Open to entries from photographers around the world, below are some of the best wildlife images taken in Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea throughout 2020/21. 

Judged in categories including Animal Habitat, Animal Behaviour, Threatened Species and Our Impact, the overall winning entry came from underwater and aerial photographer, Scott Portelli, whose illuminous ‘Leafy Night’ portrait of a leafy seadragon was captured in Second Valley, South Australia. 

Scott Portelli's overall winning entry, 'Leafy Dragon' taken in Second Valley, South Australia.

Scott Portelli also won in the Threatened Species category for this grey nurse shark taken off Exmouth, Western Australia.

Ashley Karas was runner-up in the Landscape category for 'Beneath the Surface' taken in Western Australia's Coral Bay.

Ben Clark's 'Step into my Lair' captures the hunting prowess of tiny peacock spiders in Woodman Point, Western Australia.

Alex Pike captured this playful fur-seal in Jervis Bay, New South Wales.

Isabella Balisky got extremely up close and personal with this leaf beetle in the middle of a flower in Buderim, Queensland

Animal Behaviour runner-up 'Dreaming' by Franco Tulli, is a tiny octopus resting inside a seashell at the bottom of the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia.

For more information check out samuseum.sa.gov.au/npoty/ SA Museum is on North Terrace in Adelaide's CBD. You can call the museum on (08) 8207 7500