15 Australia History Tours Worth the Morning

1.Ultimate Melbourne Walking Tour: History, Laneways & Culture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,451 reviews · from $92Our pick

Spend three hours walking Melbourne with a local English-speaking guide, visiting Federation Square, street-art laneways, arcades, Chinatown, the State Library, and Old Melbourne Gaol. Your small group, capped at 12, includes a Melbourne coffee, a map, local tips, and a drink at Captain Melville.

“We were very lucky to have the lovely and knowledgeable Ian on our tour! The meeting place was by the big fountain at Gordon reserve opposite the Windsor hotel - you can spot the team holding blue umbrellas. We had a very small group on our tour six, a lovely family for and myself and my friend. Ian made the effort to get to know us a little so he could tailor some of the facts that he told us. The walking tour itself was fabulous and we saw lots of great architecture, arcades & street art. I live in Melbourne myself and my friend was visiting from the UK…”

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2.Puffing Billy Railway: Heritage Steam Train Journey

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,195 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $29

Ride Puffing Billy, a preserved steam railway built in 1900, through the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. Choose a journey from Belgrave or Lakeside, sit on the carriage sill between Belgrave and Lakeside, and allow 2 to 4 hours. The Lakeside Visitor Centre adds cafés, toilets, dining, retail, and displays beside Emerald Lake Park.

“I loved the views and the whole trip! I really recommend this journey, I'd do that again”

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3.Morning World Heritage Cruise on the Gordon River from Strahan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,193 reviews · from $111

Set out at 9am from Strahan aboard a comfortable catamaran for Hell’s Gates, Sarah Island, and the Gordon River. Expect live captain’s commentary, a guided penal-settlement walk, buffet lunch, and a rainforest boardwalk. Guides such as Sarah and Kim bring the island’s stories to life, while upper-deck seating adds lunch and morning tea.

“Awesome experience on the River and out through Hells Gate. Skipper and crew were amazing. A must do if staying at Strahan”

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4.Strahan: World Heritage Cruise on Gordon River with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,143 reviews · 6 hours · from $109

Spend six hours aboard a family-run catamaran from Strahan, visiting Hells Gates, Sarah Island, the Gordon River rainforest, and a Huon pine sawmill. Your day includes live commentary, a guided island walk, Heritage Landing, and a Tasmanian lunch served to your seat. Seating options include upper-deck places with morning tea and a drink.

“Friendly and helpfulstaff. Bonus was Rob was our skipper. Perfect weather and we loved the whole experience. Thoroughly recommended.”

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5.Sydney: The Rocks 90-Minute History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,092 reviews · 1h 30m · from $32

Meet your English-speaking guide at Reynolds Cottage for a 90-minute walk through The Rocks. Expect cobbled lanes, courtyards, old pubs, harbour views, and personal stories from Sydney's early settlement. Guides such as Judith, Vickie, Anne, Paul, and John bring the past to life with photos, humour, and local tips.

“Judith was a great guide. Charming, funny and very knowledgeable. She also actively engaged with and involved the children in our group by asking them to help her to point out key building features or share items of interest with the whole group. This tour is a great way to see historic aspects of Sydney on foot and hear how the modern city was originally founded. Highly recommend.”

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6.Experience History onboard The Mary Valley Rattler

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 963 reviews · from $49

Step aboard a restored 1950s steam train at Gympie Station for a roughly three-hour return ride through the Mary Valley to Amamoor. Volunteer crew members share railway stories, while the restored station offers a cafe and gift shop. Bring a card for snacks, drinks, or wine and cheese along the way.

“Friendly staff, amazing experience. Well worth it will be coming back, going to try the VIP experience next”

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7.Snorkel & Dive the Reef: Sustainable, Scientific & Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 841 reviews · from $232

Spend about eight hours from Cairns at Reef Magic’s outer reef platform. You’ll get a fast catamaran ride, snorkeling gear, marine biologist talks, glass-bottom and semi-submersible viewing, lunch, and optional scuba, helmet walks, or helicopter flights. Guides such as Ella, Ethan, Kaitlin, and Takuya have helped make the day welcoming for beginners and families.

