The Pinnacles: My Thoughts on Nature and our Wellbeing.

Recently a group of us went exploring the Pinnacles in the Coromandel Forest Park, about an hour and a half outside Auckland. The diversity of life that we encountered on this trip was insane, especially since the area was a Kauri logging site less than 100 years ago, and is now dense native bush.

It's important to realise exactly what we're fighting for. Whether you like the aesthetically pleasing pictures you can get, or the feeling of complete peace knowing you are fully in touch with nature, understanding why you're passionate is the key to staying passionate about sustainability.

My challenge for you is to get outside, even if it's just in your street. Breathe the fresh air we are lucky to have here in New Zealand, appreciate the trees that are nearby, the sounds that surround you. It's so easy to forget the wonders that are never fully captured in photos are on your doorstep and that there are still precious parts of the earth that you can protect, even just by going to a tree planting day or keeping your dog on a leash near native breeding grounds.

On our tramp we went up to the summit at sunset, and made our way down in the dark. Before getting back to the hut we sat down and watched the stars come out. The air was still, the bush quiet, and the only light was from the moon above and the windows of the distant hut. The tramp resulted in a complete detachment from the 'busyness' of life, and was instead replaced with friendship and beauty. I realised how lucky we are and how important it is that other places like this don't disappear, so future generations can enjoy them.

The Earth is beautiful, and there is still a lot of beauty left. All we have to do is keep hold of it.