Post-Congress Field Trips

Post Congress field trips will be held over periods of 4 to 6 days with options offered in both New Zealand and Australia. Delegates are encouraged to use these trips as a starting point for a longer stay in Australasia. Opportunities include:

 Rotorua / Taupo Volcanic Zone (4 days)

 Day 1: Auckland and travel to Rotorua

• Follow the Waikato River south looking at Ignimbrite flow deposit
• Rotorua - geothermal wonderland
• Overnight in Rotorua

Day 2: Rotorua

Morning field trip visiting:

• Geothermal sites and power stations
• Active extensional faulting across earthquake flats
• Volcanic centres
• Afternoon - free time for optional activities
• Overnight in Rotorua

Day 3: Rotorua, Day Trip to White Island

• Full day tour to White Island, includes boat trip, lunch, guided walking tour and safety equipment (please note that this tour is weather dependent)
• Overnight in Rotorua

Day 4:Rotorua to Auckland

• Return to Auckland via Lake Taupo
• Central North Island volcanoes
• Arrive Auckland approximately 16:30

Landslides of the East Coast (5 days)

 Day 1: Auckland to Taupo

• Follow the Waikato River south viewing Geomorphology and hydroelectric development
• Craters of the Moon
• Geothermal stations
• Overnight in Taupo

Day 2: Taupo to Napier

• Landslide features
• Faulting networks - Hawkes Bay region
• Free time in Napier for some optional tours
• Overnight in Napier

Day 3: Napier

• Morning - a half day field trip to Lake Waikaremoana
• Afternoon is free for optional tours and activities
• Overnight in Napier

Day 4: Napier to Wellington

• View Active Fault in Hawkes Bay region
• Coastal landslide complex
• Rockfall hazards Manawatu Gorge
• Overnight Wellington

Day 5: Wellington

• Geotechnical tour of Wellington City
• Tour concludes approximately 16:30

Hydropower in the South Island (5 days)

Day 1: Auckland to Christchurch

• Fly Auckland to Christchurch (own expense)
• Welcome function and tour briefing
• Overnight in Christchurch

Day 2: Christchurch to Twizel

• Waitaki River - Project Aqua, North Bank Tunnel scheme
• Waitaki Dam
• Aviemore Dam
• Benmore Dam
• Overnight in Twizel

Day 3: Twizel to Cromwell

• Mt Cook Village - view glacial geology
• Optional scenic flights
• Tekapo canal, salmon farms
• Irishman Creek Fault
• Ostler Fault exposure
• Pukaki canal
• Overnight in Cromwell

Day 4: Cromwell to Te Anau

• Ostler Fault trace
• Dunstan fault
• Clyde Dam
• Cromwell Gorge landslides
• Wine tasting and lunch at “The Big Picture”
• Kawarau Gorge, Nevis Bluff rockfall hazard
• Overnight Te Anau

Day 5: Te Anau, Doubtful Sound Day, Queenstown

• Full day excursion from Manapouri
• Manapouri Power Station
• Doubtful Sound scenic cruise
• Overnight Queenstown

Day 6: Queenstown (tour concludes)

• Free day for optional activities, half or full day tours or departure from Queenstown

 West Coast: The Alpine Fault and Coal Mining (4 days)

Day 1: Auckland to Christchurch

• Fly Auckland to Christchurch (own expense)
• Welcome function and tour briefing
• Overnight in Christchurch

Day 2: Christchurch to Westport

• Hope Fault, Hanmer Basin
• Alpine Fault
• Upper Buller Gorge - White Creek Fault scarp
• Dinner at The Bayhouse, Cape Foulwind
• Overnight Westport

Day 3: Westport to Hokitika

• Solid Energy’s Stockton opencast coal mine
• Punakaiki “Pancake” Rocks formations
• Overnight Hokitika

Day 4: Hokitika to Franz Josef

• Lake Kaniere
• Bushman’s Centre - wildfoods tasting
• Mt Adams rock avalanche
• Fox Glacier rockfall hazard
• Optional glacier visits or scenic flights
• Overnight Franz Josef

Day 5: Franz Josef to Christchurch

• Otira Viaduct
• Arthurs Pass
• Waimakariri River valley
• Porters Pass Fault

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Australia

Brisbane Field Trip (6 days)

Day 1: Arrive Brisbane

On arrival at Brisbane International Airport you will be met by a representative of Southern Crossings who will assist you with your connection to private coach for transfer to your accommodation at the Stamford Plaza Hotel.

Enjoy the lively cosmopolitan atmosphere of the inland city of Brisbane. A scenic city surrounded by hills and fine lookouts with several impressive bridges spanning the Brisbane River, Brisbane is the gateway to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

Whilst you are in Brisbane, why not investigate one of the following optional activities:

• Take a full day Brisbane tour including a visit to the wonderful Lone Pine wildlife and koala sanctuary
• Enjoy a full day air trip to Lady Elliott Island to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef
• Visit the beautiful Gold Coast hinterland
• Climb Brisbane’s icon, the Story Bridge

Day 2: Brisbane

Enjoy a full day’s excursion visiting recently completed projects in the Brisbane metro area:

• Gateway Upgrade Project - AUD$1.8 billion major upgrade of 20 km of the Gateway Motorway including duplication of the Gateway Bridge, due to be opened in mid-2010, together with construction or modification of some 29 other bridges, new cuttings and fill embankments and assessment of soft alluvial deposits including evaluation of settlement and stability issues;
• Port of Brisbane  - seawall construction on soft sediments including trials for infilling behind seawall involving vacuum consolidation.

Day 3: Brisbane to Lamington National Park

Experience the natural beauty of Lamington National Park:

• Walk and lunch in temperate rainforest (lunch at own expense)
• View geological points of interest including natural rock arches
• Discussions on natural hazards of the area
• Inspect infrastructure projects south of Brisbane and in the Gold Coast area (for example, Hinze dam upgrade, Gold Coast deep excavations, natural slope instability).

Day 4: Brisbane

Today you will be met by your private coach and driver for a full day excursion to the Brisbane Airport Link tunnel project:

• AUD$3.4 billion tunnelled motorway currently under construction which will connect the Brisbane CBD and the North-South Bypass Tunnel to the East-West Arterial Road which leads to Brisbane Airport
• The Airport Link project is about 6.7 km long including 5.3 km of tunnels.

The site visit will include:

• Overview of the tunnel alignment geology
• Summary of the site investigation and geotechnical conditions
• Visit underground of excavation conditions including TBM and roadheader driven tunnels.

Day 5: Brisbane to Sunshine Coast

Enjoy a full day’s excursion to the Sunshine Coast and Glasshouse Mountains:

• View the distinctive volcanic plugs that rise above the surrounding lowlands behind the Sunshine Coast
• Inspect infrastructure projects to the north of Brisbane.

Day 6: Depart Brisbane

You will be met by private coach and transferred to Brisbane International Airport to board your onward departure flight.

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