In a world that rarely slows down, Into The Wild Escapes creates sanctuaries where simplicity, serenity and sustainability go hand in hand.
Co-founded in 2017 by Celeste Giannas, Into The Wild Escapes emerged from a deep longing to reconnect – with loved ones, with nature and with the present moment. After experiencing the profound calm that came from stepping away from screens and immersing in the natural world, Celeste became fascinated by the science behind this shift. This curiosity led her to discover the concept of rewilding, a holistic approach to conservation that restores ecosystems and revives our connection with the natural world. Inspired by these insights, Into The Wild Escapes was born to offer restorative wellness retreats through a collection of 60 minimalist, eco-conscious tiny houses thoughtfully nestled across Australia’s most pristine and nature-rich landscapes. From secluded bushland to picturesque wineries and farms, each retreat is thoughtfully designed with premium features, catering to couples, families and even their four-legged friends.
Born from a deep appreciation of Australia’s regional landscapes, it’s no surprise that Into The Wild Escapes places environmental sustainability at the heart of its business. But now, with funding support from Destination New South Wales, the company has taken a significant first step on its sustainability journey by completing the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard.
“We saw the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard as a way to benchmark our business against national sustainability standards and identify where we could push further,” comments Senior Marketing Manager, Renee Kidd.
“Sustainability is core to how Into The Wild Escapes operates – from protecting nature on private land to supporting regional communities. The scorecard provided a structured, transparent way to evaluate our impact and guide future improvements.”
Built upon Ecotourism Australia’s globally recognised certification standards, the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard offers businesses and tourism operators a comprehensive snapshot of their sustainability journey at a given moment. It enables organisations to assess their operations against 50 detailed criteria spanning four key pillars: Sustainable Management, Environmental Impacts, Socio-Economic Impacts and Cultural Impacts.
“It gave us a measurable, credible framework to assess and communicate our sustainability performance,” explains Kidd.
“Achieving an 80% score – including 95% for Environmental Impacts and 100% for both Sustainable Management and Socio-Economic Impacts – validated the work we’ve done to date. However, receiving 25% for Cultural Impacts highlighted an area we’re now actively focused on deepening.”
Delighted by their impressive results, Into The Wild Escapes are inspired to further advance their sustainability journey.
“The Scorecard process made it clear how close we are in many areas and outlined the path to Certification. For us, formal certification is the logical next step – not only to strengthen our credibility with guests and partners, but to ensure we stay accountable as we scale. Our ambition is to help lead the shift toward regenerative tourism in Australia, and Certification would be a powerful part of that journey.”
Into The Wild was among the many businesses that leveraged funding from Destination NSW to complete the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard. In collaboration with Ecotourism Australia and Tourism Australia, Destination NSW provided eligible visitor economy businesses across the state with free access to this pre-certification tool. This initiative demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering businesses to improve their sustainability practices and create the space needed to make sustainability a genuine priority.
“[Completing the scorecard] had definitely been on our radar, but the Destination NSW grant was the catalyst that moved it from the “someday” list to a clear priority. Their support – both financial and in terms of guidance helped us dedicate the time and resources needed to complete the process properly. We’re incredibly glad we did. The scorecard has already become a valuable tool for tracking our progress and driving ongoing improvement.”
Looking ahead, Into The Wild Escapes is committed to building on this momentum by pursuing full certification and embedding sustainability even deeper into every aspect of their operations. As they continue to grow, their focus remains clear: to create meaningful connections between people and nature while championing regenerative tourism practices that protect and celebrate Australia’s unique landscapes and communities. With a strong foundation, clear goals and the support of key partners, Into The Wild Escapes is poised to lead the way in sustainable travel experiences – inviting guests not just to visit, but to truly belong in the wild.
Discover more about Into The Wild Escapes here.
Into The Wild Escapes completed their Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard on 14 Jul 2025 and is a snapshot of their current sustainability practices. The scorecard is not a certification and is valid for 12 months upon completion.
The 2025 Annual General Meeting
of
Ecotourism Australia Limited - ACN 110 755 694
will take place on
Monday 20 October 2025
at 11:00am AEST / 12.00pm AEDT
and will be held online via Zoom.
This is an important opportunity for members to engage in the governance of our organisation and shape its future direction.
At this year’s AGM, the Board of Ecotourism Australia will present a proposed new Constitution for member approval. The proposed Constitution has been designed to:
- Introduce a balanced structure of member-elected Directors (maximum 5) and Board-appointed Directors (maximum 4)
- Update Director terms from 2 years to 3 years, with a maximum of two terms (6 years total)
- Meet current regulatory requirements for a Company Limited by Guarantee
- Be modernised and contemporary to meet Ecotourism Australia’s strategic imperatives and our objects
- Provide a streamlined and concise governance framework.
As required under the Corporations Act 2001, the new Constitution must be formally adopted by members through a special resolution at the AGM. This means that at least 75% of members present and voting will need to support the resolution for it to pass. Your vote is therefore important in shaping the future governance of Ecotourism Australia.
The draft Constitution will be made available to members shortly, so you have time to review it ahead of the AGM.
We have an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Directors for the Ecotourism Australia board. Please note that while EOIs will be open, no new Directors will be appointed before the AGM.
Your participation is vital to ensure our governance reflects the strength, professionalism and sustainability goals of our membership. Further supporting materials for the AGM will be shared shortly.
Thank you for your continued support of Ecotourism Australia. We look forward to your involvement at the AGM.
