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Small mammal, reptile, ant and plant diversity, soil health and landscape condition were compared at sites that were either 1) reserved for conservation, 2) currently stocked or 3) long-ungrazed National Parks. Park and reserve soils were more stable and had higher nutrient levels compared with grazed sites. Park sites had significantly greater patchiness, and, along with reserves, three times greater levels of plant cover and landscape organization, greater cryptogam cover, and less bare ground. Reserve sites supported 18% more plant species. We found few difference in ant, mammal or reptile fauna between treatments, and although skinks were more abundant on park and reserve sites. Overall our results indicate substantial better ecological health in the reserves compared with the grazed sites, which we attribute to the better health of reserves prior to fencing, and the declining condition of grazed sites due to drought.