Iconic places

Iconic places

They have a long past, make sure they have a living future. Image: Chris Fithall

As a continent, Australia is ancient and remarkable. But within this land there is a collection of special places that hold globally important values. Iconic and unique, these places are at risk from current threats such as climate change, mining and deforestation.

Iconic places - Nature's Elders, location pins on the map of the continent of Australia

With their rich evolutionary history, abundance of unique flora and fauna, and deep significance for First Nations people, these places deserve respect—and care. They support ancient Gondwanan forests, contain evolutionary adaptations and feature plants and animals that are found nowhere else on Earth.

While often appreciated for their vast beauty, they are more than just scenic landscapes. These remarkable places are crucial to our world’s very life support. That’s why we're celebrating these globally significant places—as Nature’s Elders.

Together, we can help them have not only a long past but a living future.

Remarkable locations

Australia is a continent of incredible diversity, with landscapes ranging from rainforests to deserts, all home to a staggering array of species found nowhere else on the planet. The remarkable places we are working to protect are all globally significant because of the unique biodiversity they support.

Eastern coastal & range forests

Eastern coastal & range forests

The wet forests of Australia’s east coast are beautiful, biodiverse and must be protected for a safe future for people and wildlife.

WA Jarrah Forests

WA Jarrah Forests

The Jarrah forests of the South-West have acted as an evolutionary cradle for millennia. Plants here are continuously adapting to often harsh conditions, which is why 80% of species are found nowhere else on Earth.

Lake Eyre Basin

Lake Eyre Basin

A vast system of desert, water, flora and fauna, the Lake Eyre Basin is a global icon. Comprising Kati Thanda, Munga-Thirri / Simpson Desert and Channel Country, this wildly diverse landscape gives rise to millions of birds after rain and is criss-crossed with songlines, trade routes and language groups.

Kimberley & Martuwarra

Kimberley & Martuwarra

Home to life found nowhere else on Earth, the Kimberley is breathtaking—stunning landscapes, meandering rivers, extensive marine sanctuaries, ancient rock art. It’s no place for fossil fuel mega-projects or huge water extractions.

Great Australian Bight

Great Australian Bight

With stunning natural wonders, staggering biodiversity and a 65,000-year-old living culture connecting desert to sea, the Nullarbor and the Great Australian Bight are worthy of World Heritage status. We must keep this beautiful area safe from fossil fuel corporations forever.

Forests of Lutruwita / Tasmania

Forests of Lutruwita / Tasmania

These spectacular forests support some of the most iconic species on Earth. They are home to 1000-year-old Gondwanan conifers, are a giant store for carbon and are integral to the identity of the palawa (the Tasmanian Aboriginal people). Unbelievably, these forests are still subject to clear-fell logging. We’re fighting for their protection.

North-eastern forests & bushland

North-eastern forests & bushland

The diverse landscapes of Queensland’s vast interior teem with life and living cultural heritage. Their protection is vital for a healthy future.

Victoria's tall forests

Victoria's tall forests

Home to endangered wildlife found nowhere else, as well as the world’s tallest flowering tree, the mountain ash, Victoria’s last great forests are the most carbon-dense on the planet. After decades of logging coming to an end, we now need these forests to be protected for good.

Lutruwita / Tasmania World Heritage

Lutruwita / Tasmania World Heritage

Stark plateaus, lush forests, dramatic peaks, and wild rivers. With a palawa connection for tens of thousands of years, Tasmania is a special, globally significant place. But it's under threat—and other World Heritage-worthy areas surrounding it remain unprotected.

Wollemi

Wollemi

An ark of biodiversity for 60 million years, Wollemi National Park forms part of the vast Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. It's home to unique species, including Earth's last wild stands of the Wollemi pine—a tree from the age of dinosaurs—and some of Australia's rarest animals, such as the critically endangered regent honeyeater.