These Boardwalks Were Made for Bushwalking: Disentangling Grounds, Surfaces, and Walking Experiences

Boardwalks and walking trails in Australia’s Cradle Mountain, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, serve as material conduits that shape outdoor recreation mobilities, conservation politics, and sensory experiences. The study reveals that different ground surfaces influence how people engage with natural landscapes, highlighting the transformative role of pathways in both environmental and social contexts. Using nonrepresentational theory and audiovisual fieldwork, researchers analyzed the interplay between walking surfaces, mobility infrastructure, and tourism dynamics, demonstrating that trails are active elements in the world’s self-transformation.

Vannini, P., & Vannini, A. (2018). These Boardwalks Were Made for Bushwalking: Disentangling Grounds, Surfaces, and Walking Experiences. Space and Culture, 21(1), 33–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1206331217749127