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Escorted Reef Trip with Marine Park Field Managers

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The upgraded zoning plan for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park set an internationally acclaimed benchmark for marine ecosystem protection, with over one third of the Marine Park being zoned as no-take. The briefings and one-on-one discussions offered on these Field Trips by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service managers will provide a detailed insight into field operational management in the Great Barrier Reef and how this program fits with others in the overall regime supporting Reef resilience. Topics to be covered include resilience-based field management; zoning plan enforcement; rapid reef site condition assessment; protection of vulnerable species (such as dugong and turtle); island conservation management; shipping incident response and tourism management.

Trip Dates: 2012

Note: ICRS 2012 is Monday 9 July to Friday 13 July 2012 in Cairns

Trip 1: Agincourt Reef

Travel the scenic coastal road by coach from Cairns to Port Douglas and then with Quicksilver Cruises on a fast, wave-piercing catamaran for 90 minutes to Agincourt Reef. At Agincourt Reef all activities are conducted from a large, stable pontoon platform. Platform facilities include: change rooms; toilets; freshwater showers; food and drink servery; tables and bench seats; large shaded area; water entry and exit steps/platforms for snorkelling and diving; and underwater observatory. All in-water activities will be supervised by the tour operator.

Full details can be found here.

The Quicksilver platform is located within the no-take Marine National Park Zone that covers the Agincourt group of reefs. Quicksilver Cruises is an Eco Certified Advanced Ecotourism Operator.

Trip 2: Moore Reef

Travel with Reef Magic Cruises from the Cairns Reef Terminal to Moore Reef on a fast catamaran for 90 minutes. At Moore Reef all activities are conducted from a large, stable pontoon platform. Platform facilities include: change rooms; toilets; freshwater showers; food and drink servery; tables and bench seats; large shaded area; water entry and exit steps/platforms for snorkelling and diving; and underwater observatory. All in-water activities will be supervised by the tour operator.

Full details can be found here.

The Reef Magic platform is a located within the no-take Marine National Park Zone that covers all of Moore Reef. Reef Magic Cruises is an Eco Certified Advanced Ecotourism Operator.

Number of People

Both Quicksilver Cruises and Reef Magic Cruises offer large, comfortable vessels.

While there is no minimum number of bookings required for these trips to proceed, we would need to have at least 170 people booked and paid to secure exclusive use of a vessel for the day solely for ICRS 2012 participants. Sole use will allow more-focussed group presentations by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Field Managers. If lower numbers are booked, then ICRS delegates will join other visitors for their Reef day trip. QPWS Field Managers will still accompany these trips, but briefings will be more informal and on the side-lines of the normal day tour program.

Cost to Participate in Australian Dollars

Trip 1: Saturday 7 July 2012 to Agincourt Reef

Adult:  $196.75     Child: $100.70

Includes coach transfer from Cairns to Port Douglas, and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Environmental Management Charge.

Trip 2: Saturday 14 July 2012 to Moore Reef

Adult:  $153    Child: $76.50

Includes Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Environmental Management Charge, but no transfer from your hotel to the Cairns Reef Terminal.

Cost Inclusions

• Morning and afternoon tea, lunch
• Use of mask, snorkel, fins
• Underwater observatory
• Semi-submersible coral viewing
• Snorkelling
• Briefings by QPWS Field Managers on Reef management issues and contemporary management practices

Additional Costs

• Scuba diving
• Guided snorkel tours with marine biologists
• Reef helicopter scenic flights
• Alcoholic drinks

Climate and Water Temperature

The Cairns climate in July is dry tropical winter. Southeast trade winds at 15 to 25 knots are a consistent feature. The water temperature will be about 22° Celsius (76° Fahrenheit).

Research Activities

No research activities can be included in these field trips. Both trips visit no-take zones Marine National Park zones and no collecting is permitted.

Field Trip Organiser's Contact Details

John Hicks
Business Manager
Marine Directorate, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS)
Department of Environment and Resource Management
john.hicks@derm.qld.gov.au
Telephone: +61 (0)7 4722 5310