Field trip 1: Visit two sites that offer a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural heritage. At the first site, learn about a recent cultural burn led by the Bangerang community and how this practice supports caring for Country. At the second site, explore cultural significance to the Bangerang people and discover how COVRAM helps First Nations groups, Landcare, and land managers assess landscape condition, apply cultural knowledge, and identify areas that need healing.

Field trip notes: includes walking through bushland and bus travel.

Field trip partners: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Education, COVRAM, Murray Landcare Collective, Murray LLS

Field Trip 2: Visit the Riverine Plains SCOUT site at Rennie to see a range of innovative agronomic trials in action. Learn about canola seed enhancement using First Nations knowledge and modern bioelectrics, the microbial 'olympics' and many other unique and interesting trials all in the same place! You'll also learn about some of the incredible opportunities and work Riverine Plains are involved in across our region.

Field trip notes: includes walking in paddocks and bus travel.

Field trip partners: Riverine Plains, Rainstick, Murray LLS Ag team, Uncle Tobys

Field trip 3: Learn how native seed supports large-scale revegetation across the region. Discover how seed production areas are established and managed, explore the process of collecting, processing, and banking native seed, and gain insight into how local seed supplies are used to restore landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and support future revegetation projects. Hear from experts about the importance of provenance, seed quality, and building resilient ecosystems through strategic seed collection and storage.

Field trip notes: includes walking through bushland and bus travel.

Field trip partners: Murray LLS Landscape Restoration Team

Field trip 4: In this hands-on workshop, participants will create small artworks on watercolour postcards inspired by the local environment. Guided by artist Sophie Chauncy, attendees will explore techniques such as watercolour, inks, and nature stencilling using natural materials. Each participant will leave with a few unique postcards, some to keep as personal reflections and others to share or give away as creative connections to place.

Field trip notes: this is an accessible field trip located on site at the venue.

Field Trip partners: RGA Landcare, Holbrook Landcare Network

Field trip 5: Join the field trip to Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre, an award-winning community-led restoration site on a former stock reserve and public watering place. Explore restored wetlands, native gardens and Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands while learning how volunteers transformed the 4 ha site into a thriving biodiversity and education hub. Visit the groundcover-focused Seed Production Area, Climate Resilience Garden and 8 ha Grassy Woodlands restoration trial site. Discover the innovative Squirrel Glider LAMP project and learn about hands-on school and community education programs.

Field trips notes: includes walking in bushland and bus travel.

Field Trip partners: West Hume Landcare, Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre, Petaurus Education Group

Field trip 6: Discover the story of sustainable rice growing in the Riverina. Visit a working rice farm and explore the unique relationship between rice production, wetlands, and biodiversity. Learn how rice growers are supporting wildlife, including the endangered Australasian Bittern, while managing water efficiently through innovative irrigation and farming practices. Gain insight into the challenges and opportunities of balancing food production with environmental stewardship in one of Australia's most important agricultural regions.

Field trip notes: this tour is dependent on seasonal and site conditions. It includes walking in paddocks and bus travel.

Field trip partners: RGA Landcare

Field trip 7: Find out about local threatened species conservation through collaboration. Learn how conservation efforts are protecting and restoring native grasslands for the critically endangered plains-wanderer, an enigmatic ground-dwelling bird, through habitat management, monitoring, and landholder partnerships. Learn about the Wild Orchids Project and the consortium of committed agencies and community groups that are working to ensure the long-term survival of three endangered orchid species: Oaklands Donkey Orchid, Sandhill Spider Orchid, and Crimson Spider Orchid.

Field trip notes: includes walking in paddocks and bus travel.

Field trip partners: Paddocks for Plains-wanderers Project team, Wild Orchids Project Consortium & Murray LLS

Field trip 8: Can tree planting pay for itself? Join Simon Campbell and Dr Grant Tranter from Renovo Ag for an interactive workshop to explore how small-scale carbon projects can support landscape restoration, farm productivity and new income streams. By looking at project economics, setup requirements, and risks and opportunities under the ACCU Scheme, this workshop will provide you with real skills you can take back to your Landcare group or family farm. Participants will also receive a personalised Environmental Plantings feasibility report.

Field trip notes: this is an accessible field trip held at the venue.

Field trip partners: Renovo Ag

Field trip 1: Walk through Boat Rock Reserve at Savernake, meandering through the granite outcrop and climbing to the top for sweeping views. Along the way, learn about First Nations history, alongside recent history of the area to present day. Take time to reflect by writing a simple nature-inspired Haiku poem, then capture your experience through nature journalling or green sketching on a postcard. A relaxed, hands-on tour designed to connect with place, story and creativity.

Field trip notes: includes walking through bushland and bus travel.

