If you love the night sky, this is the competition for you.
For anyone who has been looking for an excuse to get out of the city and spend some time under the stars, or anyone who wants a sign from the universe they should spend more time on creative pursuits, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Photographer Greg Rowney snapped the winning picture in the Best Astrotourism Towns Nightscape Photo category for 2024.
Entries for the 2026 Astrofest Astrophotography Competition open later this year, so now is the perfect time to get outside under dark skies and work on your shots.
Who will win Best Astrotourism Towns Nightscape?
The Astrophotography competition includes many different categories you can enter, and Astrotourism WA is the proud sponsor of the Best Astrotourism Towns Nightscape Photo category.
This category is a very special award for images specifically taken in the Astrotourism Town localities. If you’ve been travelling through our amazing state with your trusty camera and have taken an image in or around the Astrotourism Towns, then enter your shot and show off the beauty of WA’s dark skies and stunning landscapes.
A collection of selected entries and winners will be displayed on the night at Astrofest in February 2026 as part the Astrofest Astrophotography Exhibition. The winner of the Best Astrotourism Towns Nightscape Photo will take home a stellar prize bundle, provided by some of WA’s best Astrotourism towns.
Best Astrotourism Towns Nightscape Photo: Sponsored by Astrotourism WA
Along with a trophy, the 2026 winner of the Best Astrotourism Towns Nightscape Photo prize will receive an incredible prize that includes things like regional accomodation and meals in an Astrotourism locality, worth hundreds of dollars. Stay tuned for more details.
What are the Terms for the Best Astrotourism WA Nightscape Photo?
Nightscape entries applicable to the Best Astrotourism Towns Photo must be stated as such; and include the name of the Astrotourism WA Shire/Local Government locality in the submission; and feature terrestrial elements located in the Astrotourism WA Local Government locality.
For the Astrotourism WA Award the eligible Local Government localities include those towns registered with Astrotourism WA, listed on the Astrotourism WA website here: astrotourismwa.com.au/towns. To get prepared, check out the last Astrofest Astrophotography Competition terms and conditions before entering.
- Shire of Ashburton
- Shire of Coorow
- Shire of Dandaragan
- Shire of Kondinin
- Shire of Lake Grace
- Shire of Menzies
- Shire of Mingenew
- Shire of Morawa
- Shire of Narembeen
- Shire of Narrogin
- Shire of Northam
- Shire of Perenjori
- Shire of Shark Bay
- Shire of Three Springs
- Shire of Upper Gascoyne
- Shire of West Arthur
- Shire of Wongan-Ballidu
These Local Governments have been instrumental in supporting an effort to raise awareness about WA’s incredible dark night skies. Over 50 new places for astrophotography and stargazing have been mapped out to encourage visitors to experience WA’s amazing dark country night sky.
In a world where light pollution is destroying our view of the stars, WA’s Local Governments have recognised the important value of our natural asset and are working hard to protect and maintain it for generations to come.
We look forward to seeing your entries into the Best Astrotourism Towns Nightscape Award, showcasing the beauty and wonder of the dark night sky in country WA.
Get inspired
Check out here the winners of the 2024 Astrofest Astrophotography Competition