11 Most Haunted Places in Australia (Be Warned)

Looking for the most haunted places in Australia?

Australia is known for its stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and rich cultural heritage. However, beneath the country’s beauty lies a dark side that has captured the imagination of many.

Australia is home to some of the most haunted places in the world, with tales of ghostly apparitions, unexplained noises, and paranormal activity.

From abandoned hospitals and asylums to eerie cemeteries and haunted hotels, the country is filled with spine-chilling locations that have been the site of countless ghostly encounters.

Top 11 Most Haunted Places in Australia

Whether you’re a believer in the supernatural or simply intrigued by the unknown, exploring the most haunted places in Australia is sure to be a thrilling and unforgettable experience.

In this article, we will delve into some of the most famous and frightening haunted places across the vast and diverse continent of Australia.

1. Monte Cristo Historic Homestead in New South Wales

Monte Cristo Homestead, the first on our list of the most haunted places in NSW, Australia, was the former home of the Crawley family.

This is considered one of the haunted houses in Junee, NSW.

William Crawley made the two-story Victorian manor in 1885 before his homestead was riddled with deaths.

Rumour has it a baby was tossed down the stairs, a maid was hurled from a balcony, and a caregiver was shot.

Despite this, the present owners are nevertheless ready to provide candlelight tours of the scary Crawleys’ mansion.

Apparently, the house is available for self-guided daytime tours Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00-3:00 pm.

2. Victoria’s Most Haunted Place: Aradale Mental Hospital

Another well-known spot that’s usually on lists of the most haunted places in Victoria is the Aradale Asylum.

Aradale was a psychiatric hospital near Ararat, a small town in central western Victoria.

In fact, it sets up as a mental and intellectually dispute patients’ hospital in 1867 and lasted until 1993, housing almost 1,000 inmates at one point.

In addition, Aradale’s J Ward was made in 1887 as a haven for the criminally insane.

Tragically, it closes down as an institution in 1998 with up to 70 interesting old abandoned buildings strewn about, where Aradale once held up to 900 patients each year.

Henceforth, the Ararat Lunatic Asylum suppose to have taken the lives of 13,000 inmates throughout its 140-year existence, giving enough fuel for ghost stories.

Experience an evening of incarceration at the infamous J Ward Lunatic Asylum, Australia’s home to the criminally insane.

The tour begins at Girdlestone Street in Ararat during the evening, starting with complimentary museum access to peruse the intriguing collection of straight jackets, electro-shock therapy devices, and patient records from the past.

After the museum visit, embark on a two-hour guided ghost tour through the asylum that once housed infamous criminals like Chopper Read, Gary Webb, and William Wallace.

Discover the governor’s bathroom, the hangman’s gallows, the original kitchen, the shower block, the grave sites, the West Wing, the J Ward Block, and the exercise yards and grounds, all while searching for lingering spirits and hearing spine-chilling tales of murdered inmates and prisoners buried within the premises.

Tours are available every Friday and Saturday evening at 9:30 PM.

3. Port Arthur in Tasmania 

As it turns out, the magnificent Port Arthur has a spooky past making it one of the most haunted places in Australia to watch out for!

A new aspect of Port Arthur has emerged with the sun setting, but after the sun sets, the mood transforms into a suspense-like movie.

In particular, over 1000 people died during Port Arthur’s 47 years as a penal colony; however, some think that their souls never really rested in peace.

Specifically, Port Arthur has been related to recorded ghost stories since 1870, and many people have added to the town’s spooky image by describing their personal experiences with the paranormal.

Embark on a spine-tingling 1.5-hour walking tour and explore one of Australia’s most haunted locations after hours.

The Port Arthur Historic Site, a UNESCO-listed convict site, will be revealed through a lantern-lit guided tour, uncovering its harrowing past.

Listen to tales of ghosts and paranormal activity that have been recounted since the 19th century and stay alert for ghostly footsteps as you tiptoe around the former penal colony.

For those brave enough to complete the tour, a ‘Certificate of Bravery and Courage’ awaits!

This 90-minute ghost tour promises a spooky atmosphere, exclusive access to the site after hours, and the opportunity to hear ghost stories dating back to 1870.

