South Brisbane Cemetery Ghost Tour: 2-hour lantern walk

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Duration2h

GroupUp to 26

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Gravediggers say this is the creepiest cemetery in Brisbane, and the stories prove it.

A 2-hour guided ghost tour through South Brisbane Cemetery (Dutton Park Cemetery) in Brisbane, led by historian Jack Sim with a lantern, visiting the graves of executed Boggo Road Jail prisoners, a ghost girl, a sea captain and a man buried alive. The tour includes a copy of the book Ghosts of South Brisbane Cemetery and a donation to the Heritage Fund. Children must be at least 10 years old; moderate walking on steep hills is involved, and flat-soled enclosed shoes are required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided ghost tour at South Brisbane Cemetery

Arrive at South Brisbane Cemetery
Join 1.5 hour guided ghost tour
Visit Devil’s Plot and hear stories
See graves of ghost girl and sea captain
Learn about Boggo Road Jail ghosts
Receive book The Ghosts of SOUTH BRISBANE CEMETERY

The Experience

You have a free afternoon in Brisbane and want something that goes beyond the usual sightseeing. This ghost tour runs through South Brisbane Cemetery with a lantern in hand, led by Jack Sim, a historian who has been running Brisbane's original ghost tours since 1998. The walk takes 2 hours and moves through the graveyard to the Devil's Plot—the burial ground of those executed at Boggo Road Jail—where you'll hear the stories of vicious killers and a hungry ghost. The lantern stays with you the whole way, and the pace is steady but not rushed; you're moving through a historic cemetery on sloped ground, so the walk is moderate and the footing matters.

The stories themselves come from gravediggers and sextons who worked the cemetery—people who spent their lives there and collected the tales that don't make it into official records. You'll stand at the grave of a ghost girl, hear about a sad sea captain, learn about will o' wisps and a man buried alive. The Woman in Black is part of the tour's legend; whether she appears is left to chance. By the end, you walk away with a copy of Ghosts of South Brisbane Cemetery by Jack Sim (retail value $30), so the stories stay with you after the lantern goes out.

What’s included

Lantern use during the tour.
a copy of Ghosts of South Brisbane Cemetery by Jack Sim.
a donation to the Heritage Fund.
live guide in English.
and the 2-hour guided historic ghost tour through the cemetery.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Historic Australia

Is this one for you?The tour involves a moderate amount of walking on steep hills over 2 hours, so it suits someone with reasonable fitness who doesn't mind uneven ground and is prepared to bring a torch and wear flat shoes. If you're looking for a sitting-down experience or have mobility concerns, this one is built for walkers.