Australia supports 25 million cattle and 87 million sheep, of which over 90% are managed under extensive grazing systems in the lower rainfall wheat-sheep and pastoral zones of the country. Stocking rates vary from 5 to 50 ha/adult equivalent (AE = 450 kg bovine). Over the past 20 years advances in electronics and information technology have increased our ability to monitor livestock under extensive grazing conditions. Today, the goal is to determine the mechanisms behind behavioural strategies exhibited by livestock in extensive environments and to understand how livestock interact with their environment. Controlled experimental methods provide one way to study animal behaviour, however studying animals in extensive systems requires a more holistic approach, recording many aspects of behaviour in the natural environment. Monitoring techniques such as global positioning system tracking of livestock integrated with remote sensing of the environment are integral in understanding livestock behaviour. These systems provide information on where and what an animal is doing thereby allowing researchers to determine grazing motivation and social interactions. The increasing variety and sophistication of these technologies, particularly when combined in integrated networks, is allowing a shift from passive animal management, such as fencing and watering points, to active remote management. This paper uses examples to demonstrate how technological advances are helping behavioural-based studies in extensive grazing systems typical of northern Australia. These include terrestrial sensor networks that monitor soil moisture and pasture biomass, satellite sensors that estimate ground cover and pasture species and on-animal sensors that can determine animal position and differentiate between activities, such as grazing, walking and resting. On-animal controllers can also manage the distribution of livestock across the landscape. This information can be used to maximise livestock productivity, minimise environmental impact and ensure the highest welfare standards are met.