J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour | 2 hours

21 Reviews | Ballarat
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 15 travelers in total.
Adult (16-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 15
2
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
8pm Departure
2 Adults x $26.18
$52.36
Approx Total
$52.36
8pm departure for the J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Live commentary
  • Local guide
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Overview

Visit Australia's former home of the criminally insane, the J Ward Lunatic Asylum, about two hours outside of Melbourne. During this evening experience, check out the museum that now sits here before the 2-hour guided ghost tour begins. The tour introduces you to some of the notorious criminals who resided in the ward, including Chopper Read, as you explore the grounds in search of the souls who still linger here. Tours run every Friday & Saturday evening.

Meeting points

Please meet at JWard Old Gaol , Girdlestone Street Ararat Victoria

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • N/A

    Visit Australia's home to the criminally insane, J Ward Lunatic Asylum. Explore the museum followed by a ghost tour of the home of notorious criminals including Chopper Read, Gary Webb and William Wallace. Explore the governor's bathroom, hangman's gallows, original kitchen, showerblock, grave sites, West Wing, J Ward Block, exercise yards and grounds in search of the souls that still linger. Learn of governors whose spirits are still lurking, prisoners buried in the grounds and the many souls trapped within these walls.

    2 hours

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Minimum age is 12 years
  • Children 12 and over must be accompanied by a supervising adult ticket holder
  • Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended
  • The 2-hour tour is mostly indoors with moderate walking and some steps
  • Tours take place in wet weather; in the case of extreme weather, the local tour operator will contact you directly to offer alternative options

Free Cancellation

June 19100% refund
June 20No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.4

21 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    13
  • 4 stars
    6
  • 3 stars
    1
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    1

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 13 reviews with 5 stars

Great time

Published on Nov, 2024

My daughter and I attended the Ghost Tour on Friday the15th of November. We love the tour our guided was very knowledgeable and great fun.

J Ward night tour.

Published on Oct, 2024

This is an interesting and informative tour, which gives a concise and detailed history about J Ward's infamous past. It is a little confronting when you hear about some of the detainees stories, which are well presented by the guides. You receive access into a lot of areas inside the asylum, which itself is a wonderful and historic collection of buildings, including the underground kitchens. We didn't find any ghosts, despite our best efforts with the divining rods, but this makes the two hour tour a bit of fun and lightens the experience which is good.

Amazing

Published on Aug, 2024

Best ghost tour of the town, couldn't recommend this enough, both Sandra and Graham did an amazing job with the tour and shared so much insite into the history of the place. A few ghostly experiences enough to make the hairs stand up. Overall 10/10..

Ararat ghost tour is definitely worthwhile

Published on Mar, 2024

J Ward was a psychiatric institution in Ararat. J Ward was mainly for the criminally insane. Since the inpatients were transferred to other institutions, J Ward has been opened up for ghost tours. This former "lunatic asylum" is a reminder of the ethical challenges involved in the mental health involved in this forensic mental hospital in Ararat. The ghost tour can be a bit alarming, but it arouses your interest and curiosity; it's definitely worthwhile.

Great night

Published on Jun, 2023

We had a great group of people and funny, informative and friendly guides. Very entertaining and informative night out.

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