Every year the Program runs an interstate symposium and fieldtrip. Students are encouraged to participate in these trips, the prime purpose of which is to hold a Graduate Student Symposium to enable students from different universities to present discussion papers on their theses. These trips also provide a way for overseas students to develop unique insights into Australia's geography and cultural life.
Time is taken to visit areas of interest in cities and rural areas.
Visits to local institutions may also be included. Previous New South Wales fieldtrips have included excursions to Botany Council, a visit to Chinatown, a night at the Penrith Leagues Club and a tour of the Blue Mountains, led by a former graduate working with the local council. In Victoria visits have been made to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, the Port of Melbourne, Tatura Milk Products Co-operative, Pickworths Apple Orchard and an experimental farm in the Goulburn Valley. These trips also give students the opportunity to meet their peers and staff at other universities. When graduate students later attend the annual Institute of Australian Geographers Conference they then have ready-made reference points.