The Original Walking Tours of Melbourne
est. 2004
03 9663 3358 (A/H +61447868788)
Sharing Melbourne Evolutions
 


Melbourne: here’s our take on the coolest winter city.

Melbourne is such a cool place to visit – and we’re not just talking about the invigorating winter days. We’re raving about the art, the famous musicals, multicultural markets, beautiful gardens, all the football codes and fun festivals that let you fill every day and evening for at least a week.

And we haven’t even started on the cosy corners, hidden bars, perfect coffee, mulled wines, the celebrated Mork hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows, the fine restaurants with their seasonal menus. This all means that Melbourne is an exciting place to visit no matter what the weather.

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Where to start? The best way to orientate yourself is with a Hidden Secrets walking tour such as Golden Mile Heritage Walks of Melbourne or Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Tour.  The former includes some of Melbourne’s grandest buildings and intriguing tales from the gold rush boom days; the latter takes you deep into the twists and turns of the lanes and arcades that are filled with busy cafes, bars and designer stores.

If that whets your appetite to delve into Melbourne’s religious fervour for coffee, book the Café Culture Tour. You’ll discover that some of the very best coffee comes from tiny hidden cafes and specialty roasters. Lunch is included at a secret location.

Art abounds in winter, and the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the epicentre. Celebrate new and ambitious local art and design at Melbourne Now running at the Ian Potter Centre until August 2023 or check out The Takahiro Iwasaki exhibition at NGV International. Recognized as one of Japan’s leading contemporary artists his Reflection Model (Itsukushima) exhibition is on until October 2023 and entry is FREE, Our tip: make it a blockbuster Friday, see both exhibitions and stay on for the popular evening entertainment, bars and dining.

The extraordinary, immersive Monet & Friends exhibition at The Lume (Australia’s first digital art gallery) runs until June, so why not make a weekend of it and stay in one of the many hotels within an easy walk of the galleries.

When you’re ready for cocktails and dinner, your tours will have put a number of Melbourne’s best bars and dining experiences on your personal map. Or you can book a Progressive Degustation Walk to three restaurants, each serving three savoury food tastings with a flight of wine or other beverages.

 

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, until August 7 is the illuminated spectacular ‘Lightscape’. See the gardens after dark as never before to celebrate the beauty of nature on a trail featuring installations made up of over half a million dazzling lights. Also at the gardens a must-do in the art-tech space is ‘Seeing the Invisible’ augmented reality artworks. Thirteen immersive virtual works by established and emerging artists are viewed through a special app on your smartphone or tablet simultaneously at venues around the world. Be prepared to be amazed – and Australia’s only venues for this international exhibition are the botanic gardens in Melbourne and Cranbourne.

 

Next, a totally indulgent shopping experience at the Boho Luxe Market and Boho Bride at the Royal Exhibition Buildings. Think of a Byron Bay-inspired bohemian wonderland, and shop for homewares, jewellery, clothing, kids’ items, prints, candles, stationery and more. Till August 28.

 

Melbourne’s markets are famous, and the Winter Night Market takes over Queen Victoria Market on Wednesday evenings until August 31. Come and enjoy Melbourne’s best street food, brewers, distillers, artisans and entertainment. And the Malaysia Hawker Festival tempts with the spices and scents of that tiny nation on September 10 and 11.

Now, you can’t visit Melbourne without seeing a musical or play. Moulin Rouge! The Musical was so popular it is back for round two after its first sold out season, running at the Regent Theatre from 20 August to 1 October 2023.  Or why not watch “the greatest love story ever told” Romeo and Juliet at the Art Centre for a limited season in July..

Still got gaps in your holiday diary? The Melbourne International Film Festival runs from August 3 -20, the Indian Film Festival from August 11 – 20, and

Australian Rules Football is played at Melbourne’s big stadiums every week, with soccer and rugby at top levels too.

Come and #MeetMelbourne soon.

Follow our Instagram for more http://instagram.com/hidden_secrets_melb

(For more information on these and other events, visit https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/melbourne/whats-on)

 

Melbourne Laneways on Tour
Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Tour
$129
3 hours (or 4 hours with lunch option) hours
Hidden-Secrets-CCW_02
Cafe Culture Walk
$195
generally 2.5 - 3hours hours

Tour options to book.

Testimonials

We love it when guests send us notes of what they enjoyed on tour.

These are just a few!

