Canberra's Secrets Are Just Below the Surface
Most visitors to Canberra do the standard circuit — Parliament, War Memorial, gallery. But beneath the grandeur of Australia's planned capital is a city dripping with intrigue, untold stories, and extraordinary characters who never made the history books. Walking tours unlock all of it.
Cold War Espionage
Canberra was the epicentre of Australia's most dramatic spy era. Soviet agents, double operatives, ASIO surveillance — it all happened within a few kilometres of Parliament House.
Women Who Changed History
The women who designed city plans, drafted the constitution, dismissed a government, and broke into politics decades before the history books gave them credit. Their stories deserve to be told.
Elite Athletes Behind the Scenes
The Australian Institute of Sport has produced over 1,500 Olympic and Paralympic medallists. A backstage tour reveals the science, training and secrets behind Australia's sporting greatness.
Cultural Institution Walks
The National Museum, National Gallery and Old Parliament House all run expert-led tours that go far beyond what you'd discover independently — priceless context delivered by passionate insiders.
Political Power Walks
Canberra's grand avenues aren't just beautiful — every building, vista and axis was placed deliberately. Political history tours reveal what each monument means in the context of national power.
Garden & Nature Walks
The Australian National Botanic Gardens and National Arboretum offer specialist walking tours through the world's most comprehensive collections of native Australian flora.
Canberra's Best Walking Tours
From spy history to elite sport, here are the tours that locals recommend and visitors rate most highly.
Walk in the footsteps of extraordinary women who were both spies and spied upon. Canberra's most original and consistently sold-out walking tour — and it's wheelchair accessible.
- ASIO's first Canberra office — the building still stands
- Hidden WWII communications bunker
- Old Parliament House and the 1975 Dismissal espionage angle
- Canberra's oldest hotel, site of secret Cold War meetings
- The first Royal Commission into espionage in Australia
- Women who were both operatives and surveillance targets
- Delivered with wit, research and genuine passion
- Wheelchair accessible; 16+ recommended
Did You Know?
ASIO — Australia's domestic spy agency — has files on more than 500,000 Australians. Not all of them were threats to the state. Some were simply members of the women's liberation movement. This tour asks: who was watching, who was watched, and why?
Between the National Archives, National Library and National Gallery are the stories of women who designed cities, changed Australia's constitution and dismissed governments. This tour finds them.
- Marion Mahony Griffin — co-designed Canberra yet history barely mentions her
- The first woman to lead an Australian government
- Women who protested a bar in 1969 because they weren't allowed to drink there
- Female architects, artists and activists hidden in plain sight in national monuments
- Designed for general audiences — no prior history knowledge needed
- Fun, engaging, humorous — not a lecture
- Consistently sells out weeks in advance
More Canberra Walking Experiences
Go behind the scenes at the facility that has produced over 1,500 Olympic and Paralympic medallists. One of Canberra's most popular and best-value guided experiences.
- Exclusive access to elite training facilities
- Sports science and performance research labs
- Gold medal memorabilia and champion stories
- Expert guides with AIS insider knowledge
- Multiple daily departure times
Three specialist guided tours run daily by passionate museum educators — Highlights (1pm), First Australians (3pm), and Building & Architecture (10am).
- Museum Highlights Tour — daily 1pm
- First Australians Tour — daily 3pm, world's oldest living culture
- Building & Architecture Tour — daily 10am
- Hallyu! Korean Wave exhibition to May 2026
- Free with general museum admission
Ready to Uncover Canberra's Secrets?
She Shapes History's tours sell out weeks in advance. Book the Spies in the Capital or Badass Women tour now, or call us for independent advice on which Canberra walk suits your group.
Need help choosing? Call Cooee Tours: +61 409 661 342
What Walking Tour Visitors Say
Absolutely phenomenal tour! Veronica was such an engaging guide — you could feel the passion flowing through as she recounted stories of incredible women from our history. I will never see Canberra the same way again.
I'm not much of a history buff but the Badass Women tour blew me away. Walking around Barton and Kingston hearing about espionage and extraordinary women — I felt like I missed my calling as a spy! Highly recommend.
Really impressed with the AIS tour today. Julian was a great guide and we all enjoyed his depth of knowledge. Seeing the facilities up close and understanding the science behind elite sport was genuinely fascinating.
Canberra Walking Tour FAQs
What is the Spies in the Capital tour in Canberra?
Spies in the Capital is a 2-hour guided walking tour run by She Shapes History. It explores Canberra's Cold War espionage history through the lives of extraordinary women who were both operatives and surveillance targets. The tour visits ASIO's first office, a hidden WWII bunker, Old Parliament House and Canberra's oldest hotel. Rated 4.9 stars on GetYourGuide, it consistently sells out and is considered one of Canberra's top 10 experiences.
How much do Canberra walking tours cost?
She Shapes History tours (Spies in the Capital, Badass Women) start from $39.80 per adult. The AIS guided tour starts from $12.86. National Museum guided tours are free with museum entry. Private full-day walking tours of Canberra's political and cultural precinct can range from $150–$350+ depending on duration and group size.
How long is the Spies in the Capital walking tour?
The tour runs for approximately 2 hours, covering around 3km at a comfortable, relaxed pace with opportunities to sit at multiple stops along the route. It begins and ends at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra in Yarralumla. The tour is wheelchair accessible.
When do She Shapes History tours run in Canberra?
She Shapes History tours run on a scheduled basis and require minimum numbers to proceed. Check the She Shapes History website directly for current dates and availability — tours often sell out 2–3 weeks in advance, especially on weekends. If your preferred date is sold out, join the waitlist or contact them directly about availability.
Are there free walking tours in Canberra?
Yes — the National Museum of Australia runs three free guided tours daily (Highlights 1pm, First Australians 3pm, Building & Architecture 10am), free with museum entry. The Australian National Botanic Gardens also offers free guided walks on weekends. Parliament House provides free guided tours daily when parliament is not sitting.