Want to try a walking tour, but not sure if it’s worth the money? The Melbourne “Free Walking Tour” is for you. Designed as a best-in-class tour, we only take money voluntarily given after the tour has been experienced. Love your guide? Loved it? Give your guide a killer tip! Didn’t enjoy it? No worries, you won’t be pressured to tip.
To compensate for the risk involved in operating this way, your group size will be a bit larger — around 30 people — but our guides are trained to make you feel safe and looked after throughout the tour.
Explore the rich history of Melbourne, through its lavish buildings, intricate laneways and diverse architecture. Take in the ever-changing street art and learn of it’s unique community that keeps the city’s streets so vibrant.
Our guide will entertain you with stories of Melbourne’s humble beginnings to the Gold Rush era that changed everything. Explore Chinatown and discover Melbourne’s multicultural edge. Hear us brag about Melbourne Coffee and then deliver the goods, as we stop by one of Melbourne’s best cafés so you can experience it for yourself! Finish up like a fair dinkum Aussie – at a pub of course! Our guide will join you for a drink and help you with any questions or advice on places to visit while you’re in Melbourne.
If you loved your tour, you’ll be invited to pay by cash or card whatever you thought the tour was worth.
Melbourne Free Tour Full Description
Our experienced local guide for the Melbourne Free Walking Tour will be there to greet you at Gordon Reserve. The perfect place to start amongst eye-catching buildings. Together with a group they will give a brief introduction before kicking off the tour by learning about the beginnings of Melbourne – how the modern city came to be, the indigenous culture present for many thousands of years before. Learn of the population booms of Melbourne – how it came to be so big, and the immigrants who have shaped the city.
The exact schedule depends on the day and the guide, but they will you can expect to see and learn about a selection of the following:
Melbourne Arcades: Browse through some of the oldest arcades in Australia – but not the kind with games! Revel at some high-ceilinged, beautifully designed historic arcades which house quirky shops and restaurants.
Chinatown: Walk through one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world, and make note to come back for some dumplings!
Melbourne Coffee: Stop to try an authentic Melbourne coffee on your tour! Your guide will tell you all about Australian coffee culture, then you can decide if you’d like to try a classic Aussie ‘flat white,’ ‘long black,’ or more!
Gold Rush Architecture + History: Stand in awe of some historic buildings that were constructed during the Victorian Gold Rush – one of the largest in history. This time set Melbourne’s foundations for a bustling and multi-cultural city.
Melbourne Laneways + Street Art: Perhaps one of the things Melbourne is most famous for, the small alleyways or ‘laneways’ running through the city are filled with amazing street art, hidden bars, delicious restaurants, and authentic cafes.
Old Melbourne Gaol: This is how they used to spell ‘jail,’ believe it or not! Wrap up your tour at the site of the execution of Australia’s most famous bush ranger, Ned Kelly.
Upon the conclusion of the tour at the Old Melbourne Gaol, you are invited to pay what you think the tour has been worth.
Popularised in Europe, the “Free Walking Tour” makes city tours accessible to anyone, regardless of schedule or budget Our guides work hard to deliver the best tour imaginable. If you think your guide has accomplished this, you are welcome to bring a bit of cash to tip them at the end of the tour.
