Injune, Nyanda Station and Carnarvon Gorge Field School
- Starts on: 29/10/2024
- Ends on: 03/11/2024
Register for our Field School here.
Your Registration Fee includes: Field School Participation, Workshops and Activities; Field School Program; Meals as Indicated. It does not include Accommodation or Transport to/from the Field School location.
We are thrilled to invite you to our 82nd Savannah Guides Professional Development Field School at Injune, Nyanda Station and Carnarvon Gorge!
The Maranoa Shire boasts some breathtaking natural landscapes which we will explore with our Hosts. A little time in Injune at the foot of the Carnarvon Ranges before exploring Nyanda Station and the incredible Carnarvon Gorge. With an emphasis on Fire we will also focus on Core Guiding Skills, Workshops, Brainstorming, Problem Solving, and a heap of fun!
Come and join us!
Our Field School Hosts are true locals and well-known to many!
Owner Operators of Australian Nature Guides – Simon Ling and Michelle Whitehouse (President of Savannah Guides)
Owner Operators of Central Queensland Nature Tours – Christian and Caity Bom. Caity grew up on Nyanda, a third generation Cattle Station.
Program overview
Day 1 - Tuesday 29 October 2024 - Welcome
- 2:30pm – Registration in Injune Memorial Hall, 38 Hutton Street, Injune
- 3:00pm – Field School Welcomes
- Introductions around the Room
- Your Connection with Savannah Guides by Russell Boswell, Manager, Savannah Guides
- Welcome to Maranoa Region by Mayor Wendy Taylor and Councillor for Tourism, Jane Vincent
- Twitchathon Briefing – Open your mind to the world of Birds! Join our famous fun bird spotting competition to build your birding skills and knowledge
- Camaraderie and Welcome Dinner at Injune Museum
- Overnight: Injune
Day 2 - Wednesday 30 October 2024 - Introductions, Themes and Journalling
- Optional Early Morning Birding Activity
- Fire Perspective: Cultural Burning
- Introductions and Insights into this Field School with Michelle Whitehouse, Simon Ling, Christian and Caity Bom
- Fire Facts – How Fire Works, Adaptions, Recovery, Perspectives and Relationships with Simon Ling, Senior Savannah Guide
- Tourism and Events Queensland Update
- The ABC of Geotourism Interpretation with Russell Boswell
- Guiding Skills: Nature Journalling Field Workshop with Michelle Whitehouse, President, Savannah Guides
- Your “Go To” Guiding Resources, a Group Brainstorm!
- “Mmmosses” with Sarah Swan, Friend of Savannah Guides
- Queensland Parks and Wildlife Update
- Fire Perspective: Injune Fire Brigade with Nathan Portbury, Captain, Injune Fire Brigade
- Barefoot Bowls and Dinner at Injune Bowls Club
- Savannah Guides Hot Seat!
- Overnight: Injune
Day 3 - Thursday 31 October 2024 - Carnarvon Incoming!
- Optional Early Morning Birding Activity
- Fire Perspective: Cultural Burning
- Introductions and Insights into this Field School with Michelle Whitehouse, Simon Ling, Christian and Caity Bom
- Fire Facts – How Fire Works, Adaptions, Recovery, Perspectives and Relationships with Simon Ling, Senior Savannah Guide
- Tourism and Events Queensland Update
- The ABC of Geotourism Interpretation with Russell Boswell
- Guiding Skills: Nature Journalling Field Workshop with Michelle Whitehouse, President, Savannah Guides
- Your “Go To” Guiding Resources, a Group Brainstorm!
- “Mmmosses” with Sarah Swan, Friend of Savannah Guides
- Queensland Parks and Wildlife Update
- Fire Perspective: Injune Fire Brigade with Nathan Portbury, Captain, Injune Fire Brigade
- Barefoot Bowls and Dinner at Injune Bowls Club
- Savannah Guides Hot Seat!
- Overnight: Injune
Day 4 - Friday 01 November 2024 - Knowing Nyanda
- 10 Days of Fire – Explore the Path of Nyanda’s Bushfire Battle from the top of Reid’s Dome.
- Fire Adaptation Nature Journalling
- Guiding Skills: Nyanda’s Geological Jumble. Take home your very own fossil from one of Australia’s most geologically diverse landscapes with Christian Bom and Stefan Mujdrica, Resource Geologist
- Fire Perspective: Local Graziers. A Q&A Session with Caity Bom and her Family
- Fire Management Equipment and Machinery
- Camaraderie and Dinner
- Savannah Guides Hot Seat!
