It was Australia that had been my first port of halt when I landed here as a teenager with my grandfather, a coffee planter in India who was here on a coffee delegation trip. Years later, my husband and I had driven from Adelaide to Melbourne while we were on a holiday. But this was the first time the Victorian Tourism Board along with Singapore Airlines had invited me over and here I was looking forward to a delicious visit, indulging in the Food and Wine Festival.

There is art in every corner of Melbourne

But while I was exploring the city – its markets, its monuments and my favourite – the roof top bars, I realized however that Melbourne’s charms can be discovered only on foot by exploring any of the walking tours of Melbourne. During my previous trips, I have walked on my own, explored the lanes and alleys but I realized that there are several organised walking tours of Melbourne  which will show you some of the hidden secrets of the city. Whether you are into coffee, chocolates or culture, here are  interesting walking tours of Melbourne that you must try

The lanes of Melbourne

The lanes and arcades of Melbourne

Ever heard of Romeo Lane and Juliet Terrace in Melbourne which is the red light area of the city  Have you walked along the AC DC lane where the rock band filmed a video in the mid 70s ? Melbourne’s lanes are a treasure house of curios and trivia and you dont know what you might stumble upon. It is good to get lost here . The street art, the monuments,  the speciality shops, the the jazz bars, the pubs, the restaurants, the cafes – they all beckon you. But every lane and arcade has a history and a secret that connects you to the very core of Melbourne’s culture.  These lanes go back to the Victorian era and were service laneways for horse carts.

The Arcade is one of the most beautiful structures in Melbourne

I have walked along these lanes so many times and yet I stumble upon something new everytime. Shop at Royal Arcade, admire street art at Hosier Lane, lose yourself at Degraves Street, photograph anything and everything at Central Place, walk around Hardware Lane.. I could just go on. There are several walking tours of Melbourne that focus on the lanes and arcades and they will also point you to some of the best places to have coffee or cocktails. I also suggest that you roam around on your own, depending on the time you have.

Humour in the lanes

2. Street art in Melbourne

Although this walking tour  will lead you towards the lanes and arcades, it is dedicated to street art. And if you are like me into graffiti then you will not miss this walk. Stroll around Hosier and Rutledge Lanes , AC DC lane, Union Lane, Central Place and Flinders Court among many other lanes to get a feel of the vibrant expressive art of Melbourne.

Art on the street