Griffith University (Gold Coast) Environmental Student's Society

GUESS

HERON ISLAND TRIP – JAN 2005 – 1 WEEK IN PARADISE
Contact Tanya Huon to book your spot

Heron Island is a Coral Cay in the Capricorn group of Islands.  It’s an active research station (HIRS) for the University of Queensland.  The Heron Island P&O resort also occupies the island and they make a wicked range of tropical cocktails.  There is always lots to see around Heron Island, snorkeling is great fun and you often see Green Turtles, reef sharks, Morey eels and if you’re lucky, Manta rays.

RECREATION & EDUCATION

The trip is recreational and educational. For GUGCESS to get cheap student accommodation, HIRS requires that the trip have an educational component.  Four demonstrators will be coming with GUGCESS and give you some help and guidance with a small project of your choice.  These projects are not assessed and no written work is required.  There may also be a couple of presentations made by the demonstrators about Heron Island or their research, which you can attend if you wish.

For those of you considering Honours or further study, this trip is a great opportunity to meet researchers who have “been there, done that”.  You’ll be able to pick their brains and get some pointers on ideal projects, and career advice in a non-formal and relaxed environment.

DIVING & SNORKELING

Diving has been available from one of the HIRS boats in the past.  These boats are available to GUGCESS if they are not booked for research dives.  HIRS is very safety conscious about diving.  Current medical certificates, valid diving cards and recent minimum levels of experience are required.  Some dive gear is available for hire on the island.  If you are interested in diving please see James Webley in room 3.25 Science 1 for details of what is required.  If you do not have everything that HIRS needs HIRS will not allow you to dive.

Diving is an additional cost and depends on how much gear you need to hire and how many other people go diving.  Prices are subject to change and set by HIRS though.

Diving is also available at through the P&O resort, however Resort guests are given priority.

WHEN & HOW MANY PLACES ARE THERE

GUGCESS has tentatively booked 16 student places on the island at HIRS from the 20^th – 26^th January 2005.  This coincides with the Green Turtle nesting and hatching season.  So with a bit of luck you should see some juvenile turtles take their first breath of air and make a dash for the open ocean.

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD

Accommodation is provided by HIRS in 2 dorms of bunk beds.  Food is purchased by GUGCESS and we will be preparing breakfast lunch and dinner in the kitchen facilities provided.

GETTING THERE AND BACK

All you have to do is get to Gladstone.  An easy option is to catch the Tilt Train to Gladstone on the 19^th January 2005.  We plan stay in the Park View Motel that night (19/1/05) and enjoy Gladstone’s nightlife, (Cactus Jack’s is always good) and then catch the ferry to Heron the next morning. 

The ferry should return us to Gladstone by about 4pm on the 26^th January 2005.  Again we plan to stay in Gladstone that night before catching the Tilt Train back to Brisbane on the 27^th January 2005. 

Of course you can make your own arrangements if you wish.  The ferry leaves Gladstone harbour at 10 am.

COST FOR 7 DAYS ON HERON ISLAND

First you must be a member of GUGCESS ($2). To find out how to become a member of GUGCESS please contact James Webley below.

The cost for the trip is $600 for a student who does not dive.  This includes the ferry to and from the island, the accommodation for two nights in Gladstone, accommodation for 6 nights at HIRS and food (three meals a day).

Diving will be additional, and there is usually a small charge for those that went on the boat to snorkel with the divers.

It’s going to be first in best dressed.  A $200 deposit is required by 30th September 2004 so that we can hold your place with HIRS.

QUESTIONS

Please contact

Tanya Huon

The trip is subject to getting enough students and obtaining the necessary permits and permissions from GBRMPA.