- Overnight: Carnarvon Gorge
Day 5 - Saturday 02 November 2024 - Choose your own Carnarvon!
- A Choice of Four Fabulous Adventures (all walks are Graded Moderate):
- Art Gallery with Simon Ling (11km / 5 Hrs Return)
- Karingbal and Bidjara Ceremonial Rock Art
- Ward’s Canyon with Caity Bom (9.6km/4.5 Hrs Return)
- Inland Australia’s only King Fern Colony
- Amphitheatre with Christian Bom (8.6km/4 Hrs Return)
- Inspiring Geological Marvel
- Moss Garden with Michelle Whitehouse (7.2km/4 Hrs Return)
- Spring-fed Remnant Rainforest
- Workshop: Interpreting Fire for Tour Guests
- Workshop: Guides and Enterprises of the Future – Analyzing Accreditation and Assessment
- A well-deserved relaxing rock pool swim
- Savannah Guides Hot Seat!
- Farewell Dinner and famous Savannah Guides Jam Session! Bring along your musical instrument!
- Overnight: Carnarvon Gorge
Need to know
Getting involved
We welcome your contributions to the Field School! Please help make it an even greater success by:
- Sharing this Field School Information through your networks
- Bringing your colleagues and friends – the training, team building and camaraderie at Savannah Guides Field Schools are legendary! Everyone is welcome!
- Participating in the Field School Twitchathon! Listen and learn with your team-mates as you have fun and tally your confirmed bird sightings over the Field School for fun and very modest prizes!
- Considering Membership – Savannah Guides welcomes Tour Guides and like-minded people and organisations. JOIN US!
Getting There
- Driving Distances and Times to Injune:
- Cairns – 1267km – 14.0 Hours
- Winton – 906km – 9.75 Hours
- Longreach – 727km – 8.0 Hours
- Rockhampton – 442km – 5.0 Hours
- If you choose to fly you will be doing so in and out of Brisbane. Airport Transfers will be provided as follows:
- Tue 29 Oct – From Roma Airport to Injune
- Time TBA
- There are three Rex Airlines flight departures from Brisbane that work with our timing: 0700/0855/1105. The 1105 departure is currently $543, as opposed to the others at $216. Consider flying on Mon 28 Oct and overnighting in Roma. Call Sam to discuss – 0409 628 610
- Sun 03 Nov – From Carnarvon to Emerald Airport
- Arriving at Airport by 1:00pm latest
- Qantas and Virgin fly Emerald to Brisbane
- Tue 29 Oct – From Roma Airport to Injune
Weather – What to Expect!
- Average Daily Maximum of 32o, with a Minimum of 16o
- Most of our time will be spent outdoors
Mobile Phone Coverage
- Telstra is the best provider in Australia’s outback. Telstra “Blue Tick” phones guarantee superior coverage in regional and rural areas
- Coverage in Injune with Telstra. Optus can be patchy.
- Coverage at Breeze with Telstra and Optus … both patchy!
- Free Wifi on the Deck at Breeze Holiday Park
- No coverage at Nyanda Station
- Coverage at Carnarvon Gorge Day Use Area with Optus
- There is no coverage in Carnarvon Gorge
Food and Beverage
Your Registration Fee includes the following Meals:
Tue 29 Oct D
Wed 30 Oct B, AM, L, D
Thu 31 Oct B, AM, L, D
Fri 01 Nov B, AM, L, D
Sat 02 Nov B, AM, L, D
Sun 03 Nov B
(B) Breakfast
(L) Lunch
(D) Dinner
(AM) Morning Snack
What to bring
- Mess Kit (Plate, Bowl, Cup, Cutlery, Tea Towel)
- Camp Chair (if you are Self-Driving)
- Gardening Gloves
- LARGE Water Bottle
- Small Backpack / Day Pack
- Closed Walking Shoes / Boots
- Hat, Sunscreen, Insect Repellent
- Swimwear and Small Towel
- Torch
- Notepad and Pens / Pencils
- A5 Visual Art Diary ($2-$5 at Kmart, Officeworks etc)
- Journalling Pencil Case (Lead/Coloured Pencils, Eraser, Sharpener)
- Personal First Aid Kit (Snake Bandages, Hydralyte etc)
- Bird Field Guides and Binoculars (if you have them)
- Plant Field Guides (if you have them)
- Musical Instrument (if you have one)
- Willingness to Learn and Contribute
- Smile, Fun and Laughter!
- Face Mask (for your personal use if you wish)
- RAT Tests (for your personal use if you wish)
- Small Personal Hand Sanitiser