Wanderstories details North Queensland’s great outdoor adventures

Townsville local, Luen Warneke has been documenting his adventures online for his website “Wanderstories” which offers a detailed guide on Townsville and North Queensland’s great outdoor adventures.

Townsville local, Luen Warneke has been documenting his adventures online for his website “Wanderstories” which offers a detailed guide on Townsville and North Queensland’s great outdoor adventures.

Mr Warneke said Wanderstories started as a travel website but slowly shifted into an outdoor resource focusing on documenting the natural surrounds of Townsville and North Queensland.

“I’ve been exploring all my life, my parents always took me outdoors when I was younger and I guess my sense of adventure drifted and I wanted to do more hard stuff. I went off track and learned to do some ropes and climbing,” he said.

Jodie Rummer and Luen Warneke. Picture: Supplied

Mr Warneke, along with his partner Jodie Rummer, have been documenting and sharing their knowledge and experiences via informative resources, storytelling, photographs, videos, and cartography.

“When I moved here what I didn’t know was where to go, what to do and where those hikes and adventures were and I had to start exploring them myself a little bit which is a bit daunting,” Ms Rummer said.

“When Luen and I met late 2017 he just started Wanderstories and it was such an amazing idea for a resource.

“It is something I wish was available when I first moved to Townsville and that’s kind of the impression we get from a lot of people, that this resource is available to look at to get ideas and inspiration for getting outdoors,” she said.

Luen Warneke and Jodie Rummer. Picture: Supplied

Mr Warneke said he spends a lot of time staring at maps.

“You might find points of interest, that might be a waterfall or something funny on the aerial imagery that casts a big shadow.

“Its never ending there is always more to explore, I like to go to a different place every time, I rarely go back to the same place unless its good,” he said.

Mr Warneke said his personal achievement has been doing everything in Bowling Green National Park.

Jodie Rummer and Luen Warneke. Picture: Supplied

“I love the untouched nature of it, how pristine it is,” he said.

Ms Rummer said the great outdoors were a peaceful place for so many and said she enjoyed the fresh air, the sounds of birds and said it offered an escape from their busy lives.

“Feeling like I’m pushing to the edge of my own abilities, but then being able to accomplish that is just such an amazing feeling.

Jodie Rummer and Luen Warneke. Picture: Supplied

“And then of course, just like with any exercise that, you know, surge of endorphins through your body, it feels so amazing, so it’s really a combination of, of how you feel physiologically, but then also the serenity and the peace of being in nature.

Ms Rummer said the goal of Wanderstories was to help people fall in love with the most beautiful natural environment in Townsville.

“There are some really close and easy adventures onto some pretty remote, a little bit distant and quite challenging adventures.

“I think we have a better community, a more well versed community in terms of conservation and enjoying and appreciating the natural history of the environment around here.

“That’s kind of the big picture reason, helping people to get outdoors, helping people to see what their bodies can do in the natural environment is pretty amazing, as well,” she said.

If you are interested in becoming an adventurer or want to check out the website, click here.

Originally published as Wanderstories details North Queensland’s great outdoor adventures