The story behind Gumnut Trails
Hi, I'm Christina
It was 2020, our daughter had just turned two, and that's when it hit me.
Her childhood looked nothing like the one I remembered growing up in country Victoria, where my brother and I spent every waking moment outside, surrounded by nature.
In fact, the closest she'd come to the Australian bush was a plastic playground with a few tall trees nearby.
I wanted her to experience more of what I loved about my own childhood: the freedom to explore, the joy of being outdoors and the adventures that happened every day.
And I wanted that for other families, too. More fun, more adventure, more creativity and more time together - without the stress of planning it all.
Because as parents, carers and grandparents, it's not always easy to slow down and simply have fun with our kids, even though those moments matter so much.
So, I set out to create something everyone could enjoy, with storytelling, beautiful illustrations and bloody brilliant adventures.
Let the fun begin xxx Christina
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My childhood memories
A childhood spent outdoors in country Victoria - camping trips to national parks, tree-planting days, late night treasure hunts, and cricket on the beach!
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Fast forward to today
Weekends spent exploring, discovering magical worlds, being amazed at how intrepid our daughter has become.
Why it matters
Time in nature gives kids the freedom to explore, get creative, build confidence and discover things for themselves.
It gives us ALL the space to step away from the pressures of life, unplug and slow down. It's the mental health break we all need.
A wander through the bush, an afternoon at the beach or an hour exploring your local park can be enough to lift your mood. Learning that from a young age is a life-changing skill.
And when nature becomes our friend, we want to look after it. And let's be honest, our planet needs all the help it can get right now.
That's why we also support wildlife and community projects that protect the places and creatures we love.
Donations that help conserve and connect.
We donate to wildlife groups and community projects that help protect our wildlife and encourage our connection with nature.
Read about our recent projects:
The making of Gumnut Trails
A behind the scenes look at how the first Gumnut Trails Adventure Guides came together - from the idea, illustrations, writing and research.