The document discusses geotourism and how digital technologies can be used to promote it. It defines geotourism as tourism focused on an area's geology and landscape. It highlights examples of geosites, geotrails, and a geopark website called Weekend Geology that creates field guides for geological sites in Victoria, Australia. The document also discusses how apps and integrated online platforms can be used to crowdsource geological information and plan geotrails. It proposes developing a cohesive app or website for Victoria to showcase its significant geological sites and stories in a logical sequence.

1. Discovering geological stories in every postcode through online self-
guided fieldtrips: an example of small Geotourism Lauren Swann

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NSW
SA
TAS
WA
QLD
VIC?

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Today
1.1.1.1. What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.
2. Geosites in Victoria.
3. My website – Weekendgeology.com.
4. Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).
5. Other punters in the arena.
6. Over to you Central Victoria.
7. Summary.

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What is Geotourism?
‘Tourism which focuses on an area’s geology and landscape as the basis for providing visitor
engagement, learning and enjoyment’ (GSA, 2015).
1.1.1.1. Geologically basedGeologically basedGeologically basedGeologically based and can occur in either natural, rural or urban environments.
2. Fosters geoheritage conservationconservationconservationconservation through appropriate sustainability measures.
3. Advances sound geological understanding through interpretation and educationeducationeducationeducation.
4. Generates touristtouristtouristtourist or visitor satisfaction.

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Geosites, geotrails and geoparks
Caves and Coast
Plateaus and falls
Lakes and CratersCones and FlowsGeoparkGeoparkGeoparkGeopark
GeotrailGeotrailGeotrailGeotrail
GeositeGeositeGeositeGeosite

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Today
1. What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.
2.2.2.2. Geosites in Victoria.Geosites in Victoria.Geosites in Victoria.Geosites in Victoria.
3. My website – Weekendgeology.com.
4. Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).
5. Other punters in the arena.
6. Over to you Central Victoria.
7. Summary.

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Victoria – Rich in Potential Geosites and Geotrails
StructuralStructuralStructuralStructural (Cape Liptrap)CoastalCoastalCoastalCoastal (Port Campbell)
CavesCavesCavesCaves (Buchan)VolcanicVolcanicVolcanicVolcanic (Mt. Noorat)
MiningMiningMiningMining (Bendigo) PalaeontologicalPalaeontologicalPalaeontologicalPalaeontological (Yea)

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Why should we care about Geotourism?

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Today
1. What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.
2. Geosites in Victoria.
3.3.3.3. My websiteMy websiteMy websiteMy website –––– Weekendgeology.com.Weekendgeology.com.Weekendgeology.com.Weekendgeology.com.
4. Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).
5. Other punters in the arena.
6. Over to you Central Victoria.
7. Summary.

11. Weekend Geology Website
• 15 Field Guides created so far.
• Accessed via ‘interactive map’.
• Instagram.

12. Early iterations were not inspiring… with limited photos, field notes, copy-and-pasting random maps,
with vague instructions of where to go…
Weekend Geology Victoria
Lesson:Lesson:Lesson:Lesson:
Importance ofImportance ofImportance ofImportance of
place and spaceplace and spaceplace and spaceplace and space
Kitty Miller Bay, Phillip Island
Cape Liptrap

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Weekend Geology Victoria
Gradually I taught myself to use GIS and Adobe Illustrator, started playing with Google Earth … and
my Field Guides improved.
Beaumaris, VIC

14. Weekend Geology Website
1. Decide where to hike/walk/mountain bike/kayak.
2. Research – what is the geology of the region? What’s
interesting?
3. Field work – Photography, field notes, measurements,
GPS locations
4. Create the field trip! Make the geology make sense to
a non-Geologist
Honours 2.0

15. Phase One: Research

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Phase Two: Fieldwork
The fun part:
1. Take a friend. Don’t get lost.
2. Take detailed field notes/GPS
location.
3. Take plenty of pictures – you
never know what you’ll use later!
Castlemaine Diggings
Mt Alexander (Harcourt)
Lake Eppalock

17. Phase Three: Make the geology make sense to a non-Geo
The hardesthardesthardesthardest part:
1. Make it interesting
2. Make it easy to understand
3. Lots of diagrams and pictures
4. Clear directions/good map
Organ Pipes National Park, VIC

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Weekend Hike: Werribee Gorge

19. Weekend Trip: Bendigo

20. Today
1. What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.
2. Geosites in Victoria.
3. My website – Weekendgeology.com.
4.4.4.4. Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).
5. Other punters in the arena.
6. Over to you Central Victoria.
7. Summary.

21. Outreach – the digital age
• GPS capabilities, i.e. Google Maps integrated with an overlay of geology and significant points of
interest (i.e. Bendigo Goldfields)
• Online itineraries or field guides (i.e. Werribee Gorge)
• Mobile apps (examples to follow)
• Digital brochures
• Social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
• QR codes on signs linking to websites
• Geocaching
• Virtual and augmented reality (think Pokémon Go App, but with geology!)

22. Outreach – the digital age
C.J. Spencer, K.L. Gunderson, C.W. Hoiland, W.K. Schleiffarth, ‘Earth-Science Outreach Using an Integrated Social Media Platform’ (2017) Geological Society of America Today.
• One person:
• Pressure to create content.
• Small reach.
• Integrated/collaborative:
• Many content creators. Experts in their field/area.
• One focused goal.
• One platform to access all information.

