Melbourne is one of the best cities in the world for street art. These modern-day bushrangers largely put Melbourne on the map with their beautiful murals and eye-catching installations, often containing a subtle, or not so subtle, political message.

It all dates to the 1970s when the city’s youth was influenced by the booming street art scene in New York. Street art started popping up all around Melbourne, and largely due to the city’s many varied and narrow laneways, street artists had plenty of canvas with which to work.

A uniquely Melbourne style began to evolve around the 1990s, leading to an explosion in output and mediums including paste-ups and shoefiti – largely a response to anti-graffiti laws targeting spray paint.

In the early noughties, Melbourne’s street art evolved again, with new types of artwork appearing like wood blocking and yarn bombing (Google it).

To learn more, turn to the experts at Melbourne Street Art Tours. Run by artist Adrian Doyle, these tours were designed by street artists and run by street artists to give you the most authentic window into this fascinating aspect of Melbourne’s cultural tapestry.

Melbourne’s bar scene is among the best in the world. With more than 15,000 venues littering the landscape, there’s a bar for every taste and occasion; from rooftop bars to hidden speakeasys, fancy cocktails and grungy dive bars, you can’t walk more than 20m before running into another brilliant venue.

The diversity and size of Melbourne’s bar scene is deeply rooted in its history. A global war, a once in a generation gold rush, religious fanatics and crooked casinos have all played their part.

Connecting the dots, filling in the blanks and pouring you a pint along the way is Drinking History Tours.

Ben Oliver started Drinking History Tours back in 2018 when he realised there were copious walking tours and numerous bar crawls, but nothing combining the two for those who loved their shiraz with a side order of facts.

Imagine a bar crawl that grew up, got a haircut, went to university, and studied history. That’s a close approximation of what to expect from Drinking History Tours.

Or in short, more fun than a walking tour, classier than a bar tour.

Hidden Secrets is Melbourne’s OG walking tour.

Founded by owner Fiona Sweetman, Hidden Secrets was the first to really unpack the hidden treasures and secrets lurking down Melbourne’s many laneways – secrets that locals had known for years but were mostly hidden from tourists.

Fiona quickly realised there was a gap to be filled. At the time there were no walking tours servicing the Melbourne CBD. So she launched in 2004, fortuitously a few years ahead of Melbourne hosting the Commonwealth Games and the subsequent crush of eager tourists.

Incredibly well researched and meticulously delivered, Hidden Secrets are the masters of all things laneways.

Starting at $129 for their famous Lanes & Arcades Walk, you pay for what you get – and it’s worth every dollar.

Since 1995, Chocoholic Tours has been delighting tourists with a glimpse into Melbourne’s delectable chocolate scene. Their tours offer a variety of experiences, including:

• Sampling exquisite chocolates at several renowned chocolatiers and cafes.
• Insightful commentary on the chocolatiers’ backgrounds and expertise.
• Demonstrations teaching the art of chocolate tasting.

In addition to these sweet treats, you’ll explore some of Melbourne’s iconic laneways and arcades, adding a touch of local charm to your experience.

Tours are priced at $79 per person, span 2-3 hours, and promise a rich blend of flavor and culture. Join them for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Melbourne’s chocolate world.

The Koorie Heritage Trust is committed to bringing the rich history and narratives of the Koorie people into the forefront of Victorian culture. This organization represents the First Nations peoples of southeastern Australia, celebrating a heritage that spans over 50,000 years.

They offer a captivating one-hour walking tour from Monday to Friday, beginning at Melbourne’s iconic Federation Square. This journey delves into the local history of Birrarung Marr—the traditional name for the Yarra River—and explores the culture of the Aboriginal Peoples of the Kulin Nation. The Kulin Nation comprises an alliance of five Aboriginal nations in the south-central region of Victoria.

Each tour, led by knowledgeable Koorie guides, departs at 1 PM daily, offering an immersive and educational experience into the heart of local Aboriginal history and culture.

The free walking tour concept, widely embraced in Europe, has now arrived in Melbourne, championed enthusiastically by the team at I Am Free.

This epitomizes the adage “what you see is what you get.”

Tours depart daily, lasting approximately three hours, with a pay-what-you-feel model implemented at the tour’s conclusion.

Although the quality of free walking tours can fluctuate, the pay-as-you-go approach minimizes risk while offering significant potential benefits.

It’s a great entry point to Melbourne, and a great way to find a niche you want to explore with more a specialized tours.

We first met Freddy, the owner of Blue Tongue Bikes, on a walking tour many years ago when the great man was looking for inspiration to start his own company.

Walking, as it turns out, is not his jam. He launched Freddy’s Bike Tours more than 10 years ago with a cheeky drive-by of his walking tour associates with the slogan, “Walking Sucks”.

Since rebranding as Blue Tongue Bikes, Freddy has also bolted on a bike hire service if independent adventures are more your speed. His website even features some suggested bike trails if you need inspiration.

If you’re hot off the plane and didn’t have time to drop your bags off at the hotel, he’ll even watch over them until you return.

He and his team are legends, you’ll have a great time.

Melbourne’s three primary wine regions – the Yarra Valley, the Mornington Peninsula, and the Bellarine Peninsula – each offers lovers of the humble fermented grape something slightly different.

The Yarra Valley is Melbourne’s largest and most famous wine region, boasting a wide range of varietals – everything from Pinot to Cab Sav, Rose and Shiraz. But it’s also a cracking place to visit in general, with historic pubs, cute stores, amazing restaurants, and hip distilleries.

The Mornington Peninsula is the default escape destination for Melbourne’s better-heeled residents living in the south and southeast. This region is more focussed on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and is also the home of Pinot Gris in Australia – not to mention you’ll be sipping within kms of some of Victoria’s best beaches.

Off the tourist track sits the Bellarine Peninsula. Once a poor cousin to its more well-credentialed peers, locals will tell you their Pinots, Shiraz and Chardonnay are among the state’s best. It’s a little less crowded and more relaxed, and you’ll also have access to some incredible ocean-facing beaches.

Whatever your fancy, trust Chillout Wine Tours as your go-to guide. They’ve been doing this since 2003, and they know what they are doing.

If adventure calls your name in Melbourne, it might just have an English accent.

Following a career running tours in Europe, English-born Nic Cooper fell in love with the nature on Melbourne’s doorstep (and a lovely Melburnian) and relocated to the Mornington Peninsula.

He went on to create Wild Adventures Melbourne (WAM), a new type of tour company immersing guests in Melbourne’s rugged landscapes while adhering to strict principles of environmental sustainability.

As the name implies, WAM specialises in exploring pristine locations by foot, bike, paddleboard or snorkel. He also caters for more chilled-out clientele who prefer wine tasting and hot spring baths.

Powering all these experiences is an intense focus on placing the environment and community above profit. WAM is one of the few small operators to receive B-Corp certification and has committed to donate at least 5% of revenues each year to environmental causes.