FNQ’S GREEN SPACES
MIRANDA STARR IS HELPING FAMILIES MAKE THE MOST OF THE REGION’S NATURAL DELIGHTS, WRITES
WHITFIELD photographer Miranda Starr cannot stand being cooped up indoors.
She is an advocate for getting the family out of the house and enjoying adventures in your own backyard.
The founder of FNQ Adventures Facebook page, which has nearly 10,000 followers, was inspired by the coronavirus lockdown to start a 100-day bucket list challenge, sharing her family’s adventures.
“This is the coronavirus bucket list that I started,” Miranda says.
“While everyone was waiting at home I thought I would do a bucket list to get everyone excited.
“I’ve been adding something new and local for locals to support what we have in the area and to get out more.
“I do plan to get to 100 activities and maybe more.
“Since I started (the 100-day challenge) I’ve got so many more followers. A lot of people were sharing the post. It gave them something to look forward to.”
Miranda, who runs Tropical Kids Photography, documents the family adventures of husband Tony Hazell and their three boys aged 12, 8 and 4, and says the page started after repeated requests for travel recommendations from friends.
“It’s been going for years,” she says. “I started it because we’ve always done a bit of camping, before the kids even.
“People always asked where we went and wanted details.
“I did it as a casual thing to start with, made a Facebook group and shared my post but it started getting a bit serious with a lot going on so I thought I’ll create a page. As I made the page I didn’t expect to see as many people like it as they did.
“I do get excited to share new places with people.
“I get a few messages asking here and there for advice ... things like ‘where are you going and is it safe for kids’?”
Her advice for those families weighed down by chores and struggling to get outdoors?
“The mess is always going to be there and the chores are always going to be there.” she says.
“I say who cares just drop it and get out. You’ve got a message to send to people .... it’s not going to make a difference. Everything can wait.
“By leaving and going out people think it’s going to put them behind but it doesn’t.
“There are crumbs on the bench, that’s fine.
“You could just go in circles. You clean the crumbs and then they eat again.”
Miranda says getting outdoors results in less mess, as meals can be eaten out of the house and kids are worn out and content when they return home.
“I think some people get scared to do these things because it’s not going to suit them,” she says.
“They just need a little nudge.
“The more you do it the better the kids get at doing it.”
Having lived in the region for 14 years, and after exploring what seems like every nook and cranny of it, Miranda says there are still new places she is discovering.
“Yesterday was the first time I had walked around Lake Barrine,” she says.
“I’ve been to Lake Barrine before but have never done the 5km walk around the lake.
“It’s a beautiful, easy walk with lovely boardwalk sections and lookout stops.
“This place is so pristine and the rainforest here is alive with birds. There are so many beautiful places I haven’t been to yet.”
Miranda is hard-pressed to pick a favourite.
“I don’t know if I have one particular favourite. I love way too many. I love the creeks here, I am a creek person.
“I go completely insane if I stay inside for too long and especially the oldest (son), with his imagination he needs to be outside.”