Tour of Springbrook Research Observatory and Natural Bridge Walk

Outing Description

About Our Tour Guide ‘Andre’ and our Tour

Andre is owner, builder and custodian of Springbrook’s research observatory, whose spinning dome structure and two roll off roof observatories attracts thousands of visitors to Springbrook each year. Like many astronomers, Andre’s interest was sparked at school about 18 years ago when Andre saw a video that changed his life. ‘It was about an American priest named Dobsonian who was known as ‘the sidewalk astronomer’, he said. “he’d hold star parties and go to national parks to show people sunspots through his telescope.”

His whole objective was to let kids look through telescopes and if he inspired just one in a thousand, he was happy. It was a fabulous idea that allowed people to see, feel and be a part of science. So now Andre would like to do the same thing for us.

Andre will give us a tour around his observatory as well as talk to us about everything that is space, including our solar system, constellations, black holes, UFO encounters and astronomy in general. Andre will also have some tactile exhibits for us to feel including meteorites, telescopes and other various equipment and artefacts.

About the Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge is in the western part of Springbrook National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. The park's Natural Bridge section features a picturesque rock formation, formed by the force of the waterfall over the basalt cave.

The Natural Bridge site is also home to animals such as paradise riflebirds, green catbirds, wompoo fruit-doves and also rare and threatened species like the cascade tree frog, tusked frog, sooty owl and koala which makes for a rich audio landscape experience.

Prices

Daytime Outing Duration – 8 hours

This outing will not be offered as a night activity due to the operation times of the businesses we will be visiting. Lastly the duration of this outing is an estimate, we will try our best to conduct the activity within the allotted hours but if we are unable to for unforeseen reasons - the total cost will be adjusted accordingly.

For all forms of support travel costs = $1/km divided by the number of participants attending the outing. Payments can be made by using NDIS funds and are added on to the total cost of services after the outing.

Ratio represents Peter Archer to the number of outing participants

Weekday

1:1 Ratio - Weekday Daytime rate ($62.17/hour)

Outing price excluding cost of travel – $497.36

1:2 Ratio - Weekday Daytime rate ($34.82/hours)

Outing price excluding cost of travel - $278.56

1:3 Ratio – Weekday Daytime rate ($25.70 /hours)

Outing price excluding cost of travel - $205.06

Saturday

1:1 Ratio – Saturday rate ($87.51 /hour)

Outing price excluding cost of travel – $700.08

1:2 Ratio - Saturday rate ($51.29/hours)

Outing price excluding cost of travel - $410.32

1:3 Ratio – Saturday ($36.17 /hours)

Outing price excluding cost of travel - $289.36

Sunday

1:1 Ratio – Sunday rate ($112.85 /hour)

Outing price excluding cost of travel – $902.08

1:2 Ratio - Sunday rate ($66.52 /hours)

Outing price excluding cost of travel - $532.16

1:3 Ratio – Sunday ($46.64 /hours)

Outing price excluding cost of travel - $373.12

Note: Standard rates will apply on public holidays. In addition please be advised that the total cost of the outing is solely determined by the support hours given on the day as well as the cost of travel which will be determined after the outing itself. All additional costs are the responsibility of the participant.