Top Australia Historical Tours

Enjoy a more relaxed experience of Melbourne than you’d get in a traditional tour vehicle on a walking tour that provides the ultimate introduction if you're visiting for the first time. You’ll stop to hear tales and trivia that you’re unlikely to find in the guidebook about top Melbourne attractions such as Federation Square, Hosier Lane, Old Melbourne Gaol, and much more.

Follow the trail of Australia’s outback pioneers on this tour down the Longreach-Windorah mail route. Gallop through the bush and down dusty roads on a restored stagecoach, just like settlers used in the 19th century. This family-friendly outback throwback includes a traditional smoko (scones with jam, cream, and tea), a classic Australian bush movie screening, and time to browse the Cobb and Co Courtyard collection.

Uncover the secrets of Sydney’s heritage as you explore The Rocks on this guided walking tour of the historic precinct. Offering amazing views over the Sydney Harbour and the Campbells Cove Wharves, your guide will lead you along shady laneways and cobbled courtyards where you’ll discover some of Sydney’s earliest buildings, including Cadman’s Cottage, built in 1816 and the Garrison Church, which dates back to the 1840s.

Get an early start to make the most of your time at the UNESCO World-heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site. This package includes early-morning pickup from Hobart, which gives you a full day to explore the site at your leisure. It also includes a guided introductory walking tour, entry into the site's historic buildings and heritage gardens, and a harbor cruise.

Book a 1- or 2-day pass on a Hobart hop-on hop-off bus tour for an easy way to explore the city's top attractions at your own pace. Travel by double-decker red bus to 20 stops around the city, where you can hop off whenever you wish to visit the places that interest you. Alternatively, opt to stay onboard the bus for the full loop.

Enjoy a history tour from a unique angle: the seat of a World War II truck. The vehicle sets the scene for many of the places you’ll drive past and the stories your guide will tell you. See important wartime sites and get the chance to visit a military museum (extra cost). An ideal tour for history buffs and travelers curious to learn more about Darwin.

Learn the art of creating one of the nation's oldest beers with a visit to Cascade, Australia's oldest continuously operating brewery. Learn how the company first started and how it makes its famed beer, and walk through a working brewery. Finish your guided tour with a refreshing tasting paddle of four Cascade beers.

Enjoy Hobart from the water on Derwent River cruise. Choose your preferred time of day for your cruise, including lunch and dinner options, and then glide through the city to admire the harbor and waterfront attractions such as the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, the Tasman Bridge, Government House, Montagu Bay, and Rose Bay.

See Darwin’s highlights on a handy half-day tour by bus. Learn about Darwin’s World War II history at the Defence of Darwin Experience, with admission to this military heritage site included. Explore the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, and stop by the 1934 Qantas Hangar and Darwin Aviation Museum, among other sites on this comprehensive introduction to Darwin. Includes handy hotel transfers; caravan parks cost extra.

Access parts of the Australian Sports Museum that are usually off limits during a tour of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. You’ll enjoy an exclusive glimpse into the inner sanctum of MCG as you walk on the pitch and enter changing rooms used by cricket legends throughout the years. Plus, admission to the Australian Sports Museum is included.

Active travelers will enjoy this five-hour Valley of the Winds circuit hike at Kata Tjuta. Get up close to the incredible red rock formations while learning about the natural and cultural history of the area from your guide. Receive personalized attention from your guide on a small-group tour. This is a great way to get active while seeing the sights of Australia’s red center.

See the most famous sites in Melbourne from the Yarra River as you cruise on a vintage vessel, a Grower built in 1924. Travel under historic bridges at sunset, cameras ready to snap photos of the Botanical Gardens, the Docklands, and more from your boat. Listen to live commentary from your captain who tells you all about Melbourne’s history and culture as you have a few nibbles and maybe a glass of wine (BYO).

Take the day to fully explore Port Arthur with a guided tour of all the history of this former convict site, followed by a cruise. You’ll see the ruins and restored buildings, and the surrounding natural beauty of the Tasman National Park on this day out. When finished exploring the historic site, you can hop aboard your vessel, and sit back and relax as you enjoy a short cruise in the Port Arthur Harbour.

