THE NSIGC 2026 photography competition is a wonderful opportunity for photographers of all ages to immerse themselves in the natural bushland beauty of the North Stradbroke Island’s Golf Course.

It’s a chance to stop and wander along the bush pathways, the so-called “yellow brick roads”, that weave their way around the bushland course.

You can walk solo, with friends or family — and you will be filled with awe and wonder about its wildlife; wonder about their curious behaviour, wonder about their stunning habitats and wonder about what we can do to protect them for future generations.

You’ll find wallabies, kangaroos, insects, lizards, koalas, and diverse birdlife including bee-eaters, endangered glossy black cockatoos, and of course, the golf club’s logo — rainbow lorikeets.

If walking is not an option for you, you can take a ride along the pathways by hiring an electric golf-cart from the club-house at a special discount for photography competitors. Two person carts are available for the special price of $20 for up to an hour. And family carts that can take four people, can be hired at an hourly rate of $40. But you must pre-book a cart from the club-house on 3409 9999.

There are 3 categories -

Aunty Margaret and Uncle Pat Iselin Photography Award (Open - all ages)

• Overall Winner  - $1000 cash prize
• Runner up – $500 dollars cash prize

High School Student Award (13 to 18 years of age) - $250 cash prize

Primary School Student Award (5 to 12 years of age) - $250 cash prize

People's Choice (PC) Award - $250 cash prize. 

A selection of images from previous winners will be on display at the NSI Golf Clubhouse during the arts trail 14-16 August 2026.

The 2026 finalists' and winners' images will be on display from November 10th to December 10th at the clubhouse. 

The People’s Choice Winner will be voted by the public between November 10th and December 10th.

Who can enter?
Open to Island residents and all visitors. The competition is open to anyone with a digital camera or camera-phone such as an iphone.

Image Elegibility
• One image per entry form

• Provide a title and brief description - when, where, how and what it means to you

• Taken on the NSI course during opening hours on or after 1 July 2026 and before 4 October 2026 4pm.

• Must be the work of the entrant

• Any persons in an image must provide entrant with written permission

• Social Media entries must include hashtags #NSIGC2026PhotoAwards

• Colour OR black and white

• Landscape OR portrait

• Photo editing is cool

• All photos remain copyright of owner, however participants agree for NSI Golf Club to have free use of all uploaded photos for 60 months from submission, for marketing purposes, with appropriate credit acknowledgement.

Deadlines
Entries open - Wednesday 1 July 2026

Entries close - Midnight Sunday 4 October 2026

Theme
The theme of this year’s competition is UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS - Wildlife at Play. Capture the wildlife of the NSI Gold Course, their personalities and behaviours. 

Take images that tell a story, that evoke emotion and that capture the essence, wonder and beauty of wildlife. 

To qualify for entry, photographs of the theme must be taken on the NSI Golf Course for the 13 week competition and only during the club’s opening hours.

Visiting NSI Golf Club to take photos
Photographers MUST check-in at the clubhouse to receive their raffle ticket code & gain course access

Photographers are encouraged to book in advance to have access to the course. Competitors can make multiple visits to the course to take photographs.

For those photographers who have driving licences, golf-carts are available to book and hire to help you get around the course. Or you can simply follow our nature-paths to slowly enjoy the ever-changing beauty of our island course by walking.

Volunteer golf-club marshals can assist groups or individuals locate special trees for photographing and maps will be available from the clubhouse.

Students under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please understand without a booking there may be some delays to ensure everyone’s safety.

Image Preparation
Image format - JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg), PNG (.png)

File size - 10MB maximum per image. 1MB minimum per image.

Watermarks - Do not include watermarks or other branding on your images.

Recognition
Winners will be announced (DATE TBA). The winning entries will be on display at the North Stradbroke Island Golf Clubhouse.

To enter you must fill out the official entry form below. 

Competitors can make multiple visits to the course to take photographs and can enter multiple times, but they must fill out official entry forms for each entry.

The photographs must be taken on the NSI Golf Course during opening hours ( 7 am to 5 pm ) between 1st July and 4th October.

All entrants must check in during office hours at the clubhouse to receive a code on a raffle ticket, and will be eligible for a lucky draw prize at the People’s Choice Awards.

That raffle ticket code must be included with all entry forms.

For more information call Trish Lake on 0412 189 977

North Stradbroke Island Gold Club
Phone: (07) 3409 9999
Hours - 7 days a week from 7am
Address - Alfred Martin Way, North Stradbroke Island QLD 4183