Namadgi NP, ACT
1.0 km (0.5 hrs )
★★★☆☆

Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station was officially opened in 1967. The tracking station was built by NASA as part of its global network to support its upcoming Apollo space missions with the aim of landing a man on the moon. The 26 metre antenna was the one selected to transmit the first images from Apollo XI moon landing in 1969. The tracking station went on to support the Skylab missions before being converted in 1974 to support deep space missions like Voyager and Pioneer. The site was closed in 1981 and the antenna transferred to the nearby Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communications Complex where it can still be seen, even though it has now been decommissioned.

While little remains of the former tracking station, it is still a fascinating place to visit. Set amongst a mix of introduced as well as native trees, the site is split between a campground and the remains (mostly concrete footprint) of the tracking station. There are a number of information signs that have been erected in recent years that outline the history of the site and it is also a great place to observe the stars, being away from light pollution.