Rockhampton Ghost, Crime & Ripper Walk: Dark History Tour

Walk the dark alleys where Rockhampton's murders and hauntings unfolded

A guided evening walk through Rockhampton's streets and alleys in Queensland, lasting 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, that uncovers the city's darker history: recorded murders, ghosts haunting Quay Street, the gold heist that inspired Sherlock Holmes, and the true story of Jack the Ripper's link to Australia. A live English-speaking guide leads the tour through heritage buildings and historic sites. All fees and taxes are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Rockhampton's heritage and history

• Visit heritage buildings collection
• Join day tour along Riverside Precinct
• Learn about female bushrangers and bank heists
• Discover floods and WW2 war effort history
• Visit hotel foyer and learn its history
• Explore iconic inland customs house
• Book and join Botanic Garden walking tour
• Visit Rockhampton war memorial
• Join Dinosaurs@theZoo fossil holding tour
• Learn about prehistoric Queensland evolution
• Join night tour exploring dark alleys
• Discover ghosts and city’s first murder
• Learn about gold heist and Sherlock Holmes link
• Explore Jack the Ripper’s connection to Rockhampton

The experience

Forty-five minutes to an hour and a half after dark, you walk the streets and alleys of Rockhampton with a guide who knows the city's recorded crimes and hauntings. The tour moves through Quay Street and the surrounding heritage precinct (the State's largest regional collection of heritage buildings) stopping at sites tied to the city's first recorded murder, the ghosts said to haunt the old quarter, and the 1890s gold heist that became the basis for Sherlock Holmes and modern forensics. The guide explains the bizarre, documented history of Jack the Ripper's connection to Australia and Rockhampton, drawing on real records rather than speculation.

The walk covers ground the city's daytime tours do not. You move through the darker alleys and learn about the people and events that shaped Rockhampton (female bushrangers, bank heists, wartime activity along the Fitzroy River), but the evening tour narrows its focus to crime, mystery and the supernatural. The pace is steady and the route stays on accessible surfaces. The tour suits all fitness levels and is wheelchair accessible throughout.

What’s included

• All fees and taxes.
• live guide in English.
• access to heritage buildings and historic sites along the route.

Options for this experience

2 options

Historic walking tour, one dayGuide in English · 09:00Lasting 1 hour, this tour lets you see the State's largest regional collection of heritage buildings and learn about the people and events that shaped Rocky Quay St Rockhampton. Warning: stay aware of your surroundings at all times, as the tour moves along roads and streets. Dress appropriately for the weather.

Ghost, Crime and Ripper WalkGuide in English · 19:00 and 19:30Lasting 1 hour 30 minutes, this evening tour explores the dark side of Rocky Quay St Rockhampton and asks whether Jack the Ripper once stalked its shadowy alleys. Tours begin at the Criterion Hotel on Quay St, continue along East St, then wind through the alleys and finish at Customs House. Warning: tours are often held in the dark and the stories contain graphic violence and horror, so they may not suit young children.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 19:00 and 19:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Under 10: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Time Safaris Rockhampton

Is this one for you?Choose the evening walk if you want the city's darker stories (murders, hauntings and crime history) told by someone who knows the sites. The daytime tour covers the same heritage buildings but focuses on the broader history of bushrangers, floods and wartime activity instead.

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Top questions

How long is the Rockhampton ghost and crime walk?

The evening tour runs 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the guide's depth at each stop and group questions.

What is the Jack the Ripper connection to Rockhampton?

The tour covers the documented, true history of how Jack the Ripper's case influenced Australian criminal investigation and forensics, and the specific link to Rockhampton's own crime history.

Does the tour include the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens or the zoo?

The ghost, crime and Ripper walk focuses on the streets and alleys of the city center. The Botanic Gardens walking tour and Dinosaurs@theZoo are separate bookings, each about an hour long.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on the route are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Can I book a daytime tour instead of the evening walk?

Yes, a separate day historic walking tour is available, which covers Rockhampton's Riverside Precinct and heritage sites along the Fitzroy River, Quay Street and East Street without the focus on crime and hauntings.