Naturalist John Blay laces up his walking boots and goes bush to explore Australia’s rugged southeast forests – stretching from Canberra to the coast and on to Wilsons Promontory – in a great circle from his one-time home in Bermagui.

‘John Blay is a superb walking companion – a naturalist, historian and philosopher whose writing glows with wit, wisdom and wonder.’ – Tom Griffiths

Wild Nature offers rare insight into the forests’ shared history, their natural history, the forest wars, the establishment of the South East Forests National Park and the threats that continue to dog their existence, including reflections on the recent devastating bushfires. Along the way Blay asks the big questions. What do we really know about these wild forests? How did the forests come to be the way they are? What is the importance of wild nature to our civilisation?

'A brilliant natural history of the southeast forests. Blay brings a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion to every walk.' – Inga Simpson

Following on from his bestselling On Track: Searching out the Bundian Way, John Blay's Wild Nature takes us on an epic journey of discovery into the heart of a vast and contested wild Australian landscape.

Meet John in conversation with beloved Canberra naturalist Ian Fraser

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Space limited to 20 guests

Ian Fraser is a Canberra naturalist, conservationist and author, who has spent his life seeking to understand how the nature of Australia works.

He has been a regular natural history broadcaster on local ABC for over 20 years, has run educational bush tours around Australia and to South America, has served on ACT government environment advisory bodies and taught at the ANU’s Centre for Continuing Education.

His most recent book is Birds in their Habitats.