This spring, you can immerse yourself in the wilderness without leaving the city, when the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition takes over the Powerhouse Museum. More than 100 photographs will transport you to spectacular scenery and put you eye-to-eye with crested-horn sharks, short-beaked echidnas and flying foxes. As well as being completely captivating, the images show the incredible natural diversity of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea.

The photos will take you from NSW's snow-capped Australian Main Range to waterfalls in Tasmania and WA's Cheynes Beach, where the winning photo was taken. The acclaimed shot by local photographer Mat Beetson features a giant dead fin whale that's being circled by bronze whalers and great whites.

It's the first photo taken with a drone to win the competition, with the judges saying the image is "unique and exciting, it reveals incredible beauty in death".

The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition is produced by the South Australian Museum, and its entrees are judged on timing, patience, artistry and technique by photography veterans. You can read all about the other finalists over here.

Images: Fin Whale's Demise by Mat Beetson, Mountain Echidna by Charles Davis and The Heat Run by Scott Portelli.