Field trips

Alpine Ecology

Falls Creek, Victoria

This field trip explores alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems in detail through daytime excursions, team based research work and evening discussions and lectures. The course will cover aspects of alpine geology, hydrology, soils, and aquatic and terrestrial plant and animal communities. Current and potential future threats to alpine ecosystems will also be addressed.

This subject is an introduction to field research and will be suitable for aspiring park managers, ecologists and anyone interested in a career working in science and the environment.

Those taking the subject will spend half a day travelling by bus from the Albury-Wodonga campus to Falls Creek, Victoria, and another half day on the return journey.  Five full days will be spent on the High Plains studying the ecology of the flora and fauna and aspects of the physical environment.

More information on dates, costs and how to apply.

Arid Zone Ecology 

Calperum Station, South Australia

Calperum Station is a pastoral lease in eastern South Australia, and is managed by the Australian Landscape Trust. The station lies near the transition from semi-arid to arid zone and supports extensive areas of mallee (low multi-stemmed eucalypts), some chenopod shrublands and riparian woodlands, and ephemeral wetlands.

At Calperum Station students will study organisms and ecosystems through daytime excursions, team-based research projects, and daily discussions and lectures. This subject will introduce students to the ecology of the Australian arid zone and reinforce and extend their capacity to undertake ecological research in the field. 

Those taking the subject will spend one day travelling by bus from the Wodonga campus to Calperum. Six days will then be spent undertaking ecological studies in Calperum Station (north of Renmark) before returning to Wodonga. 

More information on dates, costs and how to apply.

Students tackle arid zone ecology

Field trip in arid zone ecology

We also offer field excursions in first, second and third year units. These include:

  • Practicals on the Murray River floodplain in Freshwater Ecology (WEM3AFE), Advanced Freshwater Ecology (WEM3AFE) and Sustainable Resource Management (WEM3RMA).
  • Excursions to the Australian Alps at Mt Hotham and Falls Creek in Theoretical and Applied Ecology (WEM2TAE)
  • Healesville Sanctuary and Western Plains Zoo in Conservation Ecology and Environmental Law (WEM3RMB)
  • Excursions to local areas in Albury in Processes that shape the earth (GEO1PRO).

These excursions enable students to undertake research in areas which are environmentally sensitive and have relevant management issues.