From Untamed Beauty to Threatening Intrusion
Imagine hiking through ancient forests, where sunlight filters through towering trees and birdsong fills the crisp, clean air. This is the magic of Australia’s wilderness—our national parks and remote sanctuaries where nature speaks loudest when left untouched.
But this sacred heritage is under threat.
Across the country, luxury lodges, exclusive walking trails, and sprawling infrastructure projects are carving their way into our most pristine landscapes. These developments fragment ecosystems, displace wildlife, and diminish the wild character that makes these places so irreplaceable. What was once a shared national treasure is becoming a gated experience for the few who can afford it.
That reality compelled me to act.
In 2017, I founded Keep it Wild Australia—a grassroots movement of everyday Australians determined to protect our wild heartland. We believe that nature, in its raw and untamed state, is not just beautiful—it’s vital. Not a backdrop for profit, but a birthright. Not a luxury, but a legacy.
Our mission is simple but urgent:
To safeguard Australia’s remaining wild places, ensuring they remain accessible, protected, and truly wild—for everyone, forever.
Through tireless advocacy, strategic campaigning, and powerful community engagement, we’ve celebrated real wins:
Stopping inappropriate developments
Influencing national park policies
Raising public awareness and building alliances across communities
But the fight is far from over.
Development pressures are accelerating. Wilderness areas once thought safe are now in the crosshairs. And every loss sets a dangerous precedent. If you love these landscapes—if you’ve felt their peace, their challenge, their healing power—you’re already part of this movement. Join us. Speak up. Stand firm.
“As an outdoor enthusiast, I believe it’s my duty to take an active stance on issues affecting our natural world.”
— Darren Edwards, Founder, Keep it Wild Australia
Learn more about my position on these critical issues by reading my full statement [here] at Trail Hiking Australia.”
Together, we can keep the wild truly wild.
“As an outdoor enthusiast, I believe it’s my duty to take an active stance on issues affecting our natural world.” – Darren Edwards
Sources
[1] Luxury Lodges of Australia https://www.australia.com/en-us/things-to-do/luxury/luxury-lodges.html
[2] Leave only footprints – Australian Geographic https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/travel/2023/09/leave-only-footprints/
[3] The Slow Death Of Australian Wilderness – Better Hiking https://betterhiking.com.au/the-slow-death-of-australian-wilderness/
[4] ‘Stealth privatisation’ in iconic national parks threatens public access … https://theconversation.com/stealth-privatisation-in-iconic-national-parks-threatens-public-access-to-natures-health-boost-188063
[5] Aussie hikers stunned by camping cost of new 42km rainforest trail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4K2_9lu14M
[6] State of the Environment: report findings – The University of Sydney https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/07/19/state-of-the-environment–the-findings.html
[7] UNESCO World Heritage Listed – Luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au https://luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au/news-offers-events/unesco-world-heritage-listed-sites/
[8] Best Luxury Lodges in Australia and New Zealand https://www.walkintoluxury.com/best-luxury-lodges-australia-and-new-zealand
[9] Luxury Lodges of Australia | Luxury escapes, resorts and holidays in … https://luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au
[10] Baillie Lodges – Luxury travel experiences in Australia, Canada … https://baillielodges.com.au
[11] [PDF] An Australian Policy Perspective on Visitor Fees in Public Protected … https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/1ff24299-ae8f-57af-af71-7a88c1df5376/content
[12] Luxury Lodges of Australia: Villas & Private Residences https://luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au/news-offers-events/luxury-lodges-of-australia-villas-private-residences/
[13] Sustainable vs Ecotourism – Sustainaroo Travels https://sustainarootravels.com.au/sustainable-vs-ecotourism/
[14] Wilderness in Australia: what’s happening in a world context https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/21945
[15] Commercial activities in parks | Parks, reserves and protected areas https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/commercial-activities-in-parks
[16] Future of hiking – Australian Hiker https://australianhiker.com.au/advice/future-of-hiking/
[17] Environmental problems in Australia | WWF – Panda.org https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_offices/australia/environmental_problems_in_australia
[18] [PDF] The Practice and Politics of Tourism and Land Management https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20033194508
[19] THE 10 BEST Australia Luxury Lodges 2025 (Prices) – Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/HotelsList-Australia-Lodge-Luxury-zfp14299311.html
[20] Tourism Greenwashing: Avoid It & Control Your Marketing Message https://www.decantdigital.com/tourism-greenwashing/
“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.”