Ghosts and Pimms in Victoria, without the long drive. This experience is built around a 2-course dinner and a 1.5-hour ghost tour at Eynesbury Homestead, a Staughton family estate about 40 minutes from Melbourne. I like the clear structure, and you get a proper night out rather than just a quick walk and a few stories.

I also love the mix of settings, from the homestead dining rooms to the darker corners of the property, including haunted lake banks and unsettling service areas. The tour is led by a ghost host from Lantern Ghost Tours in English, with access to multiple buildings across the estate.

One consideration: the tour runs outdoors and indoors, and you need to be able to walk for up to 2 hours on flat, accessible paths at a leisurely rate. Dress for night air and wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.

Key things to know before you go

• A full evening plan, dinner plus a 1.5-hour ghost tour instead of a short, rushed experience
• Onsite Ms Peacock Kitchen & Bar, with a $30pp gift certificate to spend before the tour
• Multiple haunted stops tied to the Staughton family stories, including lake, stables, and quarters
• Grey Box Forest is optional, only included if you are brave enough to go
• Lantern Ghost Tours runs the tours in English, with a live ghost host guiding you

Dinner first at Eynesbury Homestead, then the lights go down

This is the kind of outing that starts like a country-house dinner and slowly shifts into something darker. You meet at 487 Eynesbury Road, Eynesbury 3338 VIC, and your evening begins around the homestead itself, with dinner in the fully licensed Ms Peacock Kitchen & Bar onsite. The homestead setting helps a lot. You’re not shuttled somewhere generic, you’re actually at the estate where the stories are supposed to land.

You also get a $30pp gift certificate to spend on food and beverage at the restaurant before your tour. That matters for value because the package price includes dinner, but you still have a decision to make about what you order. Plan to use the voucher thoughtfully, then see what drinks cost if you want to add something extra during the meal.

The tour later starts outside, at the front porch of the homestead, overlooking the garden. That porch moment is more than a starting point. It sets the tone, and it gives you a visual sense of place before you’re walking into the night.

Ms Peacock Kitchen & Bar: your 2-course meal and how to think about value

The package includes a 2-course dinner, and that is one of the strongest reasons to book. At $53 per person, you’re not just paying for a ghost tour ticket. You’re paying for a full evening format: meal at the estate plus a timed guided walk.

Here’s the practical way to think about it. If you would have paid for dinner anyway, the ghost tour portion starts to feel like the extra value. The voucher also helps you keep control of what you spend on the night. If you order within what the $30pp gift certificate covers, you can keep costs close to the advertised price.

Also note the practical catch: drinks are listed as not included. You can still buy them during your meal at bar prices, but your voucher may not cover everything depending on what you choose. My advice is simple: decide in advance if you want a drink to match the mood. If yes, budget a little extra so you don’t get surprised when the bill comes.

The ghost tour format: 1.5 hours, a real guided path, and story stops that make sense

After dinner, your tour runs for about 1.5 hours, and it’s guided by a live ghost host from Lantern Ghost Tours. The guidance matters because this isn’t a self-guided loop. You’re moving through different areas of the estate, and the host ties the location to the Staughton family mysteries and curses.

The tour is described as award-winning, which you can treat as a hint about pacing and presentation. Even if you don’t care about awards, what you want is clarity: where you’re going, what you’re looking at, and why that spot is part of the story. In this kind of attraction, a strong host can turn dark property features into something you actually follow rather than just hear from a distance.

You should expect a mix of atmosphere and access. The tour includes access to buildings, and it runs across both outdoor and indoor areas. That means you’re not only hearing tales in the open air. You’ll also step into spaces that feel appropriate for the quieter, creepier stories.

Haunted lake banks, eerie stables, and the abandoned meat room

Some ghost tours are all about one dramatic building or one big moment. This one spreads the scares out into a set of locations, and that makes it easier to stay interested for the whole 1.5 hours.

Here’s the lineup of the most distinctive stops, and what they add to the experience:

The haunted lake area

The tour includes the haunted lake’s misty banks. Even if you’re not expecting anything supernatural in the literal sense, the lake setting does what it’s supposed to do. It gives you natural darkness, a damp-cool feel, and that slow, eerie sense that the property has a history you can’t see yet.

The stables and ghostly hooves

You’ll also visit eerie stables, where the stories focus on ghostly activity tied to the estate. Stables are perfect for this type of haunting because they’re already built for sound and echoes. If you’re the type who pays attention to timing and acoustics, you’ll get more out of this stop.

The abandoned meat room

Then comes one of the most unusual locations: the abandoned meat room. This is the sort of stop that works because it’s specific. It’s not a vague haunted room, it’s a named space tied to daily life that stopped. Quiet rooms like that often feel worse than a loud scare, because your brain fills in the silence.

