Nature, Source of Life

From land sustainability, to water sustainability. After Yandina, the road through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland continues with the town of Wappa Wappa, a visit to the Wappa Wappa Dam, a hike in the subtropical rainforest, and some swimming in waterfalls. Nature after all, is the source of life in various ways.

Wappa Wappa

The Wappa Wappa Dam is one of the several drink water supply dams of the Sunshine coast. At the moment, and due to the rain of the last days and weeks, the dam is at 100% of its potential, which means that it contains 4,694 ML of water!

The catchment area spreads out over 69.70km², and was completed in 1963.

A colourful mural along the walled dam area shows several school children holding each other’s hands. They are actually self-portraits of some children out of the surrounding area, who painted the mural as part of a project to honour and respect the water supply of the community.

Water is a natural resource;
finite, and fragile

Learning the story of the water, from spring over river, from dam to ocean, helps them to understand that water is a natural resource, finite, and fragile, like any other; and how we have to take care of it, and never take it for granted.

Mapleton Falls

The journey continues towards Mapleton where I’d like to see a natural waterfall after the artificial dam. The scenery on the road is astonishing, it makes me forget that I’m so close to the coastline.

Only fresh green hills, houses spread over the landscape, as lost snowflakes, rather than planned urbanised centres. I feel back in New Zealand, or for the Europeans in Switzerland.

The hills, the heights, it takes me miles and miles away from the flat coastline just around the corner. The air is fresher, cooler, and feels even more oxygenated. I open the windows; the smell of soil and greenery fills my longs. I switch of the radio and let the sounds of the forest set the tone.

Make space for that what is real and what really matters: nature.

The Wompoo circuit walk around the Mapleton Falls is short but refreshing, this is the subtropic rainforest. Totally different than where I was living, totally different that the Northern Tropics of Queensland, even though we are still in Queensland.

Step by step during this day I feel reconnecting with nature, let the pragmatic and the artificial out of my system, and make space for that what is real and really matters: nature.

Serenity Falls

The real reconnection with nature comes later on when we go to the Serenity Falls in Buderim. A short but steep hike brings us down to the source of the water, where a natural shower rinses my body and soul. Fresh water by all its means wakes me up, and awakens my connection with nature.

This is where it is eventually all about, and what would solve so many problems. The problem of waste and plastic, of food waste and failed crops, of health and wealth. Nature is the source of everything; the solution rather than the problem.

Although nature is so close to us, however with the walls we’ve build around us, we’ve built walls between us and our essence, the real source of life.

Therefore, days like today, from the farmer’s market, over the potable water dam, to the hikes and the waterfalls, today is all about reconnecting with nature, the real source of everything.

The sunset announces the end of the day like only nature can give the last call, the last shout.

Reconnecting with nature can as well be sitting in an outside bar, on the grass, drinking ginger beer instead of artificial softdrinks, listening to live music, while watching the ducks float on the lake. The sunset announcing the end of the day, like only nature can give that last call, the last shout. Cheers to Nature!