Canberra AIS Tour: Behind-the-Scenes at Elite Sports Precinct

You get to test your speed and strength on the same equipment Australia's top athletes use.

The AIS Tour is a guided 1.5-hour experience through Canberra's premier elite sports facility, where you walk through world-class training grounds and try hands-on activities at Sportex, an interactive sports zone. Your guide leads you through the precinct in English. Sportex includes wheelchair basketball, virtual downhill skiing, rock climbing, football penalty shootouts, and skill-testing stations. The tour starts at the AIS Visitor Centre and suits all fitness levels. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour the Australian Institute of Sport

• Meet guide at AIS Visitor Centre
• Explore Sportex interactive sports activities
• Try ball-skills tester and reaction timer
• Visit Sydney 2000 Olympics and Sports Science exhibits

The experience

What happens when you walk into the spaces where Australia's Olympic and elite athletes train? The AIS Tour answers that by taking you behind the scenes at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the country's premier sporting precinct. A live guide leads the experience, moving through the facility and explaining how the training grounds work. The tour runs 1.5 hours and includes access to Sportex, an educational sports zone built into the visit itself.

Sportex is where the activity shifts from watching to doing. You'll try wheelchair basketball, virtual downhill skiing, rock climbing, and football penalty shootouts. There are also skill-testing stations where you measure your accuracy, speed, and reaction time against benchmarks. Educational exhibits cover the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Heroes and Legends, and Sports Science. The hands-on setup means you're not standing still. You're moving between activities and testing yourself on real equipment.

The tour meets at the AIS Visitor Centre and works for all fitness levels. Wheelchairs and prams are accommodated, and service animals are welcome. Public transport runs nearby if you're coming from central Canberra. Note that Sportex undergoes refurbishment from late June through early August each year, so check the dates before booking.

What’s included

• Local guide in English.
• access to Sportex with hands-on activities including wheelchair basketball, virtual downhill skiing, rock climbing, football penalty shootouts, and interactive skill-testing stations.
• educational exhibits on the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Heroes and Legends, and Sports Science.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00 and 14:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Australian Institute of Sport

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move between activities and test yourself on real athletic equipment rather than walk through displays. The hands-on Sportex experience is included, so you're not just observing the precinct. You're trying the same challenges elite athletes face.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly is Sportex and what can I try there?

Sportex is an interactive sports experience included in every AIS tour where you test yourself on real athletic equipment. You can try wheelchair basketball, virtual downhill skiing, rock climbing, football penalty shootouts, and use skill-testing stations for accuracy, speed, and reaction time. Educational exhibits on the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Heroes and Legends, and Sports Science are also part of it.

Will I actually see athletes training during the tour?

The tour takes you through world-class training facilities where you might catch some of Australia's top athletes in training, though it depends on the schedule that day. You're walking through an active elite sports precinct, not a museum.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 1.5 hours from start to finish, starting at the AIS Visitor Centre where you meet your guide.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or need to bring a stroller?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout. Service animals are also allowed.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the AIS?

Transportation to and from the attraction is not included in the tour price. Public transportation options are available nearby, and the facilities are accessible by wheelchair-accessible transport.