9 Little Things The WAE Crew Do To Reset That Have Big Impact

These tiny-but-powerful ideas from a small-yet-mighty team might just be the inspiration you need for a midweek nature reset.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands and waters for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

If you’re like the We Are Explorers crew and have a few too many tabs open (physically and metaphorically), then take a leaf out of our book and CTRL-ALT-DEL with some time in nature.

Oftentimes, we get caught up in the mentality that nature time has to look like an awe-inspiring expedition – something that challenges your limits and leaves you with unforgettable memories. But midweek microadventures can be just as powerful for the mind and soul.

Thanks to our mates at Little Dragon, I asked the WAE crew for the little ways they reset in nature that have a BIG impact on them – much like the way Little Dragon donates 1% of its annual net revenue to have a big impact on Aussie native wildlife. More on that later.

1. Afternoon Trail Run & Balcony Brew With a Mate

Nothing clears my mind like a trail run.

If I’m feeling like a tightly-wound coil I’ll ditch my headphones and cover my smartwatch with tape. (If I don’t track it, the run won’t exist.)

I jog half a kilometre down to the local trailhead before I descend into the valley. The treetops always wave with afternoon breeze and I feel it amplified through the sweat on my skin.

If I’ve timed it right, the sun will be filtering through the trees, warming my back, as I wind along the creek on the climb back home. It’s always darker in the valley and when I get home, true sunset is just beginning.

Whether I’m alone or with mates, I’ll grab a brew from the fridge and head out onto the balcony to catch the last rays. It’s a chance to prolong the chat or simply reflect. To cool down alongside the day.

– Tim Ashelford, Publisher

2. Sunset Beach Walk (in arguably the best spot in Aus to catch the sunset)

A part of life you become accustomed to in the Top End is sunset anxiety i.e the everyday stress around missing the sunset (and it being an absolute cracker).

Luckily, the solution to relieving this stress (and any other stress I’ve accumulated over the day) is a barefoot walk on the beach while watching the blazing sun sink into the sea.

Up here, sunset lasts almost an hour, as the sky rolls through a palette of golden yellow, soft pink, unbelievable red and orange, and if your eyes are quick enough to spot it, a flash of green.

Digging my toes into the sand and letting the warm, salty water rush over them as I bid farewell to the sun helps me wash away the day that was and prepare for the one that’s on its way.

– Amy Fairall, News and Features Editor

3. Walk the Wetland Boardwalk With My Son

Having recently become a dad I’ve taken a whole new view on my time spent in nature. I used to be all about big mountains and gnarly trails, but now the focus is on experiencing the simple things with my son.

Luckily, at the end of my street is an amazing little pocket of nature that not many people realise exists. It’s a paperbark wetland that has a winding raised boardwalk. The frogs croaking, the birds chirping, and the fresh smell of eucalyptus are all I need to clear my mind and reset. And for him it’s a whole new world that he’s discovering.

– Josh Fletcher, Sales and Partnerships Manager

4. Bevvies Around the Bonfire

Nothing says weekend quite like kicking back around the backyard firepit with a bevvie or two. What’s even better is being able to pretend it’s the weekend… on Tuesday.

The clock hits five, and I’m fridge-bound, reaching for something cold (ginger beer I’m looking at you!), and glancing out the window to see if my neighbours are on their way.

My place teems with wildlife – cows, goats, chickens, and a kaleidoscope of birds and crawling things.

Relaxed around the fire, soothed by the chorus of animals and quiet conversation, the day draws to a close. Cheers to mid-week chills.

– Jess Nehme, Content Editor 

5. Ride the Bike to a New Swim Spot

I’ve recently moved to the big smoke (Sydney) and breaking out of the apartment after a big day of screen time, sirens, and jackhammers is a must. Sydney is no doubt a big ol’ city, but decorating its perimeter are countless harbour walks and sparkling swim spots where you can turn your back on the skyscrapers and reset in nature.

