Our mission is to showcase Melbourne and all who make it so wonderful. Here is a list of some of our favourite city friends and why.
Started in Melbourne in 2003, the year before we began, we have had coffee on our Lanes and Arcades tour at their Royal Arcade shop for over 10 years. A business that has certainly grown since that time, but who calls Melbourne home. Our connections also extend as Melbourne Award Winners, and members of the City Of Melbourne Small Business Grant Alumni and are part of the amazing community of Melbourne City businesses that we call friends. Koko Black Salons of Royal Arcade and Collins Street are the only chocolate stores we visit on our Hidden Secrets Tours.
We are official sponsors of a Bee Hive! – Yes, when we met Rooftop Honey, we loved their urban plan – Sustainable, a way of educating, and also great product! YUM! look out for our Bourke Street CBD Honey – our hive is currently housed on the roof of the Alto Hotel Bourke street – Melbournes “greenest” hotel.
You my know we love design, we love entrepreneurs, and we also have a sweet tooth from time to time… so when the original boutique hotel of Melbourne was reborn in 2013 we were sure we would be good friends… nothing like being the original in Melbourne … its a hard game to win, and the dessert focused New Adelphi Hotel has certainly made a sweet spot for us and our clients.. you should try it too!
If there is ever a photographer who showcases the best vistas of Melbourne, we think this is Matt Iriwn… we even shared our studio with him for little while…
We are members of the City Precinct Association and are involved at committee level, showcasing and sharing knowledge of small independent businesses in the postcode 3000 area.
Tiffany is an inspiring local designer, where all of her high quality fabrics are sourced with colour, and quality in mind. Many of her fabrics are printed with imagery that Tiffany creates, and then makes here in Melbourne. A true local label, and with an eye on sustainable production and manufacturing processes. Fiona once worked with Tiffany as well, way back before the world of tourism
We wanted some new bags for our guides to wear but without being too touristy… We could not go past the handmade bags from a gent in our building… the Nicholas Building. Matt T. came up with the wonderful ( and since popular ) Melbourne watercolour map option… you can buy one of your own here
As we look at the friends we have made and the businesses we choose to work with, then Keep Cup was a no brainer.. In a city where Coffee is everywhere, we wanted to offer a gift on one of our tours that was reusable, but still talked of Melbourne. Fiona met Abigail Forsyth in 2007 in a City of Melbourne event, and so when the Keep Cup was launched at the Melbourne Design Market in 2009, Hidden Secrets Tours ordered their own a few months later. Made in Melbourne, developed in Melbourne, and now an international brand, we are so very excited to support Keep Cup any way we can – when one cup can save about 3,000 paper cups, thats a sustainable idea we want to promote.
We have many other entrepreneurs who inspire us, and good friends of ours have made some fabulous global guides, once known as a secret form of playing cards, they have global reaches now. perfect to fit in your pocket – get Luckie
We have Nicole Goodman to thank for our fantastic rebranding done in 2015. Her vision and skill continue to help us keep true to our style. She is a very talented designer who always exceeds our expectations. Thanks Nicole! www.nicolegoodman.com.au
There really is so much to be done globally in relation to the concerns of homelessness. We work with them to try and assist in micro grants! www.streetsmartaustralia.org
Travellers Aid is a Melbourne based not-for-profit that assists those with accessibility issues. We work with them to provide the best options for our potential guests who may have mobility concerns. We are very proud supporters of Travellers Aid, please contact them if you are interested in their services even if you are not joining us. https://www.travellersaid.org.