There is always something to explore at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and a revelation for even long-time visitors may be that it has its own vet clinic.

And these school holidays, visitors can get to see its workings in more detail than usual.

Children watch as veterinarian Dr Arianne Lowe listens to the heartbeat of a brush-tailed rock-wallaby as wildlife officer Hannah Waterhouse looks on. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

The clinic, located in The Sanctuary, the large wetlands area protected by a predator-proof fence, already has big windows through which visitors can watch vet Dr Arianne Lowe work every Thursday morning.

The special feature these school holidays is that Dr Ari, as she is known, has been "mic-ed up'', fitted with a microphone so she can also talk to the visitors watching from outside and explain to them what she is doing.