AROUND 30 people gathered on a beautiful winter morning for the first of five free guided bushwalks run by environmental organisation OzGREEN across the Coffs Coast.
The Walk. Eat. Connect. series launched at Bundageree on Thursday 30 July.
Participants enjoyed a gentle walk through the trees and along the beach before sharing lunch.
Along the way, the group paused for moments of quiet mindfulness and connection.
The walk was unhurried and accessible to all fitness levels, sparking easy camaraderie among strangers.
“Any opportunity to get into nature makes me feel well,” remarked one attendee afterwards.
While this exact format is new, it builds on OzGREEN’s previous ‘Walks for Wellness’ pilot and nature photography walks.
Nature and bushwalking were also the top requested activities at OzGREEN’s 2025 Women’s Dinner.
OzGREEN Co-CEO Amy Denshire shares a deep personal passion for the initiative.
“I experienced depression as a teenager and, as an adult, lost loved ones to mental ill-health,” Amy says.
“I have researched the strong links between nature, movement, and social connection.
“It is deeply meaningful to me to help create programs that support people’s wellbeing.
“People do not need to be experienced bushwalkers or arrive knowing anyone.
“They can simply come along.”
Over lunch, the group heard from Carers NSW about the Carer Gateway service – a free national support program available to Australia’s 2.65 million unpaid carers.
This blend of wellbeing and community sits at the heart of OzGREEN’s mission.
“We see sustainability as being about more than protecting the natural environment,” Amy explains.
“Strong communities also need social connection, personal wellbeing, and economic resilience.
“When people feel connected to a place and to one another, they are also more likely to care for the environment around them.”
The Walk. Eat. Connect. series is supported by Macpac and Healthy Communities Mid North Coast.
It runs every second Thursday through to 10 September, with remaining walks at Bindarri National Park, Bellingen Cemetery, Coffs Creek, and the Syndicate Track.
All events run from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm and include a free lunch.
There are a few spots remaining and bookings can be made through the OzGREEN website.
By Jessica MILLER
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