Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Jedbinbilla
Canberra's Wildlife Reserve in the Brindabella Foothills
On the lands of the Ngunnawal people.
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
An hour from Canberra in the foothills of the Brindabella Range, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is the easiest place in the ACT to see wild platypus, koalas, kangaroos, emus, and the rare brush-tailed rock-wallaby in their natural habitat.
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve covers 5,500 hectares of grassland, woodland and montane forest in the foothills of the Brindabella Range, just inside the south-western edge of the ACT. The Ngunnawal name 'Jedbinbilla' means 'where boys become men' and refers to traditional initiation grounds in the area.
The reserve was originally established in 1971 and has functioned as a wildlife sanctuary and breeding centre for several threatened species. The Sanctuary, an enclosed wetland and forest area, is the most accessible part of the reserve. A flat boardwalk circles a wetland that is home to wild platypus (often visible at dawn and dusk), Latham's snipe, water dragons, and freshwater turtles. The koala enclosure and the brush-tailed rock-wallaby breeding area are nearby.
The Hanging Rock and Camels Hump walking tracks climb into the higher forest and offer big views back over the city. The Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communication Complex, the NASA tracking station that received the first Apollo 11 moon landing transmissions, is just outside the reserve and has its own visitor centre.
Tourist locations
Places to visit in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
6 locations to explore
Birrigai Time Trail and Rock Shelter
25,000 years of Ngunnawal story
Park entry: $15.53 per private vehicle (day pass); $9.32 concession. Annual pass available.
Full guide arrow_forwardCanberra Deep Space Communication Complex
Track spacecraft beyond the solar system
Free admission. No booking required for individual visitors.
Full guide arrow_forwardEucalypt Forest Koala Path
Spot koalas in tall forest
Park entry: $15.53 per private vehicle (day pass); $9.32 concession. Annual pass available.
Full guide arrow_forwardGibraltar Peak Summit Walk
Alpine views above Tidbinbilla valley
Park entry: $15.53 per private vehicle (day pass); $9.32 concession. Annual pass available.
Full guide arrow_forwardHanging Rock Walk
Ancient granite tor in tall forest
Park entry: $15.53 per private vehicle (day pass); $9.32 concession. Annual pass available.
Full guide arrow_forwardTidbinbilla Sanctuary Wetland Walk
Wetlands alive with wildlife
Park entry: $15.53 per private vehicle (day pass); $9.32 concession. Annual pass available.
Full guide arrow_forwardFeatured in
Shortlists that include Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
You may also like
Canberra
Namadgi National Park
Parliament House
Lake Burley Griffin
Kosciuszko National Park
Rockingham
Jerrabomberra
Australia Wide
Australiawide
Attribution
Sources & credits
Content (1)
Images (2)
- Eastern Long-necked Turtle, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Padd... · Wildlifecartoons · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Emu 1 - Tidbinbilla.jpg · JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under licenses that permit commercial use. If you are the rights holder and believe an attribution is incorrect, please contact us.