Abstract Human cultures and landscapes co-evolve. Australia's rural landscapes are changing due to profound shifts in cultural, institutional and economic relationships with nature, and the values and meanings of landscapes are being reinterpreted. There are signs that a new land ethic is emerging in which love of nature and collective action are dominant. In this essay, we broadly describe the nature and directions of the changes we have observed and offer three scenarios to illustrate possible directions these might take in Australia's agricultural inland, northern savannas and coastal zones. The scenarios illustrate how motivated and inspired people could live in this unique, ancient and beautiful continent; and how an ethos of environmental repair and sustainable habitation could transform rural landscapes, lifestyles and livelihoods.