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Moments

A celebration of creativity and storytelling in the Australian travel and adventure space

Stories are the foundation of We Are Explorers.

Since 2014 we’ve been sharing dispatches from across the country to inspire a life of adventure and connection to the natural world.

To mark the 10 year anniversary of We Are Explorers, we’re celebrating the talent, creativity, and storytelling of our community with an adventure storytelling competition!

With over $15,000 in cash up for grabs across five creative categories, it’s time to dig deep into the archive and share your writing, films, and photographs that best express those unforgettable moments of adventure and connection (and vote for your favourites of course!).

Submissions and voting opens on the 17th of July 2024 and closes on the 15th of August 2024.

Entries and voting has now closed!

Categories

Freely Travel Writing

Brought to you by Freely Travel Insurance

It’s time to write down your best campfire yarn in 800 words or less. From travel and adventure, to moments of connection with nature and each other. We’re looking for real human stories that are inspiring, funny, and downright unbelievable. A strong voice, great subject matter, and creativity are key! Pack us in your bag and take us on the journey with you.

Just one catch! Everything in your story has to be legal and we’re not after stories that happened because you were wasted.

Prize: $3000 cash! 

Enter now

G Adventures Video

Brought to you by G Adventures

We’re looking for adventure tales that can’t be summed up in a single photograph and that words don’t do justice. While jaw-dropping visuals will tickle our tastebuds, storytelling and the spirit of adventure is the feast we’re looking for. Entries must be less than 5 minutes long.

Prize: $3000 cash! 

Enter now

Dometic Adventure Photo

Brought to you by Dometic

We’re looking for an image that makes you stop to take it all in, and then drop everything to plan your next adventure. Whether it’s a depiction of the grit and determination that goes into seeking out some Type 2 fun, or the feeling of freedom, joy, and elation that comes with embarking into the outdoors.

Prize: $3000 cash! 

Enter now

Up Phone Photo

Brought to you by Up

You know the saying, ‘the best camera is the one you have with you’? Well, chances are you’ve got a phone in your pocket perfectly capable of taking a cracking photo and we want to see them. We’re looking for a moment oozing with adventure or natural beauty that makes us say ‘That was taken on a phone?!’.

Prize: $3000 cash! 

Enter now

Bush Heritage Nature Photo

Brought you by charity partner Bush Heritage

We’re looking for an image that encapsulates the awe you feel when struck by nature’s beauty. From sweeping landscapes to intricate details, show us a side of nature we don’t often see or forget to look for. We want to see all elements and aspects of Mother Nature captured – flora, fauna, weather, landscapes – if it’s natural and makes you say ‘Wow’, this is where it belongs.

Prize: $3000 cash! 

Enter now

FAQs

Is the competition open to everyone?

Not quite, as with all of our competitions, MOMENTS is only open to residents in Australia that are over the age of 18 (this is a legal thing, we can’t ensure the comp adheres to all regulations globally).

Can I vote more than once?

You can only place one vote per entry, but you can make as many votes as you like across the five categories. You can also cancel your vote. (This might help you make your own shortlist.)

Why do I have to pay $10 to enter?

The entry fee helps cover some of the costs of building the competition website, hosting the event to show off the winners, and the cash prizes.

Can I enter more than once?

Yes! You can enter the competition as many times as you like. Each entry is treated separately and attracts the same entry fee.

Can I share my entry around to help it get votes?

Yes! Go wild! Campaign far and wide to get the most votes on your entry.

Can my entry be about any adventure?

Almost! We just have to make sure the entries don’t reflect anything we can’t get behind, this includes: travel and mentioning of sanctioned countries, getting too close to wildlife, not following the principles of Leave No Trace, or getting intoxicated and making bad choices.

Check out our Terms & Conditions, particularly section 8 ‘Excluded topics and subjects’ for the lowdown.

Is there a minimum length for the Travel Story and Video category?

