Tour operator
Global Ballooning
Family-owned balloon operator flying since 1992, offering sunrise flights over Melbourne from the Pullman East Melbourne, plus Yarra Valley flights.
Hidden Secrets Tours
Melbourne walking tour company founded by Fiona Sweetman in 2004, running small-group lanes and arcades, cafe culture, heritage and street art walks.
At a glance
- Type
- Laneway and food walking tours
- Area
- Melbourne CBD, Melbourne, Australia
- Official site
- hiddensecretstours.com
Good to know
- Small groups
- Private tours
- Walking only
Why we recommend it
Hidden Secrets Tours has been described in the travel trade press as Melbourne's original laneway walking tour company. Its founder, Fiona Sweetman, came back from several years in France in the mid-1990s seeing the city's laneways as a community, much like a small French town, and the first paying tour ran in May 2004, helped by a City of Melbourne grant. The company marked its twentieth anniversary in 2024.
The programme covers several sides of the city. The Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Tour is the walk the business was built on and a natural introduction for first-time visitors. The Cafe Culture Walk focuses on coffee, the Progressive Dining Walk moves between food venues, The Golden Mile Heritage Walk follows the city's history, and Art in the Streets is a newer street art tour that changes as the artworks on the walls change. Special event tours are added through the year, and private, corporate and school tours can be arranged.
Tours are run for small groups, and the company works on foot or by public transport. That makes the walks a sensible choice for solo travellers, couples and families who want a guide's local knowledge without a coach tour, and the lanes and arcades walk in particular pairs well with independent visits to places in this guide such as The Block Arcade, Hosier Lane and Centre Place.
Hidden Secrets puts weight on supporting local businesses and on sustainability. It donates two dollars from every direct booking to charities including StreetSmart and the Koala Clancy Foundation, and sponsors the Malthouse Muse programme and Travellers Aid. The company has won a Victorian Tourism Award, an ARA Lord Mayor's Retail Innovation Award and a Business 3000 Female Entrepreneur Award, and Sweetman has received a Melbourne Award for her contribution to the city's profile.
Durations, meeting points and departure times vary by tour and are given when you book through the website, so check the details of the walk you choose. Wear comfortable shoes, as the lanes are often cobbled, and bring an appetite on the food and cafe walks.
For bookings and questions, call 03 9663 3358 or +61 447 868 788, or email [email protected].
Hidden Secrets Tours FAQs
When was Hidden Secrets Tours founded?
The first paying tour ran in May 2004.
Who founded Hidden Secrets Tours?
Fiona Sweetman.
Which tours are offered?
The Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Tour, Cafe Culture Walk, Progressive Dining Walk, The Golden Mile Heritage Walk and Art in the Streets, plus special event tours.
Are the tours small group?
Yes. Tours are run for small groups, and private tours are available.
Can I book a private or school tour?
Yes. Private, corporate and school tours can be arranged.
Where do tours start?
Meeting points vary by tour and are confirmed when you book.
Does the company support charities?
Yes. It donates two dollars from every direct booking to charities including StreetSmart and the Koala Clancy Foundation.
How do I contact Hidden Secrets Tours?
Call 03 9663 3358 or +61 447 868 788, or email [email protected].