Top Melbourne Historical Tours

Explore this remarkable coastal and rainforest region on a tour that offers a truly personalized experience. Beat the crowds and benefit from a tour that focuses on new experiences, exclusive locations, unique wildlife and a sense of adventure. Marvel at the area’s beauty from the iconic 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and ancient Otway rainforest to sleepy seaside townships. Witness the gateway to Great Ocean Road, see koalas in their natural environment and enjoy lunch on the wharf featuring freshly cooked, local fish and chips on an experience that goes beyond the traditional.

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.

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 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.

From haunted graveyards to Jack The Ripper, Melbourne's scary past comes to light on this ghost and murder tour of the CBD. Join us as we explore Melbourne's scary side while visiting three of her best kept bar secrets. Discover three amazing laneway bars. You'll also receive a free mystery gift to celebrate your time with us. Photos of your tour can also be provided at no extra charge.

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.

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.

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.

Boozy History and Hidden Bars covers 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. You'll also receive a free mystery gift to celebrate your time with us. Photos of your tour can also be provided at no extra charge.

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.

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.

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.

Uncover the secrets and spirits of the Point Cook Homestead on a spellbinding, 2-hour evening tour. Known for its dark history and high level of paranormal activity, this isolated, 1850s homestead near Melbourne is home to many family legends and shadowy corners where restless ghosts are believed to roam.

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.

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.

Discover Melbourne’s dark underbelly by solving challenges and unlocking stories on your phone. Play the engaging exploration game, taking the role of a vampire who has to elucidate a family mystery. As you solve challenges, the story unfolds and directions on your phone will guide you to the next location. Ready for an adventure? Highlights include: • Explore Alfred Place, Parliament House, Her Majesty’s Theater and lesser-known places. • Enjoy a uniquely crafted story brought to you by our talented writers. • Learn about the fascinating story of the Princess Theater’s own famous ghost. • Discover the first train station to be built in Australia. • Try a new type of experience, the perfect mix between a tour, outdoor escape game, and treasure hunt. After your booking, you will receive an email with instructions on how to download and play the game on your phone. We recommend that each user purchases a ticket for an optimal experience, although several people can share a phone.

Receive a warm welcome to Melbourne on a private tour that will kick off your time in the city in the best way possible! In only 90 minutes, a local guide will get you acquainted with Melbourne to help you enjoy the rest of your stay to the fullest. Discover where to find main attractions like Chinatown and St. Pauls Cathedra, and how to explore them away from the crowds. And what about that unique family-owned restaurant or that amazing local hotspot? We got you covered; the local guides are experts in the subject! Forget about touristy traps; on this city kickstart tour, your guide will point you in the right direction. Private City Kickstart Tour: Melbourne is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local produce and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

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.

Take in the sights as you travel from Melbourne to Adelaide on a 2-day tour that features the highlights of the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians. Visit destinations such as Apollo Bay, the Twelve Apostles, and Loch Ard Gorge; look for koalas in the wild and explore the natural beauty and Aboriginal culture of Grampians National Park. Your tour includes overnight accommodation in the Grampians, two meals, and transportation.

The Great Ocean Road ranks among Australia’s most impressive coastal routes, but driving it independently means missing the hidden gems and finest views. On this tour, travel the route by air-conditioned minivan and see the best of the Great Ocean Road in comfort. Hit top attractions including the UNESCO–listed Naracoorte Caves, and enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour—limited to 16 people.

The best way to see Melbourne. With a Local, passionate, experienced Guide to make sure you get the best introduction into the Best city down-under!

Private boutique tour by a local resident of the area knowing where to go, what to see and whom to greet. Where to get the best food and bolide bagels. Tour the largest synagogue in Melbourne Get to meet a Rabbi if you want to Kosher food Customised to your wants and wishes

Experience Melbourne like a local, with a local, on this fully customizable private experience tailored to you and you alone. Try a cappuccino served in an avocado, shop the city’s finest vintage, chill with penguins, or crawl the laneways’ sexiest rooftop bars. Once you book, you’ll be paired with a like-minded host to build your dream itinerary—morning, noon, or night. Please note: Your fee covers guiding only.

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)!