Winter in Canberra has really been such a pleasure, with mostly crisp mornings with sunny afternoons. We finally had a free weekend and decided we wanted to head out to see Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Just 40 kilometres southwest of Canberra, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve feels like you are truly out in the Bush. Surrounded by mountains and tucked into the Tidbinbilla Valley, this beautiful reserve is one of the best places near Canberra to experience Australian wildlife, walk through native forests and spend a few hours outdoors.
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Planning Your Visit to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Tidbinbilla is open every day except Christmas Day, with gates currently opening at 7:30 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m. during winter and 8 p.m. during daylight saving time. The Visitor Centre is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We popped in to pay for our day pass and asked which trails were recommended for first timers. We were quickly presented a map and told that the Sanctuary trail was a great place to start.
A private vehicle day pass is currently $16.09 AUD for a vehicle carrying up to eight people, making it an inexpensive day trip for a family. Annual passes are also available if you’re planning multiple visits.
If you are visiting Canberra and don’t have a car or would like the guided tour which focuses on seeing wildlife and includes transportation, this tour is a great options – Check Availability Here!
I’d recommend arriving with a full tank of petrol (gas), comfortable walking shoes, water, sunscreen, hat and some layers. Cell reception is quite limited throughout the reserve, so give yourself plenty of time to get back through the gates before closing.
What Animals Can You See?
Wildlife is one of the biggest reasons to visit Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Depending on where you explore and the time of day, you might spot kangaroos, wallabies, emus, echidnas, koalas, bandicoots and wallaroos. The wetlands are also home to platypuses, turtles and an impressive variety of birds.
One of the best parts of your visit to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is the scavenger hunt you take while trying to locate all the animals you want to see. Keep your eyes on the trees as well as the ground, particularly around the Eucalypt Forest. We were lucky enough to see kangaroos, southern brown bandicoots, a platypus, koalas and so many different and beautiful birds.
Don’t Miss the Sanctuary
The Sanctuary Loop is one of the best recommendations for visitors who want to experience Tidbinbilla without committing to a strenuous hike. The 2.1-kilometre loop takes around 30 minutes and follows a series of interconnected ponds through a protected wetland ecosystem. The trail is flat and even, with boardwalks that wind over wetlands, making it a serene and enjoyable experience for all ages.
My daughter was nervous about seeing any snakes, as you are warned with signage on your way in. However, the paths are wide and very well kept, making visibility easy. We didn’t stay from the paths and didn’t seem like it was too much of a concern for other visitors we saw. Perhaps we are a bit anxious about the many venomous animals that Australia has.
The Koalas of Tidbinbilla
Seeing a koala in the wild is one of those quintessential Australian experiences, and Tidbinbilla offers a particularly special opportunity.
The reserve’s Eucalypt Forest is a 17-hectare predator-proof enclosure containing breeding and free-ranging koalas as well as threatened long-nosed potoroos. The Koala Path is a 700-metre walk, while the longer Peppermint Trail extends the experience to 1.8 kilometres. Look carefully into the branches—you may find a sleepy grey koala tucked into the canopy. Tidbinbilla’s relationship with koala conservation goes back decades. Its first koala breeding program began in 1939, making the reserve an important part of the region’s koala conservation story.
A Koala Comeback Story
I remembered learning about the koalas when they faced an enormous threat during the 2019–20 bushfire season. The Orroral Valley fire burned approximately 22% of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and forced the evacuation of some of its most vulnerable wildlife.
The Tidbinbilla koalas were moved to safety at the Australian National University while the fire and subsequent flooding made the reserve unsafe. Thankfully, the animals survived and were returned to Tidbinbilla later in 2020. Even better, staff discovered that one of the females had a joey, offering an encouraging sign of new life following an incredibly difficult period.
Today, the koalas are part of Tidbinbilla’s ongoing conservation and breeding work, alongside broader programs designed to protect threatened Australian species. The reserve now contains 100 hectares of feral-predator-free habitat across 20 free-ranging enclosures, making conservation a central part of the visitor experience.
Make a Day of It
The best way to experience Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is to resist the temptation to rush. Start at the Visitor Centre, choose a couple of trails, visit the Sanctuary and Eucalypt Forest, and then find one of the picnic areas for lunch. You can easily combine wildlife watching with a gentle walk, or, if you’re traveling with adventurous teens or experienced hikers, choose one of the more challenging mountain trails.
For anyone visiting Canberra, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve deserves a spot near the top of the itinerary. It’s an easy day trip, a wonderful introduction to the Australian bush and—if you’re lucky—a place where you might look up into a eucalyptus tree and find a koala watching you right back.
On our drive back, we stopped in Tuggeranong and had a late lunch at the Eighty Twenty Cafe. It was such a lovely way to end our day and I would recommend this experience to all who visit Canberra.
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