Pre-conference field trip:

High altitude environments of Eastern Australia

 5th – 8th December

Preliminary Schedule:

Wednesday 5th: start in Canberra, drive to Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) via the ACT high country. The plan is to walk out to the only known Aboriginal art sites in the ACT at Yankee Hat in Namadji National Park and discuss the amazing sedimentary record in the adjacent Bogong Swamp. We will then drive to our accomodation in Jindabyne or Sawpit Creek on the edge of KNP.

Thursday 6th: We will focus on the glacial features of the Australian high country. The plan is to do some (or all) of the Main Range Track starting at Charlotte Pass. For the less-adventurous (less mobile, or those with children) we will walk from Charlotte Pass to the Blue Lake look-out (~1.5 hrs each way). Accomodation will be back at Jindabyne or Sawpit Creek.

Friday 7th: Morning: The swamps of KNP: we will take the Rainbow Lake Trail (off Kosciuszko Rd), through Snow Gum and pretty alpine grassy areas and then into Diggers Creek Bog. In the afternoon we will leave KNP and head towards Bega Swamp (about 2 hr drive) to accomodation for the night (location still being confirmed).

Saturday 8th: in the morning we will visit Bega Swamp to discuss the amazing research that has, and continues at that site. By about lunch time we will drive back across the Monaro to end up in Canberra for late afternoon. (NB Accomodation in Canberra needs to be organised individually.)

In order for the planning to proceed we need a rough estimate of numbers (for transport, accommodation and ultimately the budget). Costs will be kept to a minimum (e.g. accomodation is planned for chalet-style accomodation see https://www.kosipark.com.au/accommodation.html for an idea, with costs depending on how many people share and level of comfort) but is likely to come in at about $300-$350. Cheaper options, such sleeping in a tent or self-drive, are also likely to be possible.

If you are planning on attending can you kindly let Scott Mooney (s.mooney@unsw.edu.au) know asap. If you have an idea of your preferences (e.g. on organised transport v self-drive; or organised single v shared accommodation v tent) please also let me know. If you do contact us regarding the pre-conference field trip we will put you on a list of potential attendees for future correspondence, however it won’t lock you into anything. If you have any questions please email s.mooney@unsw.edu.au.