Field trip partners: RGA Landcare, Western Murray Land Improvement Group, Murray LLS

Field trip 2: Come along for a fun 2-hour kayak trip down the Murray River. Starting from Police Paddocks Road, we'll paddle downstream to the Federation Bridge (or into Corowa depending on time) with Ben Humphries from BirdLife Australia providing guided commentary on the bird species we see along the way.

Field trip notes: There is an extra $30 cost to join this field trip. Includes kayaking on the Murray River in a medium current. Participants should be reasonably confident and competent in the water and using kayaks.

Field trip partners: BirdLife Australia, Landcare NSW, Murray LLS ag team

Field trip 3: Join us for a leisurely bike through the region (e-bikes to assist) and along rail trails, visiting two wineries with sustainable wine growing practices. Learn how these practices have changed their businesses and enjoy some fresh air, fun with other participants and perhaps even a sip or two of sustainable wine.

Field trips notes: There is an extra $30 cost to join this field trip. Includes bike hire and will involve riding on roads and gravel paths.

Field Trip partners: Landcare NSW, Murray LLS, Lake Moodemere Estate, Stanton & Killeen Wines, North East Catchment Management Authority

Field trip 4: Join us on-farm to explore a real-life environmental plantings carbon project.  Planted three years ago for biodiversity and conservation, carbon credits will allow a direct financial return from the tree plantings.  Hear the farmer’s insights, understand their decision making process and get practical tips on revegetation for both carbon and biodiversity.  Learn the basic carbon project requirements and how to tell if this stacks up on your farm.

Field trip notes: includes walking in paddocks and bus travel.

Field trip partners: Biodiversity Conservation Trust, Murray LLS ag and NRM team

Field trip 5: Step aboard the restored paddle-steamer Cumberoona for a relaxing journey across Lake Mulwala. Discover the lake’s fascinating history, unique ecology and changing landscape while taking in the scenery from the water in this 1.5 hr cruise. Sit back, enjoy a selection of drinks and nibbles, and soak up the views as you explore Lake Mulwala from a different perspective.

The P.S.Cumberoona is a replica of the paddle steamers which worked their way up and down the mighty Murray in the days when the river was the major link to the trading world. The original paddle steamer Cumberoona launched at Echuca in 1866, was named after the Cumberoona Station on the Upper Murray. Cumberoona is an Aboriginal word that means “Crooked River”.

Field trip notes: There is an extra $30 cost to join this field trip. This is an accessible field trip but includes bus travel.

Field trip partners: Holbrook Landcare Network, Murray LLS

Field trip 6: Become a soil health wizard in this hands-on workshop to learn how to use the Soil HASH (Holistic Assessment of Soil Health) Tool. Developed by Soil Land Food, Soil HASH is a free tool that anyone can use in the paddock to monitor, assess and manage soil function using simple physical, biological and biochemical indicators. Rather than focusing solely on nutrient levels, the tool helps identify the underlying soil constraints that may be limiting productivity, water infiltration, biological activity and overall soil performance. Ideal for farmers, Landcare volunteers, advisors and natural resource management professionals this workshop will equip you with valuable skills that you can take home and put into practice straight away.

Field trip notes: this is an accessible field trip located on site at the venue.

Field Trip partners: Soil Land Food, Central Tableland Regional Landcare Network

Field trip 7: Join us for an inspiring restoration and community field trip showcasing local conservation and partnership in action. Visit the scenic River Street Wetlands and hear from volunteers from Corowa District Landcare and Friends of River Street Wetlands about their ongoing restoration work and management strategies during a guided walk through the rejuvenated habitat. Next, head over to the Corowa Community Men’s Shed for a guided tour and a delightful afternoon tea, where you’ll learn about their vital collaborative projects and contribution to the local area. The trip then continues to the Whitehead Street Wetlands to hear from passionate speakers who play a key role in caring for this special site, finishing with a leisurely stroll through the habitat to spot majestic waterbirds and lively finches. It’s the perfect, peaceful way to round off the conference.

Field trip notes: This tour includes bus travel and a small amount of walking.

 Field trip partners: Corowa District Landcare, Friends of River Street Wetlands, Corowa Community Men's Shed, Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group, Murray LLS NRM team.

Field trip 8: Step into the cutting-edge world of agriculture in Corowa. Visit Derek and Murk Schoen’s 7,000 acre mixed farming property near Corowa, where over the past 25 years they have strategically revegetated the farm with mixed-species shelterbelt plantings. The tour will also include a visit to the JBS biogas project, an innovative system capturing methane from effluent ponds at one of Australia’s largest abattoir and piggery operations. The site’s biogas system is currently capturing and treating 60% of the effluent from around 130,000 pigs, generating more than 50% of the electricity needed to power the site, and reducing CO2 emissions by 60%.

Field trip notes: includes walking in paddocks and bus travel.

Field trip partners: JBS, Sustainable Farms