Nope! But there is a maximum. Travel stories must be less than 800 words and videos must be under five minutes.

How will you know if Phone Photo entries were taken on a mobile phone?

We’ll be checking the metadata for these to ensure it’s a valid phone photo, don’t try and get tricky here!

How is the winner chosen?

Once submitted, your entry will be approved by the WAE staff before being published here on this page where it can be viewed and voted on by the public.

You can share with your friends, aunty, uncle or teach grandma so that they can vote for your entry.

Once submissions and voting have closed, a shortlist of the most voted-upon entries within each category will be sent to the judges. They’ll then pick a winner!

What are the judges looking for?

Our judges are looking for storytelling that reflects the essence of We Are Explorers. Your creative entry should look to be a combination of authentic and adventurous, inclusive, and in touch with nature. We’ll look more favourably on stories from our own backyard (Australia and New Zealand) but we’re open to stories from overseas as well.

Who are the judges?

We’ve put together a panel of friends of We Are Explorers – influential writers, photographers, and filmmakers from the Australian outdoor scene who will pick the winners from each category’s shortlist. You can learn more about them below.

What other prizes are up for grabs?

Each category winner will take home $3000!

But there’s more:

The entry with the most public votes during the competition period will win a G Adventures Classic Peru trip valued at $3849 and Freely Travel Insurance for their next trip valued at $1200.

There’s also a Dometic Adventure Pack valued at over $3400 for the shortlisted entry that receives the most votes at our 10 year anniversary party!

Our Judges

Gemma Clarke
Gemma Clarke
Founder of Astray | Travel Writing
Amy Fairall
Amy Fairall
Editor at We Are Explorers | Travel Writing
Matt Horspool
Matt Horspool
Photographer & Filmmaker | Adventure Photo
Henry Brydon
Henry Brydon
Founder of We Are Explorers | ADVENTURE PHOTO
Ain Raadik
Ain Raadik
Photographer & Cinematographer | Phone Photo
Renae Saxby
Renae Saxby
Photographer | Phone Photo
Harriet Spark
Harriet Spark
Photographer & Filmmaker | Nature Photo
Luke Tscharke
Luke Tscharke
Photographer | Nature Photo
Divya Gordon
Divya Gordon
Filmmaker | Video
Beau Miles
Beau Miles
YouTuber | Video

Brought you by 

Entries

Check out the most recent entries and vote for your favourites

Sunrise reflections at Lake Tyrell
Sunrise reflections at Lake Tyrell

Megan Douglass

   
nature-photo,
Rapid Descent

Chloe O'Malley

I stood at the greatest height I’d ever been. At 4700m elevation, oxygen levels are about... Read more
travel-story,
Yes, ice climbing in Australia is a thing!
Yes, ice climbing in Australia is a thing!

Jarred Palanca

   
adventure-photo,
An unexpected storm for the rubbish raft

Samuel Mclennan

I’m two months into the maiden voyage from Hobart to Sydney on a sailing vessel made... Read more
travel-story,
Yulara
Yulara

Kalem Horn

   
nature-photo,
Wahlmoorum

Kalem Horn

   
video,
Through the tangled forest
Through the tangled forest

Matt Tomkins

   
adventure-photo,
Accidental Imposters

Adrianne Yzerman

My compatriot, Pamela, and I are stranded at the Tanzanian/Malawian border. Utterly fed up, filthy, famished,... Read more
travel-story,
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About Us
Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge that this land on which we tread, whilst beautiful and revered by us, has even deeper layers of significance for its Traditional Owners; we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

We Are Explorers is aware that the land is never truly being explored anew, given the ancient cultures that came before us who still call this land their home.

We believe business can be a force for good, so in 2020 we became a Certified B Corporation® after a rigorous assessment. We’re now part of a movement of companies committed to the highest environmental and social standards. We’re here to shake up the economy and work towards a better world, because change only happens when you make it. You in?
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