Top Melbourne 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.

Getting your bearings in Melbourne for the first time can be tricky, but with a guided tour like this one, you needn’t worry. Instead of fussing around trying to plan the ideal route, an expert already has it in hand and is ready to share their unique local stories that don’t make it into the average guidebook, while you check out landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral.

No trip to Melbourne is complete without a visit to the Shrine of Remembrance, a war memorial that honors Australian service and sacrifice in all wars. Join a guided tour to explore the monument, built after the First World War, and explore its rich history. Your guide will share fascinating stories about the design of the building and the lives of those it commemorates as you discover commemorative spaces and special exhibitions.

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).

Access parts of the Australian Sports Museum that are usually off limits during a tour of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Enjoy an exclusive glimpse into the inner sanctum of the 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.

See a side of Melbourne that way too many tourists don’t get to see, and immerse yourself in a side of Australia’s history that you don’t want to miss. Ride the Puffing Billy Railway, which first opened back in 1900, with your legs dangling over the open carriages and soak up the lush rainforest views that you don’t get anywhere else.

This gaol is a grim place with a dark history. Stories of the unexplained have been gathered over the years from visitors and staff alike. None have been proven, yet. Join this chilling night time gaol tour — if you dare! This night tour is conducted in the dark and includes confined spaces. Appropriate footwear is recommended. This night tour is not recommended for children 12 years and under. Please note that dates for this tour are only released at least two weeks before event dates.

The Best Way to Discover Melbourne: Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour. Play, learn, and walk! Explore at your own pace with a 100% self-guided activity. Start anytime (24/7) with no guides or schedules. Pause for a photo at Saint Francis’ Church or a visit to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and resume whenever you're ready—even the next day. This unique team-building activity is perfect for couples, families, and groups. The "Complete City" Package - Everything you need in one app: Interactive Game: Solve puzzles and discover 10+ major attractions, plus hidden gems revealed along the way. Learn the history/legends of each site. Insider Tips: Access hand-picked local restaurant and shop recommendations. What you will visit: St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne Town Hall, Saint Francis’ Church, State Library Victoria, Old Melbourne Gaol, Melbourne City Baths, Queen Victoria Market, Flagstaff Gardens, The Hellenic Museum, and SEA LIFE Aquarium.

Explore Melbourne’s vibrant heart, Victoria’s diverse capital, with an unforgettable city tour. This city tour of Melbourne showcases the city's exceptional highlights in one personalised experience. Your sightseeing Melbourne tour makes the most of your time, revealing Melbourne at its most beautiful. Whether you’re here for a Melbourne half-day city tour or just passing through and want to get a flavour of this stylish city, join us on this sightseeing tour of Melbourne.

Take a walk through Melbourne's seedy side on a true crime tour of Fitzroy, once the city’s most dangerous and notorious district. Feel transported back to the turn of the 20th century while a historian guide shares the dark deeds of thieves, murderers, gang bosses, pimps, and other scoundrels who once stalked the streets. Meet these hardened criminals through a booklet with historic photos that bring the chilling stories to life.

Spend a haunting evening immersed in Melbourne’s supernatural history. Hear some of the tragic tales and ghostly legends that pepper the city’s past while your entertaining local guide leads you on a walking tour. Choose from one of three different itineraries — Old Melbourne, Williamstown or Pentridge Prison (see Itinerary below for details). With the Old Melbourne and Williamstown tours, you can opt to include dinner at a haunted historic pub.

Most travelers think they’ve seen Melbourne after strolling its laneways and famous streets. But what if I told you the city’s real soul hides in its quiet corners, hidden alleys, and stories only a local can share? Exploring alone, it’s easy to miss the details and history that give Melbourne its unique character. You might leave thinking you’ve seen it all, while the city’s best secrets stay hidden. Our Walking Tour in Melbourne changes that. Your guide adapts to your interests, showing both iconic landmarks and hidden gems. Discover Melbourne’s real heart, beyond the surface.

