Melbourne is a melting pot of vibrant culture and scenic attractions by day. There are plenty of things to do for every kind of traveller, from cheap activities like museum-hopping to relaxing Melbourne hot springs you can soak in.
It’s a different story when day turns to night, though. As one of Australia’s most haunted cities, Melbourne’s grim past comes to light as darkness surrounds the city. If you’re someone who’s on the hunt for a good scare—well, good news for you: there are plenty of eerie spots in the city, and you can explore them by joining a Melbourne city ghost tour! There are a variety of ghost tours in Melbourne that will indeed send chills up your spine, like abandoned prisons and haunted homesteads.
Ready to brave through the night? Here are ten of the spookiest ghost tours in Melbourne you can join:
- Ghosts of the Old City Williamstown Tour
- J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour
- Pentridge Prison D Division Ghost Tour
- Old Melbourne Ghost Tour
- Point Cook Homestead Ghost Tour
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour
- Kryal Castle Ghost Tour
- Altona Homestead Ghost Tour
- Ballarat Cemetery Night Tour
- Hangman’s Night Tour
1. Ghosts of the Old City Williamstown Tour
Travel back in time by lantern in this Melbourne ghost tour around Williamstown. Previously known as King William’s Town, Williamstown is Victoria’s original capital city and was once a thriving city that housed the region’s most historic seaport. On this ghost tour, you’ll be exploring its alleyways, abandoned morgues, and burial grounds. Watch out for some ghostly activity!
2. J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour
If you’re a fan of the spooky and terrifying, the names William Wallace, Chopper Read, and Gary Webb may be familiar to you. You might also know that, aside from being notorious criminals, they were all housed at J Ward Lunatic Asylum, a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane. Have a chance to visit the iconic asylum two hours from Melbourne on this ghost tour. You’ll get to see the governor’s bathroom, original kitchen, the West Wing, and more.
3. Pentridge Prison D Division Ghost Tour
Hear chilling anecdotes about Victoria’s most notorious outlaws when you join a Melbourne jail ghost tour by lantern on Pentridge Prison D Division. Find out for yourself why this forsaken prison is famous for being haunted. We’ll give you a hint: around 44 bodies were buried on site. This tour is known to have very high supernatural activity, so make sure you’re up for it!
4. Old Melbourne Ghost Tour
Always been intrigued by the demise of famous opera singer Federici? Unravel how his final performance went before he plummeted to death, and more, on this old Melbourne ghost tour. This 90-minute street tour will give you a major blast from the past. You’ll visit alleyways that used to be home to opium dens and poor houses that gave cadavers for medical research.
5. Point Cook Homestead Ghost Tour
Find yourself inside an isolated homestead and listen to hair-raising stories about Point Cook Homestead and the Chirnside family. This ghost tour has one of the highest levels of ghostly activity as it's said that Thomas Chirnside still haunts his old home. Make sure you brace yourself for any ghost sightings!
6. Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour
You can find another homestead ghost tour near Melbourne on the Eynesbury Homestead. This ghost tour is different from the others because you can dine inside this haunted house, thanks to its fully licensed onsite bar and restaurant! After enjoying your lovely dinner, you can continue your tour around the Stoughton family's lavish yet controversial country home.
7. Kryal Castle Ghost Tour
Time to go medieval and explore Australia's only haunted castle! Discover every ghost hiding in every nook and cranny of Kryal Castle—a boy, a forgotten actor, and objects that move on their own. This medieval Spanish castle has a labyrinth-like interior, so be careful not to get lost!
8. Altona Homestead Ghost Tour
Hop on a quick 20-minute drive from Melbourne to Altona Homestead, where rampant hauntings keep the abandoned building alive. Join this lantern ghost tour near Melbourne and find out what causes these bizarre incidents. You'll hear terrifying stories about the Langhorne family and how their grim past still haunts the homestead.
9. Ballarat Cemetery Night Tour
Of course, a list of Melbourne ghost tours wouldn't be complete without an apt visit to an old cemetery. What better place to visit for a chilling time than Australia's premier Gold Rush Cemetery? Perfect for those who love hearing historical anecdotes, this Ballarat Cemetery night tour tells the stories of Eureka soldiers, gold rush miners, Ballarat builders, and so much more! Brace yourself for dark tales of diseases and death.
10. Hangman’s Night Tour
It’s more than just a child’s game—join this hangman’s night ghost tour on the Old Melbourne Gaol, and hear disturbing tales as you walk in confined spaces. Listen to real stories about the dangerous criminals that once roamed the historic gaol from your guide, and feel whether any of the hanged convicts still haunt the abandoned establishment!