Total Canberra - Nature Capital and Tidbinbilla Wildlife
Canberra, Australia
From USD 105.06
Office phone number: +61 421 140 401
Total Canberra - Nature Capital and Tidbinbilla Wildlife
Canberra, Australia
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
If a lakeside bike ride combined with the chance to spot koalas and kangaroos sounds like your type of day, this is the tour for you! Get to know Canberra alongside a local guide for a full day of outdoor fun. Glide around Lake Burley Griffin's scenic cycle paths on an electric bike before heading to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve for a guided walk amongst the local wildlife — making this one unforgettable day in Canberra.
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Highlights
- Glide along the safe and scenic cycle paths of Canberra's lakeside parklands on an electric bike
- Learn the stories and discover the vibrant nature of the capital with your local guide
- Meet koalas, kangaroos, and other native wildlife on a guided walk through Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
- Join the optional e-bike ride with the 'roos back through the reserve
- Visit the NASA Deep Space Communication Complex
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Schedule details
- Duration: 7 hours
- Meeting point:
Opposite the “Parkes Place West” red sign on Parkes Place West between the National Library and Questacon in Parkes, Canberra.
- Starting time: 11.00 AM
- Ending point:
We will drop you off at your hotel or another agreed location within 20km of Canberra city centre. Drop offs beyond this point can be arranged for an additional charge.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local, English-speaking guide, electric bike and helmet hire, bottle of water.
Exclusions: Food and drink (other than a bottle of water), gratuities for your guide.
Our journey starts in front of the National Library at Reconciliation Place, with stories of Australia’s First Nations peoples and their enduring connection to the country. Then it’s time to hop on our electric bikes.
Joining the lakeside cycle paths, on your pedal assist electric bike you’ll glide along the heart of the nation's capital, passing through the avenue of flags and around the central lake. You’ll be able to soak up the grand vistas of the city's national buildings framed by the glimmering lake in front and forested peaks behind.
Leaving the heart of the city we’ll head into the parklands around the lake to uncover the natural character of the capital. Emerging from the parklands we’ll cycle by a strip of lakeside cafes — the perfect time to take a short break and maybe grab a coffee or try an exotic smoothie (drinks and snacks are at your own cost).
A short ride around the lake completes the circuit, pausing to admire a lakeside sculpture, or just to smile at the antics of the water birds. After completing the cycle circuit you’ll have time for a quick lunch at one of the cafes near the start/finish point.
Next up, we’ll hop on board the comfortable passenger van to start our scenic 45-minute drive into the mountains southwest of Canberra to the spectacular Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Your local guide will introduce you to this beautiful mountain region and explain its natural and cultural significance.
We’ll take a short break to stretch our legs at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Visitor Centre where you can explore the wildlife displays, enjoy a coffee or a cool drink, or explore the gift shop. A 10-minute drive transports us to the sanctuaries deep inside the reserve where your guided wildlife walk will begin.
You can choose to walk a little or a lot — it’s up to you. We offer short guided walks to meet the koalas, wallabies and other wildlife close to the sanctuary carpark.
After the wildlife walks you have the choice to either hop on an electric bike for an easy and magical "ride with the 'roos" back through the park, or get back into the vehicle for a stop at a grassy field to check out more kangaroos and soak up the mountain scenery.
Before or after visiting the nature reserve (dependent on weather conditions on the day), we’ll visit the NASA Deep Space Communication Complex to learn about the search for life in the universe and the distant spacecraft exploring our solar system.
Then it’s a scenic trip back across the river to the city, where we’ll be glad to drop you directly at your accommodation, as long as it is within 20 kilometres of the city centre. Please let us know where you’ll be staying when you book the tour.
Before you go, don’t forget to ask your local guide for all the latest happenings in the city and for recommendations on what else to see, do, and eat during your stay in Canberra.
Please note: In the event of bad weather that may prevent a safe e-bike trip, we’ll head over to the NASA Space Centre first for a longer visit to explore the displays about the planets, the Apollo moon missions and the Mars rover.
We still offer the guided wildlife walks in wet weather and provide raincoats and umbrellas as required, so please dress appropriately!
About our bikes: If you can ride a bike you can ride an electric bike. No licence needed! Our easy-to-use electric bikes make riding a breeze for all levels of fitness… so you can focus on what’s out there and not on the pedal pushing. All fun and no sweat!
We provide helmets, instructions and a chance to practice on the bikes before we set off. The bikes are equipped with comfy seats and handlebar bags for your phone, camera and other essentials. We stick mainly to cycle paths well away from the cars and take plenty of stops so you can discover the true nature of the city and take in the vistas.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local, English-speaking guide, electric bike and helmet hire, bottle of water.
Exclusions: Food and drink (other than a bottle of water), gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please bring extra warm clothing in the cooler months from May to October. Coats and other warm clothing can be left in the vehicle if not required.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 7 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve may be closed on days where there is a high fire risk or other severe weather event. In this situation we will contact you to offer an alternative nature tour or to reschedule for a different day. If neither of these options is possible we offer a full refund.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page. Children under the age of 6 can join at no cost.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +61 421 140 401
Email address: info@canberraurbanadventures.com
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