34th International Geological Congress (IGC): AUSTRALIA 2012

Q-1 B Geology of Heron Island, Southern Great Barrier Reef
Post Trip: 6 days 5 nights - Saturday 11 August to Thursday 16 August 2012
Starts: Gladstone Marina, Gladstone
Finishes: Gladstone Marina, Gladstone
Numbers limited to 30
Cost: Land: $2680 per person share twin/double
74 34 th IGC AUSTRALIA 2012 | Fourth Circular
Single supplement: $865
Air: $200
Trip description: Travel by launch, Reef Voyager, to Heron Island, part of the Capricorn-Bunker group
located at the Southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. The reef can be examined for
reef zonation, reef-building processes during the Holocene, carbonate sediment
types, their erosion and dispersal, carbonate facies distribution and early diagenetic
phenomena
Highlights: Snorkelling in the tropical waters of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef
with its cays, corals and stunning marine life. Resort accommodation on beautiful
tropical Heron Island.
Trip Leader: Dr John Jell, The University of Queensland
Special notes: Specific joining instructions apply to this field trip and will be provided upon
receipt and confirmation of trip booking. . All meals and snorkelling activities are
included. Optional scuba diving and helicopter flights over Great Barrier Reef are
available. This field trip is not suitable for children.
Day by day itinerary Day 1 - Saturday 11th August 2012 - Brisbane to Heron Island
Depart Brisbane on your flight to Gladstone where you will be met on arrival and
transferred to the Gladstone Marina for your launch transfer to Heron Island on
the Reef Voyager. The trip is approximately 2 hours. On arrival you will be met
and welcomed with a short time to settle into your room before meeting for lunch
followed by a logistics and safety induction and lecture on the reefs and islands of
the Capricorn and Bunker Groups and their regional setting.
In the late afternoon there’s an initial inspection of the sand cay, beach rock and
surrounding reef flat (Site1) before meeting for dinner.
Overnight: Heron Island Resort
Meals: L / D
Day 2 - Sunday 12th August 2012 - Heron Island
After an early breakfast there’s a group snorkelling induction and acquisition of
equipment with time to practice in the ocean. After morning tea you will have
an examination of the southern reef flat (Site 2) followed by lunch then a semisubmersible
examination of reef slope (Site3). Finish the day with afternoon tea and
a lecture followed by dinner.
Overnight: Heron Island Resort
Meals: B / L / D
Day 3 - Monday 13th August 2012 - Heron Island
After breakfast take a boat to Heron lagoon to snorkel on patch reefs (Site 6), then
traverse in the boat across the reef top and snorkel on windward reef slope with
spur and groove structures (Site 7). After morning tea there will be an examination
of the northern reef flat (Site 8) followed by lunch. In the afternoon enjoy a
helicopter over-flight of Heron/Wistari reefs before afternoon tea and a lecture and
examination of sediment samples.
Return to your rooms with time to freshen up before dinner.
Overnight: Heron Island Resort
Meals: B / L / D