Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

Tidbinbilla occupies a valley below the Tidbinbilla Range in the ACT's mountain country, and it functions as both a nature reserve and a conservation breeding site. The Sanctuary, a fenced wetland area, holds platypus in the ponds and is walked on boardwalks; the koala enclosure and the eucalypt forest hold a small reintroduced population; and brush-tailed rock-wallabies, southern corroboree frogs and northern corroboree frogs are bred here for release. Mobs of eastern grey kangaroos graze the open valley, and emus wander the road. Walking tracks climb into the ranges, and Aboriginal rock shelters in the reserve record long Ngunnawal occupation. The reserve was severely burnt in 2003 and has been rebuilt since.

What you actually see

• The Sanctuary wetland - boardwalks with platypus in the ponds.
• The koalas - a reintroduced population in the eucalypt forest.
• The breeding programmes - rock-wallabies and corroboree frogs raised for release.
• The valley wildlife - large kangaroo mobs and emus in the open country.

When to go

September to May; dawn and dusk are best for wildlife, particularly platypus, which are hardest to see in the middle of the day. Winter is cold with frost and occasional snow on the ranges. Fire closures occur in extreme summer conditions.

Honest expectations

Platypus sightings need patience and luck, and koalas in tall trees are easy to miss entirely. Vehicle entry is charged. The reserve is forty kilometres from Canberra with no public transport, and it closes at set hours.

Nearby

The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is close; Namadgi National Park lies south.