It’s a simple enough formula: hop on the bike and ride to a new location on the map where a swim spot is marked. With daylight savings back in action, there’s more than enough time to soak in some rays and swim in the sunset.

This also usually becomes a social opportunity to meet up with mates and have a tipple. Spicy weather goes well with a spicy drink (no not you spicy marg, simmer down), a zingy ginger beer to keep things fresh and fun.

– Sian Brain, Digital Campaign Producer

6. Hit the Tamborine Mountain Trails With My Toddler

This may be cheesy, but it has to be said – kids help you appreciate the small things in life. And while I loved driving up to Tamborine Mountain for a hike under the canopy before I had my daughter, it hits different now. And holy mother nature, I can’t tell you how much my mind and body craves time outdoors nowadays.

Every single Thursday my toddler and I escape the sun-soaked Gold Coast in search of greener pastures in the hinterland and do a trail walk. It’s slow and often narrated by my chatty two-year-old.

But I can’t get over what she sees, hears, smells, touches – it’s a sensory overload for her. And a chance to breathe, offload, and reset for me.

– Jas Rolfe, Digital Campaign Producer

7. Morning Wander Through City Parkland With My Pup

I’ve always been an inner-city gal, but I recently moved (slightly) out to the suburbs – and to my delight, discovered a lush stretch of bushland right across the road. Even better, it’s dog friendly.

It’s best experienced when the sun’s just risen, when the air feels fresh and crisp, and the native birds are conducting their morning symphony. There’s no better way to start the day than a stroll through the rocky overhangs, towering native trees, and winding tracks – watching as my dog rockets in and out of the bush, hell-bent on finding the perfect stick to bring home.

Breathing in the fresh scent of blooming wattle and a cheeky hello or two to the other morning regulars (canine and human, alike), it’s the perfect ritual for clearing the mind ahead of the day to come.

– Julia Aebi, Sales & Partnerships Executive

8. A Sunset Kayak Without Purpose or Direction

The older I get the more I realise that the only way I truly ‘reset,’ is in silence.

After a big week of deadlines, persistent Slack notifications, and the dreaded calendar ping of a forgotten meeting, I don’t always feel up to a big adventure or even a beer with mates, so I gravitate toward one of the many brilliant bodies of water on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, craving the calm it creates.

The pounding of the waves is paradoxically stilling for the soul. The water laps softly at the sides of the kayak, sending me on my way without hesitation, purpose or direction.

I take a moment to breathe in the last of the sun-kissed air, my paddle motionless while my toes and fingers drag across the slick surface, nothing but the sound of the water and the occasional burst of laughter somewhere on the shore.

The only deadline, the setting of the sun, and the lure of a cold can of ginger beer calling my name.

– Anna Wall, Senior Campaign Manager

9. Post-Work Bike Ride to a Lookout

My current choice of mid-week adventure involves pedals, gravel, and if I’m lucky, gum trees.

While squeezing in a morning adventure sets me up for the day, it’s having this after work soirée with nature that pushes me through my to-do list.

As I ride from my computer, the wind shifts my eyes from square back to round as the sun inches closer to the ocean horizon in my peripheries. Usually it’s up the hill for a lap of the nearby conservation park, before bombing the hill back home to watch the final slithers of sunset.

– Jack Brookes, Social and Community Manager

Little Dragon’s Pledge to Australian Wildlife Conservation

Inspired by the plight of the small but mighty native Australian dragon, Little Dragon Ginger Beer is all about celebrating Aussie wildlife. And the Little Dragon team aren’t just gasbagging about it, they’re taking action.

Each year, Little Dragon donates 1% of its net revenue to Australian charities and foundations, like the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, to which they’ve donated $20,000 so far. They also support independent wildlife workers, filmmakers in the conservation space, and environmental advocacy groups, like the Grassland Earless Dragon Alliance.

So, the next time you reach for an icy post-adventure Little Dragon brew, you’ll know you’re part of positive change for Australian wildlife and environment.

Feature photo by @thetantrap