Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Step into Canberra's hidden world of spies, double agents, and covert operations. Explore the secrets lurking behind ordinary suburban streets and hear the unbelievable (recently unclassified) stories of the women who were both spies and spied upon.
On this tour, you'll visit infamous pubs, abandoned embassies, and homes that were under constant surveillance. You'll even be asked to put on your spy hat and learn some of the techniques operatives used around Canberra during the Cold War.
Whether you're a fan of spy stories or simply looking for a fun introduction to Canberra's history, this tour is perfect for you. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to uncover the secret past of Australia's capital city.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Our tour stops out the front of Old Parliament House.
Options
Spies in the Capital: Women in Espionage
What‘s Included
Passionate & Professional Local Guide
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
69 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Women in Espionage
162kathleenb,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent 2 hour walking tour exploring many of Canberras important buildings specifically related to ASIO. Our tour started with our tour guide Tash giving us a short introductory talk in one of Canberras oldest hotels( now Canberra Hyatt).Our walking tour then began with Tash regaling many,many intriguing stories concentrating particularly on female spies in Australia! Tash was an excellent ,entetaining ,knowledgable guide who obviously loves her job!! Would highly recommend this tour!!
A fascinating insight into CBR history
Z3332LFsamanthab,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We absolutely loved the Spies in the Capital walking tour with Tash and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Canberra—or even locals who think they already know the city well. The tour struck the perfect balance: long enough to feel like excellent value for money, but paced so well that it never felt tiring. Tash was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the subject matter, bringing Canberra’s fascinating intelligence and espionage history to life. As Canberra locals, we weren't expecting to learn nearly as much as we did, which made the experience all the more impressive. We came away with a completely new appreciation for a side of the city’s history that often goes unnoticed. A truly memorable experience and one of the best walking tours we've done.
Fun way to interact with Canberra
TravelLadyBug22,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Veronica was a great guide. The walk was easy and we surprisingly "covered a lot of ground" in terms of the history. I learned a lot! It was also a beautiful day so that made it extra spectacular. I especially liked how some pretty humble-looking buildings played a big part in history and would have been overlooked otherwise.
Looking for an informative and engaging tour? Look no further than She Shapes History!
stassia2026,Mar 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely phenomenal tour! Booked as a birthday gift to myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the Spies in the Capital tour. Veronica was such an engaging guide and you could feel the passion flowing through as they recounted the stories of some of the incredible women from our history. The information presented was delivered with such passion and in a way that encouraged participants to engage with each story. You can really tell how much research has gone into curating this tour, both professionally and personally. Highly recommend as a solo activity in Canberra!
It was a fun thing to do....
Kim D,Dec 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a fun thing to do. Learnt lots. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Nice small group. Found shady places to stop in a warm day. Will look at other tours they run too. Thanks.
An entertaining way to discover hidden history
U3892JMpetero,Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00She Shapes History is a company that specializes in 'hidden history', so this tour is a perfect example of what they do. Veronica brought to life stories about espionage in Australia and some of the women involved in it. I also loved the QR codes handed out at the end leading to further information about some of the people talked about. This is an outstanding idea for those who want to dig a bit deeper. This was a fun and educational way to spend 2 hours and $60. Highly recommended.
You'll learn all about women spies in Canberra
wilhouse55,Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We met at the Hyatt in Canberra. Our tour guide Veronica was right on time. We immediately started out and visited several sites around Canberra, centering on the area around the Old Parliament Building. Veronica shared an immense amount of information about the topic. It was clear that she had done her own research, and she shared quite a bit of it. She also shared information from other guides she knew. The stories are fun and interesting. The tour lasted 2 hours and it was chock full of information all the way through. The tour doesn't make you walk very far from the Hyatt, so it's not tiring. There's opportunity to sit in several places which was a nice break. She snapped a photo of us all and will send it to us with links with more information. This is very casual, informal type of tour with questions encouraged. I definitely recommend it, and there's other tours in Canberra and Sydney with more coming in other places. The cost is reasonable and 2 hours is a good length.
Wonderful storytelling and interesting stories
jenniferlD395HZ,Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such an interesting and well researched tour. Our guide Tash, was such a wonderful storyteller and it was fun to learn about women specifically in the context of espionage. Really fun way to wrap up our Canberra leg of our visit to Australia.
Top tour
Jane M,Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brilliant concept to highlight how so many women have contributed so much to our country. Great tour, relaxed, informative and engaging.
Fantastic experience and...
Cassie C,Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Fantastic experience and tour guide! Will be back next time I'm in Canberra and can't wait to try what they offer closer to home in Melbourne. Bring a hat and sunscreen and sunglasses!
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