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

Homelessness in Melbourne

StreetSmart-Logo-landscape-black-RETINA

Hidden Secrets Tours is taking helpful steps towards Homelessness Solutions.

In recent years, we decided we wanted a clearer focus for our community and charitable efforts.

Homelessness in Melbourne is apparently a hidden secret. But we know it is not.

Though we do not have skills or resources to directly change this, we know many who do and have chosen to engage with them to bring this issue to light.

Since we began working with Street Smart, we have moved through a huge economic change in our city, and with global turmoil, huge amounts of infrastructure works, and general higher costs of living, we have increased our fundraising, and now put $2 per booking aside for Street Smart.

We have also chosen to give 30% of our donations specifically towards the running of this innovative national enterprise (which is based in Melbourne). Its important that foundations such as this are supported to be sustainable themselves. We love that we can see where our money is making change, as we have nominate that we want to support grassroots programs here in Melbourne.

As of April 2018, we have donated over $6700 to Street smart in cash, and further supported them and others (Sacred Heart Dinners, the Big Issue, Books on the Rails and Urban Seed) with vouchers or services in kind.

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In June 2016 - our own CEO will once again participate in the CEO sleepout.  - you can support Fiona HERE

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In February 2016 we are moving forward to create a transparent fundraising space for Hidden Secrets Tours – we have joined up with Street Smart  #homelessnessisnotahiddensecret – we will share more on what we do with that as we progress.

In February we committed to donating $1.00 for every person booked directly with us to go to Street Smart – they will allocate this money towards projects that will help our local Melbourne Community – we will update you here and on our NEWS pages on our progress.

In June 2015 - Our founder Fiona decided one way to participate and understand just a little of the city homelessness experience participated in the CEO sleepout, a chilly night, and very wet down at MCEC, but it was good to start the discussion in our team, and our industry

In 2015 we joined with social enterprises, charitable groups, and fundraising events that make positive changes here in the Melbourne community of people identifying as homeless.

Just a few of our efforts are listed as below.

In the coming months we will have clear programs where our clients and colleagues will be able to add their efforts or finances to this cause!

Even if you are couch surfing.. everyone wants a place, a bed, to call their own. Safe and Secure.

Keep your eye on our blog and website to see how we develop this project further.

You can also have a look at our Sustainability, Social & Environmental Pride page to see what we’ve been involved with so far.

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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