Year title.
Tongariro Northern Circuit. Photographer: Grant Edwards
2. Out there
These are the standout photos that make viewers go ‘wow’. Whether taken from a mountaintop or deep in a cave, it should be a view to savour; a dramatic scene. The best photos feature people in the landscape: trampers, climbers, kayakers, bikers – anyone enjoying New Zealand’s wilderness.
Above: Grant Edward’s shot of trampers on the Tongariro Northern Circuit won the Out There category in 2025.
Titipounamu in flight. Photographer: Jeremy Sanson
3. Wildlife
Think bugs, birds, fungi, trees and animals – a close-up of a wētā, perhaps, or a white heron in flight. Send us your best shots of Aotearoa’s flora and fauna in its natural habitat.
Above: Jeremy Sanson’s photo of a titipounamu scooped him the 2025 Wildlife award.
In the body of the email, include the category, your name, address and, crucially, a caption that describes the photo (what are we looking at) and includes the location.
The prizes – provided by sponsor Panasonic LUMIX
Overall winner
The person crowned the Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year receives a Lumix DC-G97M camera valued at $1599. The G97 is an ideal adventurer’s camera; it’s built-in dual image stabilisation system removes the need for a tripod. It’s fully weather sealed and can handle the elements. It comes with a 12–60mm lens suitable for landscapes and close-ups.
Runner-up
The runner-up will receive a Lumix DC-G100Dk valued at $1349. The G100D is proof that mighty things can come in small packages. It has interchangeable lenses, a micro 4/3 20MP sensor and a collapsing 12–32mm lens that retracts when not needed and extends when in operation.
Third prize
The third place-getter will receive a Lumix DC-TZ99 valued at $849. The TZ99 is Panasonic’s latest travel zoom camera. It has a 30x LEICA DC zoom lens, high-res touch LCD screen and USB-C charging.
Competition tips
Follow these tips to give yourself the best shot at winning.
The most memorable photos tell a story. Human or animal elements can bring an image to life by demonstrating scale, personality, colour and emotion, while creative use of light can enliven a landscape.
Dare to be different. Every year we get dozens of images of kea, the Milford Track, Syme Hut and Aoraki Mt Cook. Find unique places and subjects, or frame classic vistas in new ways.
You can enter up to five images in any one category, so select your best photos rather than submitting variations of the same shot.
We use (and pay for) dozens of entries to illustrate stories and covers in future issues of Wilderness. This means the best photos reflect the content of the magazine and should be taken in the great outdoors – not your garden. (Monarch butterflies, cows and lupins are out; huts, trampers, rock wrens and mountains are in.)
Include the category you’re entering in the subject line: e.g Out There.
You can submit up to 5 images in each category, but each entry must be in a separate email.
In the body of the email, you must include the category, your name, address and, crucially, a caption that describes the photo and includes the location and important information such as bird species, hut name, track name etc. In short, tell us what we’re looking at!
To ensure your photos reach us, please ensure each image is no larger than 20MB.
The closing date is 10pm, April 26, 2026.
The competition is open to residents of New Zealand, excluding employees of Lifestyle Publishing and their families, agents or anyone professionally connected with the competition.
Late, illegible, incomplete, or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Entries must not be sent through agencies or third parties.
All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them and must not have been published elsewhere or have won a prize in any other photographic competition. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit have been taken with the permission of the subject and do not infringe the copyright of any third party or any laws.
Entrants must warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it.
No parties will be responsible in any way for the publication of an entry that is subsequently found to be in breach of copyright. Any such entry will be immediately disqualified.
All entries must be received by the advertised closing time and date.
Copyright of all images submitted for this competition remains with the respective entrants.
Winning and shortlisted images may be used by Wilderness magazine, the wildernessmag.co.nz website and the Wilderness social media channels free of charge for publicity purposes in connection with the Wilderness Outdoor Photograph and Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition for a duration of no more than five years and will be credited if used.
Wilderness magazine and wildernessmag.co.nz reserve the right to retain entries on file for possible future use. Any photos used for Wilderness’s editorial or other promotional uses will be paid at our normal reproduction rate.
All prizes are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives. In the event that a prize should become unavailable, the parties involved reserve the right to substitute a prize of their choosing. Winners will be notified within 21 days of the closing date.
The Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
By entering this competition, you agree to accept and be bound by these terms and conditions.
The 2026 Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition
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Mud, sweat and tears in Longwood Forest
Every Tararua hut reviewed and ranked
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