Participation in outdoor activities has continued to grow. This is especially the case after the lockdowns of COVID- 19, when people recognised the vital importance of interacting with the natural environment for our wellbeing. How people choose to interact with the outdoors can be summarised in the table below.
| Type of Activity | Experience Sought | |
| Outdoor Aware | Virtual or visual- On-screen viewing and/ or spectating Incidental- Spending time in green spaces near home Outdoor play- Play and exploration of outdoor places | Security Comfort Social interaction |
| Outdoor Active | Managed outdoor recreation- Participation in low- risk outdoor activities in managed environments Adventure recreation- Participation in more challenging activities and extended visits to natural environments Outdoor immersion- Multi-day activity and/or overnight camping in natural environments | Managed risk Some comfort Some interaction with others |
| Outdoor Adventurous | Wilderness experience- Self-sufficient, multi-day experience in remote locations Extreme adventure- Life-affirming, life-changing challenge in extreme conditions | Solitude Risk taking Self-reliance |
Outdoor activities continue to be the most popular forms of physical activity in Australia. The top 3 responses to surveys conducted across all age groups indicate that walking, swimming and cycling are the most common ways people engage in physical activity.