“As an outdoor enthusiast, I believe it’s my duty to take an active stance on issues affecting our natural world.” – Darren Edwards
The Fight Against Luxury Development in Protected Areas
Australia’s wilderness areas and national parks are facing an unprecedented threat from commercialisation and luxury development. Keep It Wild Australia explores the growing trend of high-end tourism ventures in protected public lands, the environmental and social consequences of these developments, and alternative approaches that preserve both natural values and public access.
The Growing Threat to Australia’s Wild Places
Across the country, our most treasured natural landscapes are being transformed into playgrounds for wealthy tourists—via luxury lodges, exclusive guided walks, and high-end accommodation built within national park boundaries. From the rugged wilderness of Tasmania to the rainforests of Queensland, this trend is compromising the very essence of what makes these places special.
The pattern is alarmingly consistent: developments are marketed as “eco-tourism” or “sustainable nature experiences,” yet many are commercial ventures offering limited public benefit while permanently altering the character of wild landscapes. This kind of greenwashing conceals environmental degradation and entrenches inequality in access to nature—under the guise of sustainability.
Victoria’s Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan exemplifies this troubling trend. As detailed in recent reports, land legally protected “for the benefit of the public” is being repurposed for private profit. The plan seeks to transform the region into a “playground for cashed-up tourism,” softening technical terrain and replacing wild campsites with luxury lodges.
Similar developments have been proposed across the country. In Queensland’s Great Sandy National Park near Noosa, plans for luxury cabins along the Cooloola Great Walk were recently abandoned following sustained public opposition and environmental concerns. In contrast, New South Wales’ Ben Boyd National Park near Eden is still slated for eco-tourism cabins that would displace existing campgrounds. These proposals continue to alarm those concerned about the creeping permanence of private accommodation in national parks.
Why This Matters: The Value of Genuine Wilderness
Nature is more than scenery—it’s essential to our wellbeing. Research consistently shows that access to nature delivers significant mental health benefits. In Australia, studies have found that visits to protected areas improve mental health and lead to productivity gains of up to 11% for people who visit at least once a month. Notably, the therapeutic benefits for people experiencing mental health challenges are 2.5 times greater than for mentally healthy visitors.
When access to these places becomes a luxury instead of a right, we deny these benefits to those who may need them most. As researchers point out, “access to nature in national parks is one of the few free mental health boosts available to the less well-off as well as the wealthy.” National parks are not just scenic retreats—they are places of healing, connection, and refuge. These spaces must remain open and accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few.
LUXURY LODGES = WILDERNESS LOST
James McCormack, editor of WILD Magazine, explores what’s really going on in this two-part piece.
It only takes one spark to ignite change
Be the spark!
“We are a plague on the Earth. It’s coming home to roost over the next 50 years or so. It’s not just climate change; it’s sheer space, places to grow food for this enormous horde. Either we limit our population growth or the natural world will do it for us, and the natural world is doing it for us right now.”
“As an outdoor enthusiast, I believe it’s my duty to take an active stance on issues affecting our natural world.”
“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.”
“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”
“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.”
“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.”
“If you’re an enthusiast of the outdoors, you need to be an activist to protect the outdoors, because otherwise you’re just a self-involved hypocrite.”