Sydney's harborfront landmarks are best seen from the water, but working out vantage points and timing takes local know-how. Board a cruise past the city's historic sights, tucked-away beaches, and sandstone cliffs, with the route handled for you. Listen to commentary on the harbor's history as the views roll by, and pick the morning or afternoon departure that suits your day.

Sydney’s highlights are spread across the harbor, and covering them on foot can take hours. This guided cycling tour lets you see more in less time while staying active. Pedal past icons such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, along with hidden corners and local favorites, as your guide shares insights into the city’s history and culture.

Your journey begins with a convenient hotel pick-up before we head into the breathtaking landscapes of Kata Tjuta in Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park. With our expert guide, you’ll uncover the area’s remarkable geology, cultural significance, and ancient history as we approach the striking 36 domes—known as “many heads” in the Pitjantjatjara language—formed over hundreds of millions of years. We then set off on the 5.4 km Valley of the Winds walk, following creek beds and winding through the heart of these towering formations. It’s a truly immersive way to experience the beauty and spirit of this ancient land. After the walk, relax with canapés and Australian wines while taking in a magnificent outback sunset, before returning to your hotel approximately one hour after sunset.

With a 2-day pass for Tasmania’s Port Arthur Historic Site, you can explore this former convict colony, located on the Tasman Peninsula and part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Australian Convict Sites, with the flexibility and time to make the most of your visit. Included are a self-guided audio tour, daily site talks, access to the 30-plus ruins and historical buildings, a cruise on the harbor, and a visitor guide with a map. Follow the Convict Water Supply Trail, learn what life was like as a prisoner, and see where officers lived.

Immerse yourself in the history and modern practices of pearling luggers on this guided group tour in Broome. Learn about Broome's maritime and pearling history, watch rare archival footage, see diving artifacts, discover how pearling practices have evolved, hold valuable pearling and mother of pearl artifacts, and enjoy an exclusive tasting of pearl meat, a rare delicacy from the Pinctada maxima oyster.

Immerse yourself in the natural wonders and eventful history of Tasmania on a 6-hour boat tour from Strahan. The first-class catamaran ensures comfort from beginning to end. Cruise through Hell’s Gates, then enjoy a guided visit on Sarah Island, which once housed the island’s most notorious penal settlement. Enjoy a buffet lunch on board the ship, then continue your adventure with a boardwalk tour through the UNESCO listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

Enjoy a relaxed, small-group day tour to the Blue Mountains with a Sydney CBD pick-up, travelling in comfort with an experienced guide. Arrive early to make the most of the region’s iconic scenery and rich history. Take in sweeping views of the Three Sisters at Echo Point, ride the historic Zig Zag Railway, explore the village of Blackheath at your own pace, see the stunning Katoomba Cascade Waterfalls, and experience Scenic World’s Railway, Skyway, Cableway and rainforest walk. Return to Sydney by ferry across Sydney Harbour, arriving at Circular Quay - a seamless, value-packed Blue Mountains experience in one memorable day.

Get a good look at the sporty side of Melbourne on this half day tour, including a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). You and your small group will meet outside the Transport Bar at Federation Square, and then head to Birrarung Marr and walk along the river to Rod Laver Arena for tennis history, the Melbourne & Olympic Park, AAMI Park for soccer and rugby news, and finally at the MCG for a guided tour.

Understanding Sydney’s layered history can be difficult without local context, particularly in areas shaped by both Indigenous heritage and European colonies. This guided pub walking tour explores The Rocks, an area with deep cultural significance, through stories connected to its long-standing pubs. Walk between venues with a local guide, enjoy four included drinks, and learn how social gathering places reflected changing communities over time.

Journey to the rain forest village of Kuranda via two unique transit options on this memorable full-day tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. Skip the line and enjoy Gold Class service aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway, winding through lush mountain passes and waterfall gorges along the way. In the opposite direction, glide above the treetops in a gondola and soak up spectacular views of the mountains and coastline on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. In Kuranda, enjoy leisure time to explore the heritage markets, learn about aboriginal culture or interact with native wildlife.