One-day Mid-conference Trips (Wednesday 3rd December)
Water, carbon, trees and mountains
Cost: $93.50
Western Sydney woodlands and Blue Mountains - Visit two major experimental sites in the Sydney basin where movement of water and carbon are being studied at the whole-plant level, then onto Mt Tomah in the Blue Mountains, the cool-climate garden of the Botanic Gardens Trust, finishing off with a visit to Hawkesbury River winery.
Tour led by Dr Charles Morris – University of Western Sydney
Cost Includes: Transport in an air-conditioned coach, morning and afternoon teas, lunch, fruit and water available on board bus, park entry fees
Not included: Personal expenses such as souvenirs, alcoholic beverages
Ecology of the Illawarra: birds, fire and subtropical rainforest
Cost: $99.00
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve and Minnamurra Falls - Travel from Sydney along the spectacular "Grand Pacific Drive" - the coast road to Wollongong - and through lush, green farmland and subtropical rainforest remnants up to the Illawarra escarpment and Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, formerly a RAOU Bird Observatory. Take a gentle 3-hour bushwalk with Dr Jack Baker (former warden of the observatory, "birdo" and raconteur) through heath and woodland, keeping your eyes and ears open for rare Eastern Bristlebirds and Ground Parrots, and hear about the extensive research on birds and fire done in the reserve. After a picnic lunch, the coach will take you to the beautiful Minnamurra Falls in Budderoo National Park, an important remnant of the once extensive Illawarra rainforests. Hear a talk by a local rainforest expert, walk to the falls, and after a quick afternoon tea, return to Sydney directly via the Princes Highway.
Tour led by Dr Jack Baker – Department of Environment & Climate Change (NSW)
Cost Includes: Transport in an air-conditioned coach, morning and afternoon teas, lunch, fruit and water available on board bus, park entry fees
Not included: Personal expenses such as souvenirs, alcoholic beverages
Canyons and conservation: Sydney sandstone country
SORRY THIS TOUR HAS SOLD OUT!
Cost: $60.50 + return train-fare ($27 full-fare)
Grand Canyon, Blue Mountains -The Sydney sandstone basin is a major geological feature that dominates the Sydney region. It stretches from Gosford on the Central Coast, west to the Blue Mountains, and south to Nowra. It defines much of what is distinctive about the geology and ecology of the Sydney region. This trip explores the ecology and canyons of the beautiful Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, with a focus on rare and endemic plants, including the unique Wollemi Pine. The Blue Mountains WHA has an extremely high diversity of plants, with 152 families and 484 genera, including 92 species of eucalypts and 127 rare or threatened plant species. A staggering one hundred and thirty two of these vascular plants are endemic to the Blue Mountains. The canyons of the Blue Mountains in particular are special places, cool and narrow slots carved into the sandstone over thousands of years by watercourses, and they drip with ferns and mosses and provide habitat to a number of rare and endemic animals and plants. The most famous of these is the Wollemi Pine, discovered by David Noble (the trip host) in 1994 in a remote canyon, a tree preciously known only from fossils and thought to have been extinct for millions of years. The Grand Canyon is one of the few canyons that can be explored without special equipment, and the 5 km (3.5 hour) bushwalk is suitable for people with moderate fitness and is rated medium difficulty. Standard bushwalking gear is all that is needed. This walk is particularly enjoyable in summer, with its rainforest, waterfalls and towering cliffs.
Tour led by Dave Noble - Department of Environment & Climate Change (NSW)
Cost Includes: Lunch and transport from Blackheath Station to and from the canyon.
Not included: Train travel from Sydney to Blackheath (return adult fare $27) is NOT included. Participants will be met at Blackheath station. Personal expenses & alcoholic beverages not included. Morning tea at own expense (Blackheath).
Sydney Harbour cruise: marine ecology in an urban setting
Cost: $96.80
This trip will explore some of the highlights of Sydney Harbour. Based on a professional charter vessel, we will cruise the inner harbour and heads whilst soaking up in the breathtaking views. On board, we will have members of the Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science to talk about the current research projects and significant discoveries made in the Harbour. At lunch, we will disembark at the Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science (at the beautiful Chowder Bay) where there will be a chance to tour the facilities, view some of the projects underway and meet members of the project teams.
Tour led by: Dr Alistair Poore (University of NSW) and Dr Ross Coleman (University of Sydney)
Cost includes: Boat hire, lunch, transfers
Not included: Personal expenses such as souvenirs, alcoholic beverages
Two-day Post-conference Trip
(Friday 5th December - Sunday 7th December)
Disturbance and coastal ecological communities: Myall Lakes
Cost: $260.00
The tour will spend two days in Myall Lakes National Park on the Mid-North Coast of NSW. Myall Lakes NP contains one of the largest coastal lake systems in NSW. The trip, led by Dr Barry Fox and Dr Jen Taylor will present a taste of the variety of vegetation types in the park (swamp, heathland, open forest and rainforest) and discuss the ecological research that has given insights to way the communities of the park respond to impacts of mining and fire, particularly the long-term studies by Barry and Fox and associated, and by Peter Myerscough.
Tour led by: Dr Barry Fox (University of NSW - retired) and Dr Jen Taylor (Australian Catholic University)
Cost Includes: Transport in an air-conditioned minibus, experienced driver, all morning and afternoon teas, 2 x breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner (one lunch and one dinner at own expense in cafe and restaurant), fruit and water available on board bus, park entry fees, bunk-style accommodation at UNSW Smith's Lake Research Station.
Not included: Travel insurance (recommended), bedding (can be provided for an extra $12 p), towels, personal expenses, alcoholic beverages. One café lunch and one restaurant dinner.
