Areas declared as wilderness provide an opportunity for biological conservation through their large size, lack of modification, restriction of access and management with the primary aim of maintaining natural systems and genetic diversity. Wilderness areas may be impacted by global change such as ozone depletion and it appears that even “pristine” areas are undergoing accelerated extinctions, particularly of amphibians. Wilderness areas in New South Wales provide crucial refuges to a number of endangered reptiles and amphibians. Species inventories and systematic ecological monitoring will provide an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of wilderness management.