Walking the Overland Track in Tasmania was transformative. At the completion of the six-day, 80 km walk my body felt infused to the core with wild nature. This sense of peace, pureness and oneness with life was singularly special. Indigenous Tasmanians, early Europeans, hikers, ‘influencers’ like Sarah Wilson, and many others have traversed the ancient, rugged and awe-inspiring landscape before me. Each person responds to the energy and pull of this place in their own way. My experience was fully immersive in the capricious elements for which the high country is renowned. At the close of each day I intuitively chose which element had captured my spirit the most. On returning home, it was timely to reflect on the local and global environmental changes that have occurred since the walking track was formalised in 1931. The extent and magnitude of these changes challenge the conservation and protection of this rare and precious World Heritage site like at no other time.
Volcanoes
Volcanoes: nature’s elemental energy exemplified
Vulcanoes are vents in the earth’s crust through which pent-up energy and molten material is released from the interior. Deriving their name from Vulcan, the Roman God of Fire, volcanoes have been treated with awe and respect over human history. With their explosive energy and fiery antics they are the poster-child of books and media related to Planet Earth, ‘natural’ disasters and incredible adventures. My first encounter with these shapers of the earth was in Hawaii. It was there that I fell under the spell of Pele, the Hawaiian Goddess of Volcanoes – one of many gods associated with volcanoes around the globe. Created by passing over a submerged volcanic hotspot, both the Hawaiian Islands and the Galapagos are testament to the constantly moving nature of the earths surface. On land the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ exemplifies the clustering of volcanoes along the boundaries of mobile tectonic plates. While fire and volcanoes are synonymous, the elements of water, air and earth also play a fundamental role in the birth and expression of these conduits of energy. The creation, impact and flow-on effects of volcanoes on our lives makes a fascinating and sometimes surprising story.
Fire up Water down 