The knowledge of the subsurface structure and composition is the precondition for the understanding and modelling of geohydraulic processes. A wide variety of in-situ and laboratory methods for subsurface characterization exist, with resolutions ranging from centimetre to field scale. As most of these methods are excellent tools for the characterization of homogenous aquifers, the exploration of heterogeneous aquifers is far more complex. This paper presents initial results from a project using cone penetration tests and recently developed Direct Push methods for subsurface characterization at a field site in Bitterfeld, Germany. At this site, soil specific properties change over a range of several magnitudes within short horizontal and vertical distances. This study gives an overview of the results and a qualitative correlation of the tested methods.