Documenting regional sport and competitive events

Score! We’ve commissioned photos of some of Australia’s beloved fast-growing or disappearing sports. We’ve also captured regional competitive events that contribute to our unique culture.

The commissioned photographs of rock climbing, mountain biking and woodchopping are available to view online, with more on the way. View our growing collection on regional sports and competitive events.

Rock climbing

These images are not for the faint of heart. The rock climbing images, taken by Simon Carter, document several daring climbs in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Locations include Walls Lookdown and Lunch Ledge.

View the rock climbing images in Trove

Female mountain climber descending a steep cliffside

Simon Carter, Ange Malysheva on the climb Disco Non-Stop Party, at Walls Lookdown, Grose Valley, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3610361233

Two mountain climbers moving along a very steep cliff side

Simon Carter, Sammy Zammit leading pitch two of Highway to the Dangerzone on Lunch Ledge, near Walls Lookdown, Grose Valley, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3610374488

Two mountain climbers preparing their equipment in front of a rock wall

Simon Carter, Sammy Zamitt and Ange Malysheva get ready to attempt a climb that starts on Lunch Ledge, near Walls Lookdown, Grose Valley, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3610361713

Male mountain climber on a steep rocky cliff face

Simon Carter, Sammy Zammit leading Hypothermia on Lunch Ledge, near Walls Lookdown, Grose Valley, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3610374887

Female mountain climber standing at the top of a cliff, looking out at a beautiful dusk over the Blue Mountains

Simon Carter, Ange Malysheva packing up at the end of the day at Walls Lookdown, Grose Valley, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3610375363

Rock climbing is a fast-growing sport in Australia. Over 350,000 Australians take part in outdoor rock-climbing, abseiling, or caving. Approximately 100,000 Australians are sport climbers. Competition climbing debuted at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (held in 2021).

Mountain biking

The number of mountain bikers in Australia has doubled in the last 6 years. This photo series by Mandy Lamont documents mountain bike riding in Australia's Snowy Mountains. Locations include Jindabyne, Crackenback and Thredbo, New South Wales.

Take a virtual ride through mountain biking images in Trove

Mountain biker in full gear riding a rocky, dirt path on a cloudy day

Mandy Lamont, Remy Blair riding in the All-Mountain Enduro race during the Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival, high alpine Panorama trail, Thredbo, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3613430477

Mountain biker riding down a dirt path in a field of grass

Mandy Lamont, Competitor riding in the All-Mountain Enduro race during the Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival, high alpine Panorama trail, Thredbo, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3613448451

Mountain biker riding down a steep rocky path while another rider stands nearby

Mandy Lamont, Andy Blair riding down a rocky technical section of the Thredbo downhill during the Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival, Thredbo, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3613448850

Two mountain bikers racing through the trees down a rocky, uneven path

Mandy Lamont, Sian A'Hern riding through Bunny Walk during the Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival, Thredbo, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3613449016

One of the biggest mountain bike (MTB) festivals is the Cannonball MTB Festival. This summer event takes place in Thredbo. Both elite and beginner riders can enter various races.

Three mountain bikers racing through a dirt track

Mandy Lamont, Reece Tucknott (no. 27) being chased by Eddie Mungoven (no. 20) and Liam Roberts (no. 25) during the Snowies Mountain Bike Festival, Bungarra mountain bike trails, Jindabyne, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3613429351

Mountain bikers racing through a dirt path in a grassy field

Mandy Lamont, Women's race leader, Emma Viotto, leading elite women Amelie Burrell, Ella Bloor and Ruby Dobson during the Snowies Mountain Bike Festival, Lake Crackenback, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3613430078

Mountain biker riding along rocks in a race

Mandy Lamont, Tom Fisher riding over one of the rocky features in a race during the Snowies Mountain Bike Festival, Lake Crackenback, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3613430234

Mountain biker riding down a wooden ramp surrounded by native Australian trees

Mandy Lamont, Kelsey Bordham riding over one of the technical features in a race during the Snowies Mountain Bike Festival, Lake Crackenback, New South Wales, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3613430313

The Snowies MTB Festival is another popular event. With 2,355 metres of vertical and descending tracks this is a unique high-country race. Like the Cannonball MTB Festival, it is open to different skill levels and has a variety of races.

Woodchopping

Woodchopping is one of Australia’s oldest sports. The first recorded contest took place in Tasmania in 1872. The Waratah Woodchopping Carnival, photographed by Grant Wells, is one of Tasmania’s most well-known woodchopping events. Competitors display strength, skill and precision in various events in the annual competition.

See images from the 2025 Waratah Woodchopping Carnival in Trove

Man in a red shirt chopping an upright blog of wood in halk with an axe

Grant Wells, Steve Batchelor blasting through the back of his block during the Waratah Woodchopping Carnival, Waratah, Tasmania, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3610573070

Two men competing in double-handed sawing with another man watching

Grant Wells, Scott Anderson and Damien Purton competing in double-handed sawing during the Waratah Woodchopping Carnival, Waratah, Tasmania, 2025, nla.gov.au.nla.obj-3610516484

Two men in red shirts looking at an upright block of wood with another pair doing the same behind them

Grant Wells, Competitors marking their blocks prior to a standing chop during the Waratah Woodchopping Carnival, Waratah, Tasmania, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3610516083

Man standing on a block of wood held up slightly above the ground and swinging an axe up to chop it in half

Grant Wells, Damien Purton participating in an underhand event during the Waratah Woodchopping Carnival, Waratah, Tasmania, 2025, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3610516881

There have been changes to the sport in recent years. Bushfires and the crackdown of native logging has reduced available hardwood for competitions. This has led to the use of softwoods, such as pine and other more sustainable options.