12th International Coral Reef Symposium
 
 

What's New

Back to Field Trips

One Tree Island Research Station via Heron Island

Bookings are now closed

Booking Code Arrive Depart
OneTree1 2 July

6 July

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

Trip Location

One Tree Island is accessed via Heron Island providing the opportunity for delegates to also explore Heron Island.

One Tree Island and Heron Island are located in the Capricorn Group in the southern region of the Great Barrier Reef. One Tree Island is a small coral cay of about 4 hectares, situated at the seaward end of its reef which is 5.5 kilometres long and up to 3.5 kilometres wide. Heron Island is a sand cay 8 hectares, situated at the leeward end of its reef and is about 9.3 kilometres long and 4.6 kilometres wide.

Both islands and associated reefs are excellent examples of the rich development characteristic of the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. The reefs are home to around 60 percent of the 1,500 species of fish and around 72% of the coral species found in the Great Barrier Reef. The islands are situated 80-100km east of the Queensland mainland with the nearest mainland port being Gladstone. Access to the islands is via the catamaran operated by Heron Island Resort with the transfer to One Tree Island on the Research Station vessel.

One Tree Island Research Station (OTIRS) is owned and operated by the University of Sydney.

Number of People

15 - 20

Cost to Participate in Australian Dollars

 $2,000

Full payment to be taken at time of booking.

Cost Inclusions

  • Transport to and from Gladstone (does not include travel between Cairns and Gladstone)
  • Shared accommodation
  • Meals, snacks and non alcoholic drinks
  • Station Tours
  • Snorkel tours
  • Guided reef walks
  • Evening presentations about the research being undertaken at the One Tree Island Research Station and special features of the local marine flora and fauna.

Additional Costs

  • Phone, internet and hire of towels
  • Flights to and from Gladstone - these can be booked when registering to attend ICRS 2012

Diving Preparation

  • All divers must have at least a recreational diver certificate.

Climate and Water Temperature

In July, One Tree Island and Heron Islands have an air temperature range during the day of 16-21° Celsius (60 - 70° Fahrenheit). Due to seasonal south-easterly winds the days can be cool. Overnight temperatures can drop to 10° Celsius at times. The average water temperature in July is 18-23° Celcius (64 - 73° Fahrenheit). The maximum tidal range is approximately 3.5m.

Research Activities

People who want to collect specimens or systematically record data should book independent visits directly with the One Tree Island Research Station as these activities are not scheduled into the ICRS 2012 Field Trip Program.

Field Trip Organiser's Contact Details

One Tree Island Research Station
Jennifer Reiffel and Russel Graham
Phone and Fax: +61 0 (7) 4972 9691
Email: onetree@med.usyd.edu.au

Program Outline

Day 1
1030 Meet at Gladstone Marina and be greeted by OTIRS representatives - catamaran to Heron Island
1300 Arrive Heron Island, for an induction, welcome and tour of facilities by HIRS staff.

Diving with the Heron Island Resort for those who wish to dive, and reef snorkel for others
Day 2
Morning Dive or snorkel
1500 Transfer to One Tree Island
1600 Arrive OTI, for an induction, welcome and tour of facilities
Days 3 & 4
Morning Snorkel tour of One Tree Lagoon
Afternoon Reef Walk the One Tree Reef Rim
Evening Presentation on One Tree Reef
Day 5
Morning Depart for Heron Island
1300 Depart for Gladstone (or a longer stay on Heron Island can be arranged)
1600 Arrive Gladstone

 


View Larger Map









  Return to top  
ARC Centre of Excellence International Society for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University International Society for Coral Reef Studies QLDVIEW