Field Stations
Field Sciences are a distinctive feature of the subjects offered at the University of Canterbury and supported through a range of field facilities.
The Field Station Facilities comprises the “field laboratories” at Cass, Hari Hari, Kaikoura and Westport. They support the true field studies carried out in the locations and environments around the field stations.
The University of Canterbury has the most extensive network of field stations of any New Zealand university, ensuring that field-work opportunities for UC staff and students are maximized. The field stations are operated by the Field Facilities Centre.
Westport Field Station (West Coast)
The Westport Field Station comprises two units, the Maxwell Gage Field Centre and the Brian Mason Research Unit. Opened in 1995, the Field Station provides facilities for studies on the West Coast of the South Island. The Maxwell Gage Field Centre provides accommodation for 36 people. Adjacent to this is the self-contained Brian Mason Research Facility which houses an additional 6 people. Book here.
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Other Field Stations of the University
Cass Field Station (Southern Alps)
The mountain biology Field Station, as the Cass Field Station is sometimes referred to, is situated at Cass, 105km west of Christchurch in the mountains of the Waimakariri Basin. Field trips are housed in a modern 42-bed building with associated laboratory facilities. An 8-bed flat with a laboratory is available for small parties engaged in research. Book here.
Kaikoura Field Station (Kaikoura)
The Edward Percival Field Station at Kaikoura has residential facilities for staff and students and laboratory facilities for maintaining live animals for study. The Teaching Laboratory accommodates up to 32 people in seven bunkrooms. The George Knox Research Laboratory provides accommodation for research students and visiting scientists. The building includes a large general research laboratory, library, computer facilities, a smaller workroom and tank rooms as well as a large covered general working area. Book here.
Hari Hari Field Station (West Coast)
The Hari Hari (Charles Fowler) Field Station was established to support teaching and research on sustainable forest management, logging of indigenous forests and ecology on the West Coast. Hari Hari is no longer a centre of the timber industry. The station is mainly an accommodation building of two floors with bunkrooms on the upper floor. Book here.