From Rivers of Sand to the Great Barrier Reef: The coastal geomorphology of beaches, sand islands, and coral reefs of south east Queensland

Details

Date: 7 February – 12 February
Departs from: Brisbane, Australia
Ends: Gladstone, Australia
Trip Leaders: Dan Harris (UQ), Annie Lau (UQ) and Jamie Shulmeister (UC)
Cost ($NZD inc 15% GST):
Option 1, 5 days approx $1200 per person
Option 2, 8 days approx $2200 per person

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Description

This trip will run from Brisbane to Gladstone over 5 days with an optional extension of 3 days to Heron Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR).  

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Day 1
Brisbane to Noosa

The trip will start at the University of Queensland St Lucia campus and head north to Caloundra. Sunshine Coast is a rapidly urbanising part of Australia. We will look at coastal development including canal estates and the breaching of the spit at the north end of Bribie Island with implications for coastal development.  We will head north to Mt Coolum for an overview of the coast and then on to Noosa here we will finish the day with an examination of the Noosa Beach renourishment scheme. Overnight stay in/near Noosa. 

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Day 2
Noosa to Rainbow Beach

Morning walk in Noosa National Park for overview of coast and observation of sand systems to the north. Drive to Lake Weyba to look at environmental issues around a lagoon system attached to the Noosa River. Drive north to Great Sandy National Park. Sunset at the Carlo Blowout at Rainbow Beach. Stay at Rainbow Beach.

On the next two days the field trip is split into two groups. Each day ½ the group will visit K’gari while the other does a walking tour of the Cooloola Sand Mass/Rainbow Beach cliffs. (This is because we need a 4WD bus for K’gari). 

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Day 3/4
Drive to Inskip Peninsul

Short stop to discuss Holocene history of the Peninsula. Return to Rainbow Beach. Walking excursion along the rainbow cliffs with an explanation of the Quaternary history of the sand cliffs and coastal processes at Rainbow Beach. Afternoon trip into the dunefield to Poona Lake with examination of the western side of the dune field.  (May be reversed depending on tides). Stay Rainbow Beach.

Day 3/4
Ferry Ride to K’gari (Fraser Island), the World’s Largest Sand Island

Drive north to Eli Creek, look at stacked dune sequences at the Pinnacles and head to Champagne Pools/Waddy Point. Discussion of evolution of K’gari. Visit to a sandblow.  Return to Rainbow Beach. (K’gari schedule is tide controlled and alterations will be made to allow as much as possible to be seen).

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Day 5
Rainbow Beach to Gladstone

Drive to Burrum Heads to look at beach ridge systems then a drive through classic Queensland country to Gladstone.  Overnight at Gladstone. 

For some participants the trip finishes here. Depending on ferry timetables and logistics there may be a one day break here. 

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Day 6

Early morning ferry transfer to Heron Island (UQ field station on Barrier Reef). Afternoon reef walk. Talk on GBR. 

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Day 7

Morning snorkel on reef followed by an afternoon tour of the coral cay. (all activities may be moved around to fit with tides.

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Day 8

Morning trip back to Gladstone. Fieldtrip finishes in Gladstone.

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