Spies and Secrets in Canberra: Women in Espionage Walking Tour

A WWII bunker sits hidden beside West Block, and the women who worked inside shaped Australia's intelligence history.

This two-hour walking tour through Canberra's National Triangle uncovers the city's hidden history of espionage, focusing on the women who were spies and those who were spied upon. Starting at the Hyatt Hotel and moving through Albert Hall, a concealed underground bunker, an ex-ASIO office and Old Parliament House, you'll hear stories about the unlikely candidate for Australia's best spy and learn about the woman who infiltrated a minister's office. The tour includes a hand-drawn souvenir postcard by a local artist, a group photo with your guide, and a follow-up list of resources for further reading.

Step-by-step itinerary

Espionage walking tour in Canberra

• Start at the historic Hyatt Hotel
• Visit site of first Royal Commission into espionage
• Explore hidden WWII bunker beside West Block
• Learn about woman infiltrating minister’s office
• Meet Australia’s unlikely best spy candidate
• See previous ASIO office locations
• Hear story at Aboriginal Tent Embassy protest site

The experience

The walk begins at the Hyatt Hotel, a prime location for espionage activities in the 1970s, and moves through sites most visitors never connect to Canberra's covert past. You'll visit Albert Hall, the site of the first Royal Commission into espionage, then head to the hidden WWII bunker beside West Block to learn what the women stationed there were actually doing. The tour also covers an ex-ASIO office and finishes back at Old Parliament House, each stop revealing a layer of the city's intelligence operations that sits beneath its official landmarks.

Beyond the spies themselves, the tour explores those who were spied upon, including a stop at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the site of the world's longest running protest for land rights. Your guide, a local who wears a headset so everyone can hear clearly, shares stories about the woman who became a vital asset for Soviet intelligence after infiltrating a minister's office, and introduces you to the unlikely candidate for Australia's best spy. You'll leave with a hand-drawn postcard by a local artist, a group photo, and a curated list of resources if you want to dig deeper into the stories.

What’s included

• Hand-drawn souvenir postcard by a local artist.
• a group photo with your guide.
• a follow-up list of resources and further reading on the stories shared.
• passionate and professional local guide leading the walk in English.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 3 Apr 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by She Shapes History

Is this one for you?Small groups work best for this tour, as the guide's headset and the intimate nature of the stories allow everyone to hear clearly and ask questions as you move through each site. It suits anyone curious about the hidden side of Canberra's history rather than its official monuments.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the WWII bunker at West Block and why is it part of this tour?

The hidden bunker beside West Block is where women worked during World War II on classified operations. The tour visits it to reveal what these women were actually doing and their role in Australia's intelligence history.

Does this tour cover the Aboriginal Tent Embassy?

Yes. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is included as a stop where you'll learn about the world's longest running protest for land rights, connecting it to the tour's broader theme of people who were spied upon as well as those who were spies.

How long is the walk and is it suitable for people with mobility concerns?

The tour runs for two hours. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options near the meeting point are wheelchair accessible as well. The walk is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What do you get to take home from this tour?

You receive a hand-drawn souvenir postcard created by a local artist, a group photo taken with your guide, and a follow-up list of resources and further reading on the stories shared during the walk.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at the Hyatt Hotel and finishes right back there, making it easy to return to your starting point after visiting the National Triangle sites.