Things to do in Australian Capital Territory, Australia: The Best Nature & Parks

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is nestled at the base of the Tidbinbilla Range, and is only a 40 minute drive south-west of Canberra’s city centre. Located within the reserve is a Sanctuary of five ponds and weirs abundant with wildlife including platypus. There is an over 80% chance of seeing these rare and usually elusive animals! Other native animals you may encounter include koalas, emus, kangaroos and many bird and reptile species. Tidbinbilla is also a leader in conservation with a breeding program focusing on the Northern Corroboree Frog, Southern Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallaby and the Eastern Bettong. Tidbinbilla has a rich cultural landscape dating back over 25 000 years and is the traditional Country of the Ngunnawal people. The Tidbinbilla Valley also reflects the European history of the area with historic homesteads and evidence of farming scattered throughout the reserve. Unique accommodation is available at one of the historic homesteads, Nils Desperandum.

Step back in time and experience Australia's woodlands before clearing and introduced predators took its unique woodland wildlife. Enter the protective predator-proof fence of the sanctuary and watch Echidnas waddle, wildflowers bloom and rare marsupials hop. Mulligans Flat is a sanctuary at the forefront of Australian wildlife conservation. Protecting the largest patch of Box Gum Grassy Woodlands in the world, they work by 'restoring nature, transforming thinking and inspiring action for conservation'. Here locally extinct animals like the Eastern Bettong and Eastern Quoll have been reintroduced to Mulligans Flat, after being absent from mainland Australia for 100 years. It is the only place in Canberra where you can see these critters in the wild. Book a guided Twilight Tour via our website, or download our app for a daytime audio experience.

The national collection of Australian native plants; inspiring, informing and connecting people with the Australian flora.

Welcome to Namadgi National Park. Named after the Aboriginal word for the mountain ranges in the south-west of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Namadgi National Park was declared in 1984. The park covers over 106,095 hectares of the ACT and contains more than 160 kilometres of marked walking trails. In Namadgi National Park you can experience Aboriginal and European history, beautiful camping sites, an abundance of native wildlife and many bushwalking trails through a range of unique natural environments. Namadgi National Park is also the beginning of the Australian Alps Walking track which starts at the Namadgi Visitor Centre and makes its way through the Australian Alps. The track ends at Walhalla in Victoria after a total of 655 kilometres. Namadgi is also a great place to enjoy a day out with the family, pack a picnic or BBQ and get out in nature.

See possums, wallabies, and lizards.