23. Macrostrat Lab (UW)
Crowd-sourcing of geological knowledge
Can help plan field-trips for students
The app was written using software tools from Ionic which translates HTML and
JavaScript into code for Android and Apple phones.
https://ionicframework.com/

24. • Opensource – can create own geosite locations – for classes,
hikes, field-trips. Can view other peoples geosite locations and
compare observations.
• Liable to inaccuracy, i.e. not all contributors will be geologists.
• No ‘story’, i.e. the sites do not form logical journeys.
Rock.d App Example – Studley Park
Photo
Description
Location
Stratigraphy
Age
Lithology

25. Flyover Country Example – Great Ocean Road
The app queries databases for information
relevant to a specific area, whether it’s a
flight path, road trip, or hiking adventure,
and saves it offline so no connection is
needed later on in the field.
• Can create own Geotour buy tracing a
route.
• Integrates GPS, geologic maps and
metadata (parks, fossil localities).
• Can access maps offline (regional Australia).
• Doesn’t create a coherent geological story
as a true Geotrail would.

26. Back to Mt Alexander..

27. Today
1. What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.
2. Geosites in Victoria.
3. My website – Weekendgeology.com.
4. Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).
5.5.5.5. Other punters in the arena.Other punters in the arena.Other punters in the arena.Other punters in the arena.
6. Over to you Central Victoria.
7. Summary.

28. NSW Geotours (NSW Govt.)
Developed by the Geological Society of NSW with the assistance of universities and industry.
Supported by MyToursMyToursMyToursMyTours https://www.mytoursapp.com/

29. Geotourism Brisbane
“The app presents the geological heritage and a walk through Brisbane ’s past represented by
both fine colonial buildings and exciting new structures ”

30. Brachina Gorge, SA
Brachina Gorge Geological Trail Brochure, SA Division of the Geological Survey

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Other Examples
Dig the Tropic Geotrail, QLD
West Coast Geotrail, TAS
The Geology of Hallett Cove Field Trip, SA

32. Today
1. What is Geotourism? Defining Geotrails and Geosites.
2. Geosites in Victoria.
3. My website – Weekendgeology.com.
4. Geotourism: Moving forward (into the digital age).
5. Other punters in the arena.
6.6.6.6. Over to you Central Victoria.Over to you Central Victoria.Over to you Central Victoria.Over to you Central Victoria.
7. Summary.

33. “It's the jewel in the
crown of the Victorian
goldfields”
Campaspe-Loddon Shire9
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PopularPopularPopularPopular geositesgeositesgeositesgeosites along popularalong popularalong popularalong popular touringtouringtouringtouring
routes around major tourist centers.routes around major tourist centers.routes around major tourist centers.routes around major tourist centers.
Four geological themes:Four geological themes:Four geological themes:Four geological themes:
1. Heathcote Shiraz and Cambrian Soils
2. Gold!
3. Volcanics: Flows and plugs
Granites
… You can understand pretty much the entire
history of Victoria by visiting just a few
sites.

34. “It's the jewel in the
crown of the Victorian
goldfields”
Campaspe-Loddon Shire9
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1 Heathcote wine regionHeathcote wine regionHeathcote wine regionHeathcote wine region, including:
- Heathcote Cambrian Volcanics
- Mount Ida
- Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve

35. “It's the jewel in the
crown of the Victorian
goldfields”
Campaspe-Loddon Shire9
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2 Lake EppalockLake EppalockLake EppalockLake Eppalock, including:
- Kellam’s Rock
- Moorabee Bluff

36. “It's the jewel in the
crown of the Victorian
goldfields”
Campaspe-Loddon Shire9
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3 BendigoBendigoBendigoBendigo, including:
- Central Deborah Gold Mine
- Victoria Hill Reserve

37. “It's the jewel in the
crown of the Victorian
goldfields”
Campaspe-Loddon Shire9
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4 Castlemaine Diggings National ParkCastlemaine Diggings National ParkCastlemaine Diggings National ParkCastlemaine Diggings National Park

38. “It's the jewel in the
crown of the Victorian
goldfields”
Campaspe-Loddon Shire9
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5 Turpins FallsTurpins FallsTurpins FallsTurpins Falls
6 Hanging Rock and Mount MacedonHanging Rock and Mount MacedonHanging Rock and Mount MacedonHanging Rock and Mount Macedon

39. “It's the jewel in the
crown of the Victorian
goldfields”
Campaspe-Loddon Shire9
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7 Mount AlexanderMount AlexanderMount AlexanderMount Alexander, including:
- Granite quarries
- Mountain bike Park

40. “It's the jewel in the
crown of the Victorian
goldfields”
Campaspe-Loddon Shire9
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8 Kooyoora State Park (Melville Caves)Kooyoora State Park (Melville Caves)Kooyoora State Park (Melville Caves)Kooyoora State Park (Melville Caves)
9 Pyramid Hill GranitePyramid Hill GranitePyramid Hill GranitePyramid Hill Granite

41. Summary
1.1.1.1. GeotourismGeotourismGeotourismGeotourism is “I’m going to hike that hill” vs “I’m going to hike a 350 million year old
granitic pluton!”… quarried for 100 years… with an endemic moss…
2. We don’t do it well – the information is all hidden in scientific journals, field guide
pamphlets and old textbooks…
3. Digital technologies: creating a visual database of geositesgeositesgeositesgeosites, linked by ‘stories’ in a logical
sequence (geotrailgeotrailgeotrailgeotrail) within a greater diverse landscape (geoparkgeoparkgeoparkgeopark).
4. Victoria needs to get itself a cohesive App or website for us all to contribute to!

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Significant sites
International
Significance
National
Significance
State
Significance
Regional
Significance
Dinosaur Cove (Johanna) Lake Eppalock
Hanging Rock Wilsons Prom
Buchan CavesBay of Islands