4. Fremantle Prison in Western Australia

Fremantle Prison has an integral part of history, making it one of the most haunted places in Perth. Martha Rendell in the Catholic church and Jack the library ghost brushing up on his favourite books are just two of the ghosts who wander the cells of this World Heritage-listed prisoner complex. 

In short, Fremantle Prison is a popular tourist destination in Western Australia, and it is the state’s first World Heritage Site.

Convicts constructed the prison in the 1850s, and it served as an imprisonment facility for more than 140 years.

Besides, Fremantle Prison, with its solitary cells and hangings, stands as a testament to a draconian penal system that seems quaint in comparison.

Furthermore, Australia’s most preserved convict prison was cut into a limestone ridge with a view of Fremantle town and the Indian Ocean beyond.

As a result, Fremantle Prison has become a key to the city’s past, mystery, and entertainment.

On a fascinating Prison Day Tour, you’ll see inside a real prison and serve time with knowledgeable tour guides.

Moreso, on a Tunnels Tour, you’ll get to walk and boat through the maze of tunnels 20 meters under the prison.

The Fremantle ghost tour usually costs about $23 for adults and $13 for children for the entry fees, while the tunnel tour cost $66/per person.

Do you have the guts to try something new? Take a frightening torchlight tour to learn about the prison’s worse past.

5. Beechworth Asylum in Victoria

Beechworth Lunatic Asylum is one of Australia’s most haunted places.

No one dares to enter this spot because of the terrible sightings, odours, and history.

From 1867 through 1995, only a tiny percentage of its patients survived, and bizarre and unexplainable entities wandered its abandoned halls.

The location was plump because of the height of Beechworth, Victoria, trusts to cleanse the patients of their diseases.

As a result of a shortage of medication, patients were in chains and in some cases electrocuted.

Having stated that the hospital held 1200 patients at its height.

Now, rumour has it that some of the patients and employees seem to have never left the facility.

Obviously, it’s a great example of early 19th-century architecture and gardens during the day; however, you really don’t want to be alone there at night.

Today, thrill-seekers may take ghost tours of the institution or even spend the night there.

These ghost tours include paranormal investigations, ghost hunting, and learning about the city’s history.

Surprisingly, there were a total of eleven hectares of historical gardens at Victoria’s historic Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum in Beechworth.

Indeed, let the knowledgeable tour guides tell you everything about the area’s history, or join in on an investigation to learn about the legends surrounding the ghosts.

6. Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains in New South Wales

Of course, Jenolan Caves will always remain one of the most haunted sites in Australia.

While it’s true that all caves are creepy, not all of them have a spectral inhabitant.

When the guide went hunting for the elderly man who gave him these unknown truths about the reflecting pools, he couldn’t find him.

His ashes were scattered there by James Wiburd, a long-time caretaker of the caves.

Jenolan Caves is the world’s oldest open cave system with beautiful limestone formations.

This labyrinth of stalactite-lined chasms produced by pristine underground rivers is a must-do extension for any Blue Mountains visit.

Other guided tours like the Ghosts and Legends of the Cave Tour and Adventure Caving Tour may begin when it is safe.

Carlotta Arch Walk, McKeown’s Valley Track, and Six Foot Track are among the free attractions.

From Sydney, take a meandering route to Jenolan Caves, which is about a three-hour journey.

The best part is, it’s possible to take a tour to the Caves from the Blue Mountains, or you may try the three-day trek down the Six Foot Track with the Megalong Valley Shuttle.

7. Mushroom Tunnel in New South Wales

You’ve probably heard about haunted houses, right? Uncomfortable awakenings in the middle of the night.

The blackness deflates by mysterious whirling lights—brisk air blowing through the tunnel’s ceiling vents.

Shadowy beings are moving erratically around the walls. Indeed, Mushroom Tunnel often had this happen.

Let’s go back in time for a moment. Picton, Australia’s Macarthur Region, is home to Australia’s Redbank Range Railway Tunnel, also known as the Macarthur Tunnel.

Victims of suicide, murder, and car accidents are not uncommon in the Mushroom Tunnel.

The “Picton Mushroom Tunnel,” as it was affectionately known at the time, starts off in February 1867.

In 1919, a new deviation route opens preceding this, and the line was ultimately decommissioned to train traffic.

Surprisingly, during World War II, it was used to store weapons and ammunition and mustard gas tanks.

