The 4 Best Nightlife Experiences in Australia

1.Melbourne’s Living Laneway Scene: Local Bars and Their Stories

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 542 reviews · from $63Our pick

Spend about three and a half hours walking Melbourne’s laneways with a small group of up to 12. Guides such as Ian, Hugo, Simon, Alex, and Laura lead you to four changing venues, from classic pubs and whisky bars to rooftop lounges and speakeasies. Your first drink at the opening venue is included, with extra drinks at your own cost.

“What fun! Ian was our guide and was delighted to share the hidden bars in Melbourne. You could feel his excitement and sharing these spaces with us. The bars themselves were all a little different and served top notch drinks. Would recommend without hesitation.”

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2.Local Laneway Bars and Their Stories

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 305 reviews · 3 hours · from $63

Spend three hours with a local guide exploring four Melbourne bars chosen from a trusted network of established venues. Expect heritage buildings, laneway pioneers, cocktails, local drinks, and stories about the city’s bar culture. Guides include Hugo, Ian, Julia, Alex, Simon, and Beau. The group is limited to 12 people and starts near Gordon Reserve.

“Best tour ever! Was little nervous about booking a tour - I had previously lived in Melbourne and wasn’t sure if it would be a waste of money! From the moment Hugo introduced himself, i knew we’d made the right choice! We never would have found the places we visited - from a hidden shipping container bar, downstairs secret blues bar and an 1878 cottage distillery surrounding by high rise. And the great tour group made the evening. The cocktails were amazing too! We felt like we saw the real Melbourne. Highly highly recommended.”

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3.Big Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Party Hosts

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 137 reviews · 4 hours · from $34Best value

Meet the hosts at The Scary Canary, then follow a social four-hour route through four Sydney nightlife spots, including 3 Wise Monkeys, Scruffy Murphys, and Side Bar. You get one drink at each venue, pizza, express entry, party games, prizes, photos, and discounted drinks. The crowd is mainly 18 to 25, with plenty of people in their late twenties and thirties.

“The night was great , the guides are amazing and everyone was happy”

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4.Brisbane Small Bars and Street Art Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $46

Join Local Sauce Tours for a three-hour walk through Brisbane’s small bars and street-art lanes. Your host, possibly Tom, Nicole, or another local guide, leads a maximum of 12 people to three bars. Thursday adds Fish Lane, South Brisbane, and West End. Saturday stays in the city centre.

“An outstanding way to see the unseen hidden in clear sight. Amazing artwork punctuating super intersecting bars off the beaten path. I wish I’d done this on day 1 of my trip. Tom, our guide for the session was bright, articulate, an expert in his field and best of all fun!!!”

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