Tidbinbilla Road
24 km
distance
22 min
Contour time
8.9
avg score
Sealed
surface
Scenery
Australian Capital Territory
Tidbinbilla Valley sits between two granite ranges in the ACT's southwest. The reserve holds one of Australia's best...
Road quality
8.9 RQS
Exceptional. Consistently high curviness, surface, and low traffic.
Accessibility
Fully sealed
Best in Sports car. Peak season: Year-round.
7-day forecast
Smooth sealed valley road with steady corners and good sight distances. Not as technical as Corin or Brindabella but very enjoyable as an approach drive. Kangaroos and wallabies are common on the road at dawn.
Scored 8.9/10 by Contour's road quality algorithm across curviness, surface, elevation and traffic. Best suited for sports car drivers.
The road
Tidbinbilla Road is the sealed approach to one of Australia's best small wildlife sanctuaries - a 24-kilometre drive through the Tidbinbilla Valley between two granite ranges. The road follows the valley floor with steady corners and good sight distances, passing the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex with its 70-metre dish - one of three NASA tracking stations worldwide still in active use, currently receiving data from Mars missions. The valley itself is lush compared to the surrounding ranges, fed by the Tidbinbilla River. The nature reserve at the end holds platypus, koalas, eastern bettongs and the critically endangered southern corroboree frog. The wetland boardwalk is reliable for platypus sightings at dawn. This is not the most technical road in the ACT - that honour belongs to Corin Road and Brindabella Road nearby - but it is the most rewarding as a complete experience. The drive, the space centre, and the wildlife sanctuary combine into something that few 24-kilometre roads can match.
Tidbinbilla Road is the sealed approach to one of Australia's best small wildlife sanctuaries - a 24-kilometre drive through the Tidbinbilla Valley between two granite ranges.
Why this road
The region
Tidbinbilla Valley sits between two granite ranges in the ACT's southwest. The reserve holds one of Australia's best small wildlife sanctuaries - platypus, koalas, bettongs and the critically endangered southern corroboree frog. The valley floor is lush compared to the surrounding ranges, fed by the Tidbinbilla River.
Before you go
Fuel in Canberra. Road is open year-round and sealed throughout. Wildlife is abundant - drive slowly at dawn and dusk. The nature reserve entrance fee applies to the reserve itself, not the road. The Deep Space Communication Complex (Canberra Space Centre) is on the road into the valley.
See a routing error?
Flag itWorth stopping for
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
One of the better places to see platypus in the wild - the wetland boardwalk in the early morning is reliable.
Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
The 70-metre dish is one of three NASA tracking stations worldwide still in active use - the visitor centre explains the current Mars missions.
Route
Start
Paddys River
End
Tidbinbilla
Gallery
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