Instagram blogger reveals why she is being abused by fellow nature-lovers
A young New South Wales adventurer, who developed an online following for her snaps of Australia’s stunning landscape, has found herself on the end of a series of “abusive” messages from her fellow nature-lovers.
From hidden coves to plunging waterfalls, Madeline Zotter’s Instagram page proudly displays what the country’s backyard has to offer – but not everyone is so thrilled by the 22-year-old’s passion project.
The Narrabri resident last week took to social media to defend herself after she came under fire for her seemingly innocent posts.
“This weekend alone I received four abusive, unkind or negative messages because I wrote the location of a place,” Ms Zotter wrote on Instagram.
“I'm just going to kindly ask if everyone with an unkind, negative or straight up nasty though to please stop.”
Despite the perceived isolation of the locations, the Globewalk Australia ambassador explained that information on how to access the idyllic spots was just one google search away.
“To find any of these spots you just need to log onto a (New South Wales National Park) website and look up the area,” she explained.
“So they’re not exactly that secret.”
She said she been labelled a “brat” and has received almost 20 abusive messages from fellow hikers for revealing the locations.
Further comments accused Ms Zotter of being the reason the parks were becoming overpopulated and trashed by tourists.
After battling depression and anxiety during her high schooling, Ms Zotter said she found a new passion in hiking, News Corp reported.
In 2015 she started Waterfall Wandering – but said over the past 12 months the outdoors has become an exclusive club and a “competition” to get the best photos.
She explained that her posts also include warnings about the hikes and advice on what equipment to bring along.
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