Kangaroos and Koalas in Canberra: Deep Space and Wildlife Tour

Platypus, koalas and kangaroos in the same afternoon, starting from your hotel.

A half-day afternoon tour from Canberra that combines a visit to the Deep Space Tracking Station at Tidbinbilla with wildlife spotting in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Pickup at your accommodation is included, and the guide leads you through the reserve to watch native animals (kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, platypus, emus and parrots) living in the wild. The tour runs four hours total, with roughly 30 to 40 minutes of travel each way and time at both the tracking station and the reserve.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife and space tour near Canberra

• Pickup at accommodation
• Travel to Deep Space Tracking Station
• Learn about Apollo missions and space tracking
• Explore Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve wildlife
• Spot kangaroos, koalas, and other animals
• Return to accommodation

The experience

The tour starts with pickup at your hotel or motel before a 30 to 40-minute drive through Canberra's rural surrounds to the Deep Space Tracking Station. Here the guide explains the role the station's telescopes played in the Apollo missions and the first moon landing, and how they track deep space today. That context sets up the second half: a short drive to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, where the animals you came to see are living in their actual habitat, not behind barriers.

In the reserve, the guide takes you through to look for kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, platypus, emus and colourful parrots and other birds. The timing, an afternoon departure, is chosen because it is when the animals are most active. Platypus sightings often come toward the end of the reserve walk, which means you leave with that moment fresh. The return journey back to your accommodation takes another 30 to 40 minutes.

What’s included

• Pickup in a comfortable tour vehicle from major hotel and motel chains.
• entry to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
• expert local guide in English.
• return transport to your accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 95 years) · Child (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Canberra Guided Tours

Is this one for you?The afternoon timing is what makes the wildlife sightings reliable: animals are active when the tour runs. Children from age 12 are welcome, and the pace suits all fitness levels since most of the day is walking through the reserve at a gentle speed with the guide.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I actually see on this tour?

Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, platypus, emus and colourful parrots and other birds live in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and the guide takes you through to spot them in the wild. Platypus sightings often happen toward the end of the walk.

How long is the drive from Canberra to Tidbinbilla?

The journey from your accommodation to the Deep Space Tracking Station takes 30 to 40 minutes through rural surrounds, and the return drive is the same length.

What is the Deep Space Tracking Station and why is it on this tour?

The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla is where the guide explains how the station's telescopes tracked the Apollo missions and the first moon landing, and how they monitor deep space today. It sits just before the nature reserve, so both stops fit into one afternoon.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Yes, pickup at major hotel and motel chains in Canberra is included, and the return is to your accommodation.

What time of day does the tour run?

This is an afternoon tour timed to when Australia's native animals are most active in the reserve.