Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Canberra: What wildlife can I see and what are the best walks?

On a visit to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in Canberra, visitors might see kangaroos. There are also koalas, wallabies, echidnas, emus, wombats and perhaps even a platypus. Keep an eye out while on walking tracks such as the Koala Path and Peppermint Trail.

A 45 minute drive south-east of Canberra city centre in the Australian Capital Territory, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is an excellent place to spot Australian wildlife. Kangaroos often hop down the road (be VERY careful while driving at night in these parts) near the capital of Australia. And you’ll see koalas sleep in the trees amidst the wet eucalypt woodland visited by the Koala Path.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve walks

This 700 metre, wheelchair-accessible path is one of 21 marked trails within the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Some work for quick strolls. These include the 500 metre walk to Hanging Rock alongside Ashbrook Creek or the 1.8km Peppermint Trail across Mountain Creek. Tougher, steeper, longer walking routes head to Gibraltar Peak, Eliza Saddle and Camel’s Hump.

Black swans at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Australian Capital Territory — Black swans are among the creatures that can be seen at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in Canberra. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

It doesn’t have to be about all day hikes through snow gum forest towards towering rock ledges, however. You’ll find wildlife on easy walks. Spiny echidnas snuffle around in the day, and wombats emerge from their underground burrows at night.

Some routes find wallabies hopping along the rocks, others have emus ambling through the grassland. Those going past natural ponds provide an opportunity to spot the elusive platypus.

How big is Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve?

The variety of landscapes and habitats are what makes the 54.5 square kilometre Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve so appealing. There are mountains, valley floors, wetlands and grasslands to explore.

The reserve is very tourist-friendly, too. Rangers and volunteers lead regular, short walks at the weekends. This is a good way to spot more creatures, as the guides have a trained eye and better knowledge about where the individual creatures like to hang out.

Also in the Tidbinbilla area is Australia’s premier space research facility, the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.