AUSTRALIA is an ancient and diverse continent, with incredible landscapes, wildlife and stories. Within our bounding oceans are the wetlands of Kakadu and the high rocky peaks and rolling plains of the alpine regions. There are the east coast’s winding coastal heathlands and the tall forests of the south west, south east and lutruwita/Tasmania. Rainforests dot the land from the Daintree to lutruwita/Tasmania’s the takayna/Tarkine, contrasting with the desert and ranges of the centre. Each of these has its own culture, ecosystems, beauty and threats.
From this wide range of natural beauty and diversity, the Wilderness Society has identified a collection of special places holding natural and cultural values that are unique on a global scale. Called ‘Nature’s Elders’, these places have unique evolutionary lineages, species found nowhere else in the world and biodiversity that is critical for life in a changing climate. These places have long pasts and are crucial to our living future – they need care and protection.
This piece concentrates on the amazing walks in three of these locations: the Styx Valley, an accessible wonderland in the forests of lutruwita/Tasmania; the mysterious
