Australia’s Most Haunted Places to Check Out This Halloween

If you’re looking to get a full-blown ghostly experience, you’ll want to head straight for the heart of the action. While many places claim a spooky past, Kapunda in South Australia has a notorious reputation. Known as the most haunted town in Australia, it was once a booming and violent copper mining town. Its most infamous location is the North Kapunda Hotel.

This building is reportedly haunted by several ghosts, including a ghostly woman and a little girl. Locals believe the woman is the spirit of a murdered prostitute and the girl, her young daughter. But wait, there’s more. Paranormal activity here includes disembodied voices, strange noises, and even the feeling of being shoved by an unseen presence. It’s a great place for those who want to feel the full force of a haunted location. For those who prefer a more structured tour, many ghost tours are on offer in this historic town.

Another contender for the spooky town central is Picton, New South Wales. This small town is known for its Redbank Range Railway Tunnel, a site with a very dark past. Rumours of paranormal activity, ghost sightings, and strange noises abound in the tunnels. It's a great spot for ghost spotters, or simply for a creepy day trip.

Some haunted places feel more personal. More… lived in. The Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee, New South Wales, is believed to be the most haunted house in Australia. This Victorian-era mansion has a truly gruesome history, riddled with multiple tragic deaths that have led to its allegedly haunted status.

The murderous stories about this haunted house are the stuff of nightmares. It's a veritable parade of tragic spirits. The original owner, a woman named Mrs Crawley, is said to have lived a reclusive life after her husband's death and her ghost reportedly haunts the house to this day. Visitors have reported seeing a variety of ghostly figures of an old woman, feeling sudden cold spots, and hearing strange noises.

Sadly, the Monte Cristo Homestead is now closed to tourists and was once a prime destination for spook seekers. Its lantern lit ghost tour experiences were for the brave. Perhaps its other-worldly whisps in residence won?

The ‘lucky’ country’s history is full of tales of isolation and hardship, making sites like old prisons and asylums some of the most haunted places in Australia. A tour of these haunts is not for the faint hearted.

Aradale Lunatic Asylum is a classic among the haunted places in Australia. It possesses a grim and unsettling history spanning 130 years. Authorities reckon that over 13,000 patients died here under poor conditions. It's an imposing building where the tormented souls of former patients are said to still wander the halls. Visitors on ghost tours have reported everything from feeling a presence in the halls to being scratched or bitten. Yikes!

This haunted location is ghost hunter’s dream. It’s provoked a host of reported sightings and throbs with an eerie energy. There's even a story about Nurse Kerry and her clicking heels echoing through the women's wards. This is a place where the dark past isn't just a memory - it's a palpable presence that’ll have your pupils dilated with fear.

If walls could talk, these would scream. The Old Melbourne Gaol has a notorious reputation for holding some of Australia’s most infamous criminals, including Ned Kelly. The site is a treasure trove of grim history. You can still see a death mask of the legendary bushranger and hear about the mystery of Ned Kelly’s skull.

A visit here is said to stir up more than just historical intrigue. Many visitors have reported paranormal activity. Particularly in Cell 17. Which is said to be a hub of violent energy. With a dark history of public hangings and hardship for prisoners, this is one of the most haunted places for anyone with a morbid curiosity.

Port Arthur is more than just a beautiful, historic location; it was a brutal convict settlement. The area saw immense suffering for prisoners, and as such, it's one of the most haunted places in Australia. The Port Arthur Historic Site is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a top destination for those seeking an unforgettably chilling experience.

The most famous ghost here is the "Blue Lady," a female figure believed to be a woman who died in childbirth and now wanders the grounds in search of her lost child. Many visitors have experienced strange light anomalies, disembodied footsteps, and general feelings of unease. For the ultimate spooky experience, be sure to book a lantern lit ghost tour at night. The atmosphere of a penal colony alone is enough to send shivers down your spine.

Ghostly places aren't just limited to old buildings and haunted houses. Sometimes, a ghostly encounter can happen on the road, or during a night out at the theatre.

If you're looking for a road trip with a difference, consider the Wakehurst Parkway in New South Wales. This stretch of road has a dark history, having been a dumping ground for murder victims. Locals have long considered it one of the most haunted roads in Australia. The famous Australian ghost story here is of a young girl, sometimes called 'Kelly'. She appears in the back seat of cars. She’ll reportedly take control of the vehicle and steer it off the road unless told to leave. Other reported sightings include a girl in a white flowing figure and a phantom nun. A truly unique and terrifying journey, where it’s best to just keep moving.

Melbourne’s Princess Theatre is one of Australia’s most beautiful and historic buildings. It's like an arts centre, but it's also home to a very famous ghost. The story of Frederick Baker—also known as Federici—is the stuff of theatre legend. The opera singer suffered a heart attack and died backstage during a performance in 1888. He's believed to be a friendly ghost, often seen during curtain calls or sitting in a seat in the dress circle. The haunting here is more whimsical than terrifying. This is a haunted place where the ghost is a fan of the show. And Federici just loves the spotlight.

If you’re a serious ghost hunter, you don’t just want to visit a haunted house. You want to stay in one. Or do you? Australia has plenty of allegedly haunted hotels.

Once a quarantine station, this hotel site on Sydney’s North Head has a grim history of illness and death. The Q Station is one of the most haunted places in Australia. The site's original purpose was to isolate people with contagious diseases, and thousands died here in poor conditions.

The restless spirits of those who perished are believed to still roam the grounds, with many visitors reporting ghostly apparitions and strange noises. While the guest rooms are in a separate, ghost-free area, you can book a ghost tour to explore the truly haunted parts of the site. Like the morgue and hospital. Great for those who like their hands-on experiences … chilling.

Located in The Rocks, one of Sydney's oldest areas, The Russell is considered the city's most haunted hotel. The building is reportedly haunted by the spirit of a sailor. He frequents Room 8. Guests have reported seeing his spirit staring at them. Hearing footsteps at night is a common experience. This place will test your courage.

As we mentioned earlier, Kapunda is considered the most haunted small towns, and a stay at the North Kapunda Hotel puts you right in the middle of all the paranormal action. With its legacy of murder and mayhem, it’s a premier haunt for anyone seeking true paranormal investigation. But be careful what you wish for.

The Australian outback is littered with fascinating ghost towns that serve as eerie time capsules. Many of these deserted locations were once booming gold-mining hubs.

Take for example, Gwalia in Western Australia. Once home to over a thousand people, the town was almost entirely abandoned overnight when the Sons of Gwalia gold mine unexpectedly closed. Today, it’s a living museum where you can wander through the old cottages and shops, feeling the past in the quiet air.

Or consider Broad Arrow, just outside Kalgoorlie. All that remains of this once-thriving community is a pub, but locals and visitors have reported seeing a ghost inside. The contrast between the dusty ruins and the living, breathing history of these places is a unique kind of spooky. These ghost towns remind us that some stories are too big to be contained within four walls, they haunt the entire area, just waiting for you to come and listen.

There's no wrong time to get a little scared. Or frightened out of your wits for that matter. If you want the full atmospheric experience, a misty winter's day or a clear, dark night is your best bet. Ghost tours often run at night, and many haunted places amp up their offerings around Halloween.

Whether you're visiting a haunted house or a notorious old prison, the thrill of these journeys lies in experiencing the history firsthand. These haunted places in Australia aren't just spooky. They are voices (sometimes literally) from Australia’s fascinating and frequently brutal past.

Happy Halloween! Don’t turn around …