Field Trips
Field Trip 1 – The Natural Beauty of Nail Can Hill and The Murray River – Albury
This trip includes a walk and talk along Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk which features a series of stunning contemporary Aboriginal sculptures created by local Aboriginal Artists that line the Wagirra Trail along the Murray River from Wonga Wetlands. After lunch, a short bus trip to Albury’s high conservation area of Nail Can Hill will take you for a journey to enjoy its diverse and beautiful annual display of wildflowers.
Field Trip 2 – Gold Country – Victoria
Relive the glory days of the gold rush as we tour through the historic towns of Chiltern, Eldorado and Beechworth. We will meander along Old Coach Road through Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park where we will visit the spectacular Woolshed Falls. Within the park, we will meet with rangers from Parks Victoria and members of the Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot NP to hear about local invasive species issues and see the success of the biocontrols against prickly pear and wheel cactus. The tour will conclude with an opportunity to wander around the beautiful town of Beechworth at your leisure, where you may wish to visit The Old Beechworth Gaol, Mayday Hills Asylum or partake in a refreshing ale at the Bridge Road Brewery.
Field Trip 3 – Fire recovery in the Upper Murray – Victoria
Following the 2020 bushfires, invasive plants and animals have presented a significant threat to the biodiversity values in the Upper Murray district of Victoria. The landscape is characterised by mountains, foothills and floodplains, with large tracts of park, reserve and state forest interspersed with agricultural land and timber production. Mitigating the impacts of invasive species requires partnerships between government agencies, landholders and community groups. In this field trip, we will travel through the country which links the Murray River to the Victorian Alps, visiting scenic locations to hear how collaborations are helping the landscape recover after a fire. We will learn about the integrated programs in parks and reserves tackling pest plant and animal issues, and visit the Pheasant Creek Flora and Fauna reserve to see first-hand how various activities occur in concert to protect critical habitat.
Field Trip 4 – Upper Murray-Holbrook/Woomargama
Rolling Hills and Rugged Bushland sitting at the gateway of the Upper Murray-Holbrook/Woomargama. From drought to fires to relentless downpours. The past 5 years has definitely tested this productive Agricultural and Environmental landscape. The trip includes visits to properties that have persisted through these challenging times through adaptation and resilience. Along the way, we will meet the various agencies and champions who work tirelessly on projects in this area to showcase the invaluable resource of information this region has to offer. The trip will end with a visit to the HMAS OTWAY Submarine and Museum located in Holbrook. Refreshments will conclude the trip in Holbrook at the end of the trip.