Bloody Brisbane CBD Crime Tour: 2 hours of true crime scenes

Walk the streets where Brisbane's darkest crimes actually happened

The Bloody Brisbane CBD Crime Tour is a 2-hour guided walk through Brisbane's central business district led by crime writer Jack Sim, visiting real true crime scenes including the Arcade Murder, the site of the last public execution, and the Regent Theatre shootout. The tour covers three city blocks across two centuries of criminal history. Children from age 10 are welcome; all attendees must wear flat-soled enclosed shoes and bring a torch or use a smartphone torch app.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided crime tour of Brisbane CBD

• Walk three city blocks
• Discover Brisbane's criminal history
• Visit true crime scenes
• See the Mad Butcher of Queen Street site

The Experience

What makes this different from a standard city walk? You're not visiting monuments or landmarks—you're standing at the actual locations where Brisbane's most notorious crimes took place. Jack Sim, who has researched and run these tours for 25 years and written the Bloody Brisbane books and Murder Trails Series Podcast, leads the route through the CBD. The two-hour tour covers three city blocks and moves through two centuries of criminal history, stopping at sites like the Mad Butcher of Queen Street, the Arcade Murder, and the Regent Theatre shootout. This is the original Brisbane crime tour, not a newer imitation.

The walk is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. You'll need to wear flat-soled enclosed shoes—no thongs, sandals or high heels—and bring your own torch; a smartphone torch app works fine. Children under 10 aren't suitable for the content, but from age 10 onward they're welcome if supervised by an adult. All attendees must show proof of full vaccination (or a valid exemption, or be under 16) at check-in or entry will be refused.

The tour operates in Brisbane's CBD with public transportation options nearby. Meeting point and exact start time are arranged at booking.

What’s included

2-hour guided true crime tour with Jack Sim or an experienced guide in English; access to real crime scenes across three city blocks of Brisbane's CBD including the Arcade Murder, the last public execution site, and the Regent Theatre shootout.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Crime Tours Australia

Is this one for you?Book this tour for a free afternoon or a first morning in Brisbane if you want to move past the postcard version of the city. The fixed two-hour length and the guide's 25 years of research mean you're not wandering and guessing—you're standing at the actual places where Brisbane's crimes happened, with someone who has written books about them.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

92 verified traveler reviews

5 ★85

4 ★5

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What actual crime scenes do you visit on the Bloody Brisbane tour?

The tour stops at real locations including the Mad Butcher of Queen Street, the Arcade Murder site, the location of Brisbane's last public execution, and the Regent Theatre shootout, moving through three city blocks of the CBD.

Who runs the Brisbane crime tours?

Jack Sim, a crime writer and the publisher of the Murder Trails Series Podcast and the Bloody Brisbane book series, has researched and operated these tours for 25 years.

Can children go on the Bloody Brisbane crime tour?

Children from age 10 can attend if supervised by an adult; the tour is not suitable for children under 10 due to the crime content.

What do I need to bring or wear for the two-hour walk?

You must wear flat-soled enclosed shoes (no thongs, sandals or high heels) and bring your own torch—a smartphone torch app is acceptable.

Is the Brisbane crime tour accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible; all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and service animals are allowed.

What vaccination requirements apply to the crime tour?

All attendees must show proof of full vaccination at check-in unless they have a valid exemption or are under 16; entry will be refused without proof and no refund is granted.