Kangaroos and Koala Experience Tour
Description
Time and time again the Best of Wildlife tour impresses those who choose to take part. A half day, afternoon tour, we travel at the best time of the day to see some of Australia’s unique animals in the wild. The tour begins with pickup at your accommodation before a half hour to 40-minute journey through the rural surrounds of Canberra to the Deep Space Tracking Station at Tidbinbilla. Here you’ll learn about the significant role played by our telescopes in the Apollo missions and first moon landing as well as current day deep space tracking. From the Deep Space Tracking Station, we’ll travel the short distance to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve where some of Australia’s most iconic native animals living in the wild. Through the reserve we’ll hopefully witness and get close to: Kangaroos Wallabies Koalas Platypus Colourful parrots and other birds Emus After hopefully spotting platypus towards the end of the tour, you’ll enjoy the 30-40 minute tour back into your accommodation.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour begins with pickup at your accommodation before a half hour to 40-minute journey through the rural surrounds of Canberra to the Deep Space Tracking Station at Tidbinbilla.
Here you’ll learn about the significant role played by our telescopes in the Apollo missions and first moon landing as well as current day deep space tracking.
some of Australia’s most iconic native animals living in the wild. Through the reserve we’ll hopefully witness and get close to: Kangaroos Wallabies Koalas Platypus Colourful parrots and other birds Emus
After hopefully spotting platypus towards the end of the tour, you’ll enjoy the 30-40 minute tour back into your accommodation in Canberra.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
For visitors coming from outside Canberra, we recommend choosing our central pick-up point at the Jolimont Tourist Centre on Northbourne Avenue, conveniently located at the end of the tram line.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(43)
My mum and I had wonderful experience with a bus full of fellow tourists from across the globe. Neil is a wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide, great knowledge of Australian history, nature and wildlife. It was also great that we got to see kangaroos and koalas upclose.
I had the pleasure of spending my evening on this experience yesterday. Our Guide, Neal was exceptional. He was very informative, and kept the tour fun. Neal was right on time picking us up at the Hotel. It was such a nice evening and we sen so many animals! Australia is amazing, if you are here visiting do yourself a huge favor and book this tour!
Thank you for the glowing recommendation! We are so glad you had such a wonderful evening with Neil and that you were able to see so much of our amazing local wildlife. It’s great to hear that his punctuality and informative approach made the experience even better—we'll be sure to pass your kind words along to him!
Although we have lived in Australia for many years and have seen kangaroos and koalas in multiple locations, this tour is still worth mentioning. The tour guide, Neil, is very friendly and knowledgeable. He explained the different species of wallabies and kangaroos and introduced an interesting app for birdwatchers. He also fulfilled my wish to spot a platypus in the wild. Another highlight was the NASA deep space radio tower, which came with a very interesting story. As we were the only group on the day, he even dropped us back at our accommodation. I would highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! It is the ultimate compliment to hear that even as long-time locals, you found the tour so worthwhile. We are thrilled that Neil was able to help you tick that wild platypus sighting off your wish list—that is a truly special moment! It’s also great to hear that the mix of wildlife, local apps, and the fascinating history of the Deep Space Communication Complex made for such a memorable day. We’ll be sure to pass your thanks to Neil for that personalized door-to-door service!
The tour guide, Neil, not only provided up close views of the promised kangaroos and koalas but also the red-necked wallaby and the black/swamp wallaby! The most unexpected and special parts of the tour were spotting an Emu as soon as we entered the reserve and the opportunity to see a pond where platypuses (platypodes?) live! A mix of luck and Neil's expert knowledge allowed us to actually get close enough to see the beak and the body of a platypus as it dove around the pond. If this all wasn't enough, Neil specializes in birds and was able to provide a wealth of information on the various birds we spotted during the tour. He was even able to show us the location of a very successful bowerbird and his meticulously crafted bower. Overall it was a wonderful and informative experience where I felt comfortable and safe the entire time with Neil and the other solo female traveler that joined us. There is no cell reception for most of the tour, so keep that in mind. I also recommend closed toe shoes, long trousers, and a light jacket or sweater during the cooler months. Amazing tour, huge thanks to Neil for the great experience!
Thank you so much for this incredibly detailed and glowing review! We are absolutely thrilled that you had such a successful day of wildlife spotting. Seeing the Big 3—kangaroos, koalas, and the elusive platypus—is a massive win, but adding the emu, various wallabies, and a bowerbird’s masterpiece really makes for a perfect day! Neil will be especially pleased to hear that his passion for birdwatching and his knowledge of the local ecosystem added that extra layer of magic to your experience. We also truly appreciate you highlighting the safety and comfort of the tour for solo female travelers; creating a welcoming environment is a top priority for us. Thank you for sharing those practical tips about the gear and the lack of cell reception—it's the best way to help future guests fully unplug and enjoy the nature!
They cancelled my tour less than 2 hours before the trip, no explenation at all, and impossible to get in touch with. Avoid if you want to be sure you will actually go on the tour.
The guide Nile is very jind, helpful , and knowledgeable . It was a nice trip. We saw birds , platypus, koala, and Kangaroos. The guide was the best. He has his own books in birds. It was wonderful experience.
Thanks so much! We're thrilled you enjoyed the Kangaroos and Koala Experience Tour 🦘🐨 Neil’s passion for wildlife really shines through — so glad you had such a wonderful day out in nature!
Great opportunity to see Australian animals and plants in the bush. Neil (our guide) was knowledgeable about history and stories from the past. He knew where to bring us to see kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, kookaburras, platypus and emus. We saw several varieties of birds and some koalas too. Our children also thoroughly enjoyed this tour. I highly recommend this tour.
This was a wonderful experience led by our friendly and well-informed guide, Neil! We were very pleased to see wombats, koalas, kangaroos, platypuses, and wallabies (as well as many different types of birds). I found the stopover at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex to be particularly interesting. It was also great to be able to just look out the window at the landscapes without worrying about driving. Highly recommended!
Neil was a great tour guide! My wife and I are visiting from Sydney and he took us out to see some amazing wildlife at Tidbinbilla Reserve. Highly recommend to anyone visiting!
Thank you, Michael! We’re so glad you and your wife enjoyed the Kangaroos and Koala Experience Tour. Neil was thrilled to hear your kind words, and it’s wonderful that you got to experience the amazing wildlife at Tidbinbilla. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on another adventure!
We were picked up by Bob and joined our small group tour. The drive out of the city was welcome to see the stunning countryside. We drove up to the Deep space station before entering the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. We had perfect weather although initially a little too hot for our furry friends. We saw plenty of kangaroos later eating the grass in the shade. Where we sat nearby .We visited the koala sanctuary and was able to see them in their natural surroundings enjoying a lovely snooze. We also saw wallaby and various species of birds with such colourful feathers. A truly magical experience.
