Top Melbourne Historical Tours

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.

Experience Australian wildlife and rainforest up-close and personal with a full day trip to Moonlit Sanctuary and the Puffing Billy Steam Train from Melbourne. Explore Moonlit Sanctuary's bushland setting with an experienced guide, and meet animals that range from koalas to kangaroos, dingos to monitor lizards. Learn about local conservation efforts. Soak up the wild atmosphere of a mountain rainforest while riding a century-old steam train along scenic tracks before returning to Melbourne.

Make the most of your visit to Melbourne with a laneways walking tour led by an informative guide. Check out the laneways with a local to find tucked-away art galleries, vibrant street art, and interesting shops and cafes. You'll also stop for tastings of macarons and coffee, and learn about Melbourne’s history, architecture and cultural hotspots. Your small-group tour is limited to 10 people, which ensures a more customized experience.

Explore vibrant, multi-cultural Melbourne with a private guide and an itinerary customised to suit your interests. Admire architectural landmarks like the Town Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral and Parliament House; learn about the city’s fascinating colonial history; or stroll around the idyllic botanical gardens. Alternatively, visit beachside St Kilda, browse the shops of the Block Arcade or Chapel Street, or discover ‘Little Italy’ in the Carlton district. This 4-hour tour includes hotel pick-up and morning tea.

Raise a glass to Melbourne's history while bar-hopping among some of the best watering holes in town. Hear tales of the Gold Rush, rebellions, royals, and Olympians while a fun-loving guide shows you how locals unwind. Order your drink of choice at a typical Aussie pub, a hidden speakeasy, a cozy wine bar, and another buzz-worthy surprise bar. It's a safe and social way to partake in Melbourne's famous bar scene while meeting fellow travelers.

At 38 hectares, it can take a long time to see all of Melbourne’s beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens by foot. This minibus tour offers a perfect solution for visitors wishing to take in the gardens’ natural beauty in just 30 minutes. The ‘hop on, hop off’ feature adds extra flexibility to anyone who wants to stay longer and get a closer look at certain gardens.

Trade the city streets of Melbourne for the beauty of the Dandenong Ranges. Tour the national park and look for colorful birds and exotic plants. Enjoy a ride on the beloved Puffing Billy Steam Train. In the afternoon, visit a Yarra Valley winery for a roast lunch with local wines. Have a sweet treat at a chocolate and ice cream spot, and end with a wine tasting at Dominique Portet.

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.

Explore the stadiums, sports history, and get a behind the scenes look at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during this half-day, guided walking tour made with sports fans in mind. Discover two decades of athletic history in the city that has been named sports capital of the world four times. Visit arenas, stadiums including the Olympic Park and get the inside scoop on popular events like the Australian Open.

Traverse the tree tops of the Dandenong Ranges in a Puffing Billy steam train on this half-day tour from Melbourne. Enjoy a Devonshire tea as you sit back and take in the lush forest scenery while the train chugs along the tracks. Stroll around a lovely craft village in the Victorian countryside on your way back to the bustling city.

For those who love history, exploring the Golden Mile Heritage Walk is a must on your visit to Melbourne. Learn about the city’s history and culture from your informative guide as you visit many historical points such as Parliament, Federation Square, and Town Hall. Break up the 2.5-hour tour with a morning drink stop at one of Melbourne’s trendy cafes and immerse yourself in the local culture.

Explore the delightful Dandenong Ranges with this family-friendly day trip from Melbourne. Chug through an emerald forest aboard the historic Puffing Billy steam train, and enjoy a traditional Aussie ‘billy’ tea and bird feeding among the fresh mountain scenery. Visit the Healesville Sanctuary for an up-close encounter with native Australian wildlife like kangaroos, wombats and koalas.

Starting from the heart of the city we walk along the Yarra River into Melbourne's world famous sporting precinct exploring over 150 years of sports history ranging from the Olympics, cricket, Australian football, rugby, tennis through to horseracing, F1, surfing and golf. We finish with a guided tour inside the MCG, visiting behind the scenes locations such as the players change rooms, the famous Long Room and the media centre.

Spend a delightful morning exploring top Melbourne sights from aboard a comfortable coach. Learn about the city’s fascinating history from your informative driver and guide as you explore highlights such as Queen Victoria Market, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Parliament House, and Cook’s Cottage. To extend your sightseeing, upgrade for an optional cruise along the scenic Yarra River.

Get a real taste of Melbourne on this 2-hour walking tour of the famous Queen Victoria Market, which dates back to the 19th-century. With a small group of no more than 12 people per guide, you’ll enjoy a personalised experience with your local guide, as you browse the myriad stalls and mingle with the locals. Enjoy tastings of delicious seasonal delicacies (included). Tasting will depend on what is fresh on the day, but typically include Coffin Bay Oysters, grilled peppered kangaroo, pickled octopus, local goats’ milk cheese, fresh dolmades and Victorian olives. Your tour ends with a famous hot jam doughnut from the iconic American Doughnut Kitchen.

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.

Discover the charms of Melbourne’s iconic laneways with this fun and social tour. Your local guide leads you through the laneways and shares stories of crime, secret clubs, and the old red-light district. Stop at multiple bars for drinks and snacks, and enjoy a delicious 2-course meal that is catered to several dietary requirements.

Take in the spectacular scenery of the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles on this tour from Melbourne. With all transportation provided, you can focus on the landscape and the views around every corner, without the hassle of navigating or needing to keep your eyes on the road. Disembark to take a hike through the temperate rainforest and see koalas in their natural habitat, accompanied by engaging guided commentary.

This walking tour is ideal for beer lovers, as it stops at bars specializing in Australian beer and liquor, a microbrewery, and more. Your fun (and drink)-loving local guide will tell you all about Melbourne’s alcohol history, so you get much more than just a bar-hopping evening. When the tour is over, stay on and hang out with your new friends and check out more of your guide’s recommended spots.

Immerser yourself in nearly 200-years of sports and sports history during this guided, small-group walking tour designed for those who love all things athletic. See the National Tennis Center where the Australian Open is played and make a stop at important stadiums and arenas as well as the Olympic Park, AAMI Park and more.

Whether your passion is for cricket, rugby, AFL, golf, athletics, tennis, or another sport, sports-mad Melbourne has something for you. On this sports-themed tour of the city you’ll learn about the various sports that are played in Melbourne, and the stadiums and arenas in which they’re played. Hear stories about memorable sports personalities, and anecdotes from Melbourne’s sporting past and present.

Discover Melbourne and Great Ocean Road with this exclusive private tour. Get to know your guide and share your personal interests. Learn the stories behind the facades, drive the iconic Great Ocean Road, enjoy an exclusive visit to see wildlife in their natural habitat.

Experience the natural landscape of Phillip Island without the stress of planning on a day tour with round-trip transport from your Melbourne accommodation. In addition to navigating, your guide provides little-known facts about the island’s history and wildlife. Visit secluded locations including farms and beaches for the opportunity to spot a range of animals, from kangaroos to penguins. All entrance fees and complimentary water are included.

Through gold rushes and rebellions, Olympics and royal visits, Melburnians have turned to ales, whiskeys, wines, and cocktails for comfort. Experience Melbourne’s unique bar scene on a private tour with a local guide and visit its unique watering holes. By the end of this private tour, you’ll discover that history really is better with booze (as if there was ever any doubt)!