“I would highly recommend this tour with Magic Reef. I signed up for the escorted snorkel experience and Ella and Ethan were outstanding! Ella was very informative and Ethan went the extra mile and took underwater videos and pics with the Read more”

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8.Derwent River Historic Harbour Cruise From Hobart

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 570 reviews · from $25Best value

From Murray Street Pier, cruise Hobart’s Derwent River for one hour on a morning or afternoon trip, or choose a longer lunch or dinner sailing. Your captain points out the Botanical Gardens, Government House, Tasman Bridge, Battery Point, Sandy Bay, and more. Lunch and dinner include food, with dinner also offering one complimentary drink.

“Lovely experience. Excellent service, good food, very accomodating with last minute changes. Would recommend.”

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9.Port Arthur Historic Site Admission and Tour Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 509 reviews · 1 day · from $37

Spend a full day at Port Arthur Historic Site, about 1.5 hours from Hobart. Use your phone for the self-guided audio, join free talks, and cruise around the Isle of the Dead. Add guided options such as the 45-minute Essentials Tour, 90-minute Premium Tour, or 60-minute Escapes Tour.

“The site is huge. We booked a site visit and 11am cruise. Arriving at 10.30, we grabbed a coffee and headed down to the jetty. The cruise was informative and interesting. Back on land we started at the Dockyard and worked back onto the site. So much to see, with options for lunch, we took our own, leaving approximately 4pm. It was a full day of wandering considering we had a 1.5 hr return drive to our accommodation. Excellent day out.”

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10.From Perth: Wave Rock, York and Aboriginal Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 498 reviews · 12h 30m · from $176

Travel from Perth to York and Hyden by comfortable coach, with live commentary, lunch, entry fees and hotel pickup included. Walk around Wave Rock, visit Hippo’s Yawn and Mulka’s Cave, and choose between a wildlife park, toy soldier museum or antique lace collection. Expect a full day on the road.

“Gordon the guide, driver and overall nice guy was very helpful and informative he made the trip very enjoyable and his knowledge of what we were going to do was great I would recommend this tour for anyone”

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11.Tasman Island Cruises and Port Arthur Historic Site Day Tour from Hobart

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 477 reviews · from $236

Travel from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula by bus, then take a three-hour Pennicott wilderness cruise past sea cliffs, caves, seals, dolphins, and seabirds. After lunch, spend three hours at Port Arthur Historic Site. Guides such as Paul, Phil, Murray, Daniel, and Alan are praised for safe driving and local insight.

“Great experience seeing the seals and dolphins as well as the spectacular coastline and caves. Beautiful Tasmanian scenery. Highly recommend for all ages.”

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12.Discover Perth Walking Tour: History, Art, Local Insights + More!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 458 reviews · from $51

Walk about 3km through central Perth with guides such as Alex, Adie, Phoebe, Lucy, Chloe, and others. Expect stories about history, architecture, public art, and daily city life, plus practical tips on cafés, museums, nightlife, and free transport. The leisurely pace includes breaks and finishes at Barrack Square.

“The guide, Lucy, was super nice and friendly, and gave us a lot of interesting information, and many great recommendations. It was very interesting and informative. I would repeat it 100%!”

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13.Tasman Peninsula Tour, Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 339 reviews · 10h 30m · from $233

Travel from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula with guides such as Allen or Phil, enjoy morning tea, then take a three-hour Pennicott wilderness cruise past cliffs, caves, seals, dolphins, seabirds, and whales. Finish with lunch and three hours at Port Arthur Historic Site before returning to Hobart.

“The overall trip and cruise was excellent the tour guides were great The only thing that could be added was a tour guide Port Arthur The lunch was great Good value”

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14.Ultimate Melbourne Walking Tour: History, Laneways & Culture

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 338 reviews · 3 hours · from $91

Walk Melbourne’s laneways, arcades and landmark streets with a local English-speaking guide such as Hugo, Emily, Beau or Ian. Hear Gold Rush stories, see Hosier Lane, taste a complimentary coffee, and finish with a drink at a local pub. Groups are limited to 12, with about 2.5 miles of walking.

“Hugo was absolutely great. This is an amazing tour.”

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15.Historic Lunch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 271 reviews · 1h 30m · from $46

Join a 90-minute lunch cruise from Murray Street Pier and see Hobart from the Derwent River. Your captain provides live English commentary as you pass Battery Point, Sandy Bay, Bellerive, Kangaroo Bluff, the Tasman Bridge, Government House, and the Royal Botanic Garden. Choose steak, fish, chicken schnitzel, or a vegetarian patty for lunch.

“The historical tour was well worth doing. The meal was good too. Would highly recommend the tour.”

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