They will be packed with families and wildlife enthusiasts on Sunday as Canberrans explore the wilderness on their doorstep on World Wetlands Day.

There will be hourly guided walks focusing on wildlife and the area's history, as well as information displays and hands-on reptile displays for children from 10am.

Jerrabomberra Wetlands Management Committee chairman Warren Nicholls said wetlands were an important part of Canberra's ecosystem because they maintained water quality and provided a nursery for fish, turtles and birds.

The area had a rich history in the ACT, serving as a training ground for troops in 1916 and a meeting area for the area's native Ngunnawal people, he said.

"Particularly at Jerrabomberra we have a lot of small reed-infesting birds, which are hard to find but they're there," he said.

"Within 200 hectares, there are over 170 bird species, more than 80 of which are water birds."

Turtles, platypus and at least five species of frogs called Canberra's wetlands home, as well as many species of birds that flew in from across Asia to spend summer in the ACT, he said.

"They're feeding up and when our winter starts to move in they'll go north and breed in Russia, China, Japan and Korea, to name a few places."

ACT Parks and Conservation Service regional manager Brett McNamara said the wetlands were another example of natural beauty in the capital.

"It is a nature reserve which will capture your imagination and spark your curiosity to learn more about these wetlands, which have national and international significance," he said.

Mr McNamara encouraged families to take a picnic lunch and enjoy the activities.