Csiro - Tidbinbilla - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

Great stop on a ride. Would be improved with card facilities at cafe

Lots of space facts and stuff. Enjoyable place for kids. Great country setting and lots of dishes

This place should be a definite stop if you are visiting Canberra. A somewhat out-of-the-way place about an hour's drive from the Canberra city, it will definitely help you appreciate our place not only in our own solar system, but in the universe as a whole. The place has a wealth of information for the young and the old alike.

I can't believe I've lived in Canberra my whole life and only just discovered this tracking station. Amazing views of several dishes tucked in between the mountains. The centre contains many objects of interest such as space suits and a lunar module engine, and provides easy-to-understand information and historic fun facts. A great adventure for kids and adults alike, would be perfect for school excursions. One of Canberra's hidden gems!

The drive here from Canberra was very scenic though make sure you have a printed map or download google maps offline as mobile reception (Optus) is problematic out this area. The centre itself is full of great stuff and lots of movies to watch in the cinema. I would definitely visit here again.

This facility at Tidbinbilla is run for NASA by Australia's CSIRO. It is the Southernmost of three Deep Space Communications Complexes, the others being in the USA and Spain. Together they manage communications between NASA and all its space missions which are beyond Earth orbit. This includes all interplanetary spacecraft, the two Voyager craft which are heading out of the Solar System and the New Horizons mission which swept past Pluto in 2015.
The visitor facilities were excellent and our tour of the facility in 2013 was an amazing experience. We thank Glenn Nagle for hosting us and explaining the various functions carried out there.
We left (reluctantly), inspired by a greater understanding of one of the greatest human achievements of modern times - the conquering of outer space!