This tour explores the transformational power of nighttime to reinvent several tourist street art hotspots into spaces of contrast, mystery, depth and interactivity. During the day, these spaces are frequented by tourists, artists, and pedestrians and are full of life and colour. At night, many of these spaces are stripped on their vibrancy, and the focus shifts onto the detail of the space, the stark contrast between light and dark, and the heightened effect of other senses, particularly sounds and smells.

The tour begins in Hosier Lane, often touted as one of Melbourne’s “premier” street art laneways. A melting pot of styles and activity, Hosier and Rutledge Lanes often remain bustling spaces at night, and act as an introduction to the dynamic world of street art at night. After traversing the city, the tour culminates in Finlay Lane, a space of isolation and quiet. At night Finlay Lane represents the other end of the spectrum, where small details are highlighted and “forgotten” or derided works are given focus.

Please note that while Melbourne is a generally safe city, travelling through these laneways at night can be dangerous. It is not recommended that you undertake this tour alone or after 10pm.