Afterwards, it was put to use in the production of mushrooms for sale.

In particular, the ghost of Emily Bollard is one of several that linger in the tunnel.

When visiting the Redbank Tunnel, place a folding chair in the tunnel’s centre to help you concentrate.

However, most tourists report seeing ghosts at any point along the tunnel’s path.

8. The Haunted Devil’s Pool in Queensland

Deep in the lush Queensland rainforest lies one of Australia’s most infamous haunted locations—Devil’s Pool.

This hidden swimming hole near Babinda, just south of Cairns, has claimed at least 21 lives since 1959, with the most recent tragedy in July 2023.

A sign by the Pool reads, “He came for a visit and remained forever,” a chilling reminder of its deadly reputation.

According to Aboriginal legend, a heartbroken woman took her own life in the Pool after being separated from her lover.

Many believe her spirit lingers, luring unsuspecting men into the water.

Some have even reported hearing eerie cries and seeing ghostly figures near the site.

Despite its dark history, Devil’s Pool is still a fascinating place to visit.

While swimming is strongly discouraged, the nearby Babinda Boulders offers a much safer spot to cool off and enjoy the beauty of the rainforest.

9. Dreamworld in Queensland

Dreamworld on the Gold Coast may be fun, but local legends tell a different story.

Some believe it’s one of Australia’s most haunted locations.

The theme park’s Big Brother studios, which hosted the first Australian season in 2001, are said to be haunted by the ghost of a little girl.

Cast and crew have reported seeing her wandering the halls at dawn and dusk.

Then there’s the BuzzSaw ride, which opened in 2011.

Its eerie theme is based on the story of Jack Drake, a man supposedly killed by a buzzsaw during the gold rush.

The town tried to cover up his gruesome death, but many believe his spirit never left.

Some guests claim to have seen Jack Drake’s ghost lurking near the ride—turning a thrill ride into something even more chilling.

10. Adelaide’s Haunted Gaol 

The Adelaide Gaol is one of the city’s two oldest public buildings and maybe the state’s most haunted. You may even meet a ghostly prisoner during a nocturnal tour of the facility.

Despite its creepy stories and rumours, Adelaide Gaol has a distinctive architectural style and a rich history. Some of the state’s most infamous and deadly offenders were put away at the Gaol for 147 years.

In Adelaide Gaol, step back in time and see the first prisoners’ cells and corridors. See what it was like for the over 300,000 inmates that were at Adelaide Gaol during the prison’s heyday. In fact, the Gaol was one of Australia’s longest-running prisons, operating continuously from 1841 to 1988.

You may go on a self-guided tour or book a private tour with one of the four tour operators. School groups will like their guided instruction programs, which are also available for individual students. The best part is, host tours run selected dates throughout each month. Hence, you must then choose the time and date upon booking. 

Have a good scare in one of the most haunted houses in Adelaide. Discover the Adelaide ghost stories of Governor Ashton, the connection between Sister Mary MacKillop and the Gaol, and the spirit of South Australia’s most vicious murderer.

It’s no wonder that more than 12 souls roam Murderer’s Row with 45 hangings and a graveyard. Without a doubt, your evening includes a ghost tour with the opportunity to make contact through paranormal investigation tools.

11. Pentridge Prison Tours

Step inside Pentridge Prison, one of Melbourne’s most haunted sites, and uncover its grim history.

With 44 bodies buried on-site, this former high-security prison once housed some of Australia’s most notorious criminals.

The tour begins in D Division, which has existed since 1850 and traces its history back to the arrival of the first prisoners in 1851.

The chilling atmosphere lingers as stories unfold about infamous inmates, including Ronald Ryan, the last man executed in Australia, and connections to figures like Ned Kelly and Chopper Read.

A walk through Pentridge isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a glimpse into the darkest corners of Australia’s criminal past.

Bottomline: Haunted Places Australia

I’m sure most of us have a fascination with paranormal activities. Hence, why not explore some of the most haunted places in Australia and have a personalised spooky experience? Even though these scary sites are open to the public, you must handle them with respect.

Keep the place tidy and be silent with your companions as little gestures of respect. Also, regardless of whether you believe the locals’ stories or not, it’s always great to pray for the departed.