Robert Irwin reveals he was glad to leave Los Angeles after 'DWT'S win: "I am not a city kid"

Robert Irwin has admitted he was happy to leave Los Angeles after winning Dancing with the Stars, saying city life does not suit him and that he prefers being surrounded by nature.

The conservationist won season 34 of the US dance competition before quickly stepping away from Hollywood. Speaking after his victory, Irwin reflected on his time in California and made it clear that the experience, while positive, confirmed where he truly feels at home.

“Being in LA for the last three months has been wonderful, but I am not a city kid,” he said. “I live out in the bush and have grown up there, so it’s good to be back where there’s a bit of greenery.”

Although he is not currently back in Australia, Irwin is spending time in South Africa while filming a new season of I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!. He said he was eager to leave the urban environment behind and embrace a more natural setting again. “I couldn’t wait to get here, actually,” he added.

Irwin was raised in Australia alongside his mother Terri Irwin and sister Bindi Irwin, with the family continuing the legacy of his late father, Steve Irwin, through their work at Australia Zoo. The wildlife park remains central to Robert’s conservation work and personal life.

He has previously spoken about the deep connection he feels to his home country and to his father’s memory. “It is where I feel his energy and his passion more than anywhere else,” he said last year. “If Australia were a person, it would be my dad.”

Irwin’s Dancing with the Stars win came nearly a decade after his sister Bindi claimed the Mirrorball Trophy. Speaking after the finale, he said matching her achievement meant “everything to him” and added, “This has absolutely changed my life.”

Despite his success on American television, Irwin has made clear that his future remains firmly rooted in the natural world rather than the city spotlight.