We are passionate about showcasing the rich history, diverse culture, and unique character of this incredible city. Whether you're a visitor looking to experience Melbourne for the first time or a local wanting to see your city from a fresh perspective, your tours offer an unforgettable journey through Melbourne’s laneways, landmarks, and best-kept secrets. We believe the best way to experience Melbourne is on foot, where you can truly immerse yourself in its atmosphere. Your expert guides are friendly, knowledgeable, and dedicated to making your tour both fun and informative.

Step back in time and explore downtown Melbourne’s gangster past. Discover buildings along Lonsdale Street that were once brothels and speakeasies from the 1870s to the 1930s. Hear myths and legends about the famous gangsters of the era such as Squizzy Taylor and the slum of ‘Little Lon,’ and how these gangs used lolly shops—candy stores—as fronts for massive drug operations.

Taste your way around Melbourne on the ultimate foodie tour. Discover a variety of cuisines including Spanish, Asian fusion, and contemporary Australian, as you traverse the city. Learn about Melbourne’s vibrant history and how it became one of the world’s food capitals from your informative guide. Sample several dishes during this tour with a group of eight guests or less, to ensure an intimate and personalized experience.

Closer to Victoria’s gold rush era of the 1850s than most tourists in the 21st century ever will be with this trip to the Sovereign Hill open-air museum. Ditch the hustle and bustle of Melbourne and immerse yourself in local history with the help of characters in period costumes before you watch a Redcoat Parade, live musket firing, and try your luck panning for gold.

Experience the best of the City in three hours: our famous laneways, our coolest bars and our fascinating history. Why do three different tours, when you can get the best of Melbourne in just one! Explore Melbourne’s famous laneways, home to some of our most interesting places. This is the side of Melbourne most tourists (and even some locals!) never see. Learn about Melbourne’s love affair with drinking, the persecution of barmaids, our booziest Police Commissioner, secret men’s clubs and much more. Discover three amazing laneway bars, plus a cheeky trivia quiz at our second bar for your chance to win! Photos of your tour can also be provided at no extra charge.

This is the story of the Abbotsford Convent, told through the women who lived it. Women and girls whose daily lives were shaped by this place, and whose work, obedience, friendships, and resilience helped keep it running. On this two-hour walk, you’ll move through the grounds where girls woke before dawn to work in the laundries, where silence and routine were used as discipline, and where care often came with control. You’ll learn how young women were separated from their families, how unpaid labour supported the institution, and how faith shaped everyday life inside the Convent. But this is not only a story of harm. You’ll also encounter quieter, human moments. Friendships formed under watchful eyes. Moments of dignity found in difficult conditions. Girls supporting one another within a system far bigger than themselves. This tour is a powerful window into how places like the Abbotsford Convent shaped lives, communities, and the country far beyond its gates.

Tour the best of the Mornington Peninsula with a guide and your private group on this private excursion from Melbourne. Enjoy walks on the coastline, explore historic fishing villages, take in views from the highest peaks, explore vineyard country, and spend time enjoying the beautiful scenery and taking photos. This tour is yours to customize and can include additional sights or more time allotted at particular sights.

Raise a glass to Melbourne's history while bar-hopping among some of the area's best watering holes, without worrying about navigating. Hear tales of the Gold Rush, rebellions, royals, and Olympians while a fun-loving guide shows you how locals unwind. Visit a range of venues—from a typical Aussie pub, a hidden speakeasy, or a cozy wine bar—for a safe and social way to partake in Melbourne's famous bar scene while meeting fellow travelers.

Visitors often miss some of Melbourne’s best attractions because they don’t know how to reach the city's outer locations. This full-day tour makes visiting easy by handling the transport for you. Travel from the city out to the Dandenong Ranges to ride the famous Puffing Billy steam train, then go see all sorts of native Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary.

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.

Let one simple booking sort out a whole day’s worth of Melbourne sightseeing and get a unique first-hand experience with not just Aussie nature, but a piece of its history too on this Puffing Billy, forest, and Yarra Valley combo tour. Start by hopping aboard the over-100-year-old railway, before walking around huge Californian Redwoods, then make the trip your own with either a wine tasting or a sweet treat.