Each year during Term 4, Year 10 students are offered a special opportunity to participate in an excursion to the University of Queensland Heron Island Research Station.
Heron Island is a coral cay situated approximately 70km North East of Gladstone. It is part of the Great Barrier Reef and the Island itself is a National Park surrounded by exceptional coral reef formations. The beach is a breeding area for three species of turtle and the island supports breeding colonies of several species of birds.
Maclean High School offers places for approx. 30 students to travel to Heron Island during Term 4. This excursion is an invaluable experience for Science and Geography students, who will snorkel and walk on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as study the island's natural wildlife. Students will also be able to use university quality research labs, library and other resources.
During previous excursions, students were able to observe; giant manta rays, Green turtles laying eggs in the coral sand as well as witness the dramatic struggle for survival as fresh hatchlings crawled to the sea. Also several of the University researchers working on the island happily gave lectures to the group, inspiring vocational interests. Overall, the excursion has been very successful and many students commented that it had been one of the most valuable weeks of their School lives.
The total cost of the excursion is approximately $850 which includes;
- Bus travel from Maclean to Gladstone and return
- High speed catamaran from Gladstone to Heron Island (approx 2 hrs) and return
- 4 nights' accommodation with all meals on Heron Island and access to University researchers and facilities.
- Supervised reef snorkelling and activities on the coral cay