What others say about our Tours of Melbourne

  • What a fabulous way to experience a new city. We learned a lot while being shown some amazing places to stop in and have a bite. This was absolutely one of the highlights from being in Melbourne.
    An outstanding way to spend an evening – Laura Jan 2023
  • A very informative, comprehensive and interesting walking tour that I thoroughly recommend. I’ve been to Melbourne a few times and future trips will be so much better for the knowledge gained. Melinda is an excellent guide and I’m so glad I signed up for this.
    Best for history food shopping and outdoor art – Solo Traveller April 23
  • Fantastic evening with great food and wine. Fiona was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. She shared great facts about the beautiful city of Melbourne and took us to wonderful restaurants. A must do!
    Great Evening in Melbourne – Jan 2023
  • I am so thrilled I did. Wow, it was so interesting. I am seriously born and bred Melbourne, lived here for 50 years (in inner 'burbs) and worked and walked these city streets probably thousands of times and thought I knew my patch pretty well. This tour was the next level. My Melbourne will never be the same to me again, for which I am truly grateful. I liked it so much we're booked on the Degustation Tour. If you are not a local and you are interested in the quirky side of history and how this staid, yet beautiful city evolved, you will enjoy it. If you are a local, you will marvel at Marvelous Melbourne.
    “I loved it, and I’m a local.” – Jen, Melbourne
  • The tour is really worth every cent. We got two coffees, three sweets, a takeaway coffee mug and even a list + booklets with all the information of the tour. After this experience I wished I will stay longer in Melbourne so I can go explore every venue we passed again. Thums up for this tours! Thanks a lot 'Hidden secrets Melbourne'!
    Cafe Culture tour – Annelies from Netherlands
  • I had enjoyed Lanes and Arcades and Cafe Culture Tours in April 2015 with my family and it was so good that I returned with my friend in August Sept 2015. It really is the best way to make the most of your time in Melbourne to spend time with a guide from Hidden Secrets Tours. They are a wonderful example of Melbourne hospitality and the guests on the tour from all over the world make the experience one not to be missed. Next time I visit Melbourne their progressive High Tea Tour is definitely on my to do list.
    “Hidden Secrets Tours are becoming a must do for our trips to Melbourne.”
  • As Friday night was our last night in Melbourne we had a debriefing about what they had enjoyed the most...and guess what??.. Your tour was the most mentioned activity. One girl said it was the best $12 she had spent. Haha. So once again, a huge thank you for fitting us in and helping broaden our girls view of the food industry. They are so much wiser for the experience. Year 12 - Newcastle High School
    Newcastle High School – March 2014
  • This excellent informative and entertaining tour focused on the inner delights of Melbourne CBD lanes and arcades. Sarah is a wealth of information and is a natural entertainer. Even if like me you have been to Melbourne many times, Sarah still delivered the 'Well I never!" factor. Go on these attractions, they are truly worth every cent. - Trip Advisor - Jan 2014
    Shirley – Lanes & Arcades walk
  • This is honestly the best tour I have ever done anywhere in the world. If you ever visit Melbourne, I strongly recommend that you take this tour.
    Visited January 2014 - tripadvisor
    Via TripAdviser WynonaLavota
  • “Fantastic, Friendly, Interesting”

    The guide was amazing. She had such a wealth of background knowledge about the area that she answered every question as well as expanding on it. I could see she really enjoyed her what she did with enthusiasm and eagerness. It was a truly amazing experience. I would gladly recommend this tour for all those who love history and interesting coffee and eats Reviewed 2 January 2014 on TripAdvisor - Cafe Culture Walk

    Cafe Culture Walk – Sth Africa
  • I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for your great hospitality. Thank you for making my Ultimate Australian Adventure with Oprah such and amazing time... 2010 Mary re the specially arranged Lanes and Arcades Walk 
    Mary T of Nova Scotia
  • Last week Jo and I went on your Lanes & Arcades tour and the Sommelier's Tour. They both offered completely different experiences. We had a great time discovering the many wonderful shops and cafes hidden away in the lanes and arcades of Melbourne...
    Robyn of Newcastle NSW
  • Both my friend Glenda & I have been going to Melbourne for years and we would have never known that these “Hidden Treasures” existed. It was fascinating to walk up & down the lanes & arcades and to see a completely different side of Melbourne...
    Kathryn & Glenda – NSW
 
If you joined a tour with us and enjoyed it, we would love to hear! - you can email us at feedback@hiddensecretstours.com Also a fabulous post on Google here,    Facebook or    is always a joy for us and our potential clients We as a team go through them, and love getting your personalised messages!   We're proud to say we have received Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and now 2020. We know 2020 and 2021 will be a year of new adventures. Your support is greatly appreciated.

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