Dark Stories True Crime Tours leads small-group walking tours through four Australian cities — Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle and Maitland — guiding curious travellers past real crime scenes hidden in plain sight on busy streets and quiet laneways. The company operates weekly and is confirmed active for 2026.
A True Crime Walking Tour Across Four Cities
Unlike bus-based ghost tours, Dark Stories keeps things on foot. Each city tour is led by a local guide who walks participants through the streets where Australian crimes unfolded, stopping at the doorways, alleys and corners where history turned dark. The format is conversational, factual, and built around the geography of the city itself.
You can book any of the tours directly through the operator at darkstories.com.au, or via Viator and TripAdvisor depending on the city.
Brisbane: 90 Minutes Through the City's Darkest Secrets
The Brisbane tour is the company's flagship offering. It runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes and walks guests through the inner city, exploring what the operator calls "Brisbane's darkest secrets." Tickets start from AU$22.81 per person and are bookable through Viator with mobile tickets and free cancellation. For phone bookings, Viator lists (888) 651-9785.
Brisbane's CBD has long been a hotspot for true crime walking tours, though it's worth noting that Dark Stories is a separate operator from the similarly named Crime Tours Australia, which has run its own Bloody Brisbane CBD tour since 1998.
Newcastle: A 90-Minute Walk Through Infamous Crimes
Newcastle's Dark Stories tour also runs 90 minutes and is one of the company's best-rated experiences, recommended by 94% of reviewers on TripAdvisor. Adult tickets start from AU$23, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour. The walk takes in some of the port city's most infamous criminal episodes, drawing on Newcastle's industrial and maritime past.
Maitland: Crimes Along High Street and the Laneways
In the Hunter Valley town of Maitland, the tour takes a slower, more historical pace. Listed by MyMaitland as a leisurely guided walk, it covers crimes that took place along High Street and the surrounding laneways — a heritage streetscape that hides a long catalogue of 19th- and 20th-century misdeeds. Tour duration and pricing for Maitland are not publicly listed; contact the operator directly for current details.
Sydney: Revisiting the City's Crime Scenes
The Sydney edition is a true crime walking tour that revisits crime scenes across the city, currently listed for 2026 on TripAdvisor. As with Maitland, exact pricing isn't published in public listings, so prospective bookers should check the official website or TripAdvisor page for current schedules.
Three Things to Know Before You Book
1. The tours are walking-only. Each Dark Stories tour is conducted on foot, typically running about 90 minutes in Brisbane and Newcastle. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the local weather — Brisbane's subtropical humidity and Newcastle's coastal wind are both factors.
2. Cancellation policies are traveller-friendly. Both the Brisbane (via Viator) and Newcastle (via TripAdvisor) listings include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience, which is useful if your itinerary shifts.
3. Themes are general, not graphic case-by-case marketing. The operator describes its content broadly — "true tragedy, heroism, crime, murder" — rather than naming specific cases in advance. Travellers who want to know exactly which crimes will be covered should email the operator before booking.
Practical Information
- **Cities:** Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Maitland
- **Duration:** 90 minutes (Brisbane and Newcastle); varies elsewhere
- **Price:** From AU$22.81 (Brisbane) and AU$23 (Newcastle); contact operator for Sydney and Maitland
- **Booking:** [darkstories.com.au](https://darkstories.com.au/), Viator (Brisbane), TripAdvisor (Newcastle, Sydney)
- **Cancellation:** Free up to 24 hours in advance on listed platforms
For travellers building a true crime itinerary across eastern Australia, Dark Stories offers a rare chance to string together four different cities under one operator — from Brisbane's CBD to the Hunter Valley's heritage streetscapes.