This is also where you’ll likely feel how the host structures the story. Good hosts keep moving so you’re not stuck in one place for too long, but they also slow down enough that you can actually look around and absorb the space.

Servants’ quarters and the bluestone men’s quarters

As the tour moves deeper into the estate, you shift from the showy grand spaces to the working areas. That change is a big part of why this tour feels grounded.

You’ll wander through servants’ quarters and learn about the estate’s secret affairs, mysteries, and curses of the Staughton Family. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the idea of secrets and betrayal is what turns these buildings into more than just old walls. You’re being asked to imagine power played out in real rooms, not just in the abstract.

The tour also mentions uncovering dark secrets beneath the old bluestone men’s quarters. Bluestone is a strong visual detail, and it helps the storytelling land. When a tour gives you clear location cues like that, you’re more likely to remember places instead of just remembering the vibe.

Grey Box Forest: the optional brave walk on the estate edge

There’s one extra element for people who like a little more intensity. The tour can venture into the Grey Box Forest that hugs the estate, but only if you’re brave enough to go.

This is useful because it gives you choice. If you want a more straightforward route, you can likely stay with the main path. If you want the deeper night feel and the more dramatic nature setting, the forest option is where you get it.

One more practical note: forest paths are still walking. The tour overall requires the ability to walk for up to 2 hours on flat, accessible paths at a leisurely rate. So even if the forest is optional, wear shoes that can handle uneven ground comfortably, just in case.

What the $53 price really covers, and why it feels fair

Let’s talk value without the fluff. At $53 per person for a 210-minute total experience, you’re paying for:

• a 2-course dinner
• a 1.5-hour ghost tour
• a live ghost host
• access to buildings

That’s an entire timed evening, and the dinner piece is the difference between this and a basic walking ghost tour. If you’re already planning to eat while you’re out, this format reduces decision fatigue. You don’t need to find a restaurant, book a table, and then figure out what to do with your night.

On top of that, the onsite Ms Peacock Kitchen & Bar setup and the $30pp gift certificate gives you a chance to make the food portion feel like it fits your taste. Choose something you’ll enjoy, not something you pick just to get through the courses quickly.

The main cost caveat is drinks. Drinks are not included, and they’re purchased at bar prices during your meal. So if you’re the type who likes a cocktail with the mood, consider adding a small budget line.

Who should book this, and who might want a different plan

This is a great fit for you if:

• you want a Melbourne-area night out without doing multiple separate activities
• you like guided storytelling tied to specific physical locations
• you enjoy atmosphere, like lake-side settings, old estate buildings, and staged darkness

It may not be the best fit if:

• you hate walking at night, even if the paths are described as flat and accessible
• you want a tour that is strictly indoor and climate-controlled
• you’re only interested in one single highlight stop, because the experience spreads across several locations

Also, the tour runs on the third Friday evening of each month, so it’s not a daily option. If you’re visiting Melbourne at a time when that date doesn’t match, you might need to choose another plan.

The practical stuff: timing, walking comfort, and what to wear

This tour is a 210-minute total experience, and it involves both outdoors and indoors. You need to be ready for a night shift to colder air, then warmer indoor spaces. Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes, and dress for layers.

The walk requirement is up to 2 hours at a leisurely pace along flat, accessible paths. That’s manageable for many people, but it’s still walking. If you’re planning this with mobility constraints, go in with that expectation and keep your shoes and pacing comfortable.

Finally, the tour starts outside on the homestead porch, overlooking the garden. Arrive ready to gather and move. The better prepared you are in your shoes and layers, the less the scare-factor gets swallowed by discomfort.

Should you book the Eynesbury Homestead Dark Tales & Ghostly Trails dinner tour?

I’d recommend booking if you want a full evening with actual structure: dinner at an onsite licensed restaurant, then a guided 1.5-hour ghost tour that uses the estate itself as the stage. The strongest points here are the combination of a proper meal and specific, varied stops like the haunted lake banks, stables, and the abandoned meat room, plus the optional Grey Box Forest for extra courage.

If you’re mainly chasing a fast scare with minimal walking, you might feel like 2 hours is too much. But if you’re the type who enjoys atmosphere and wants to see how the story changes as you move through different parts of the property, this is a satisfying choice.

If you’re available on a third Friday evening and you’re okay with a mix of outdoor night air and indoor stops, you’ll likely have a memorable, story-filled evening close to Melbourne.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the tour?

Meet at Eynesbury Homestead, 487 Eynesbury Road, Eynesbury 3338 VIC.

How long is the full experience?

The duration is listed as 210 minutes total.

What is included in the ticket price?

Included items are 2-course dinner, a 1.5-hour ghost tour, your own ghost host, and access to buildings.

Are drinks included with dinner?

No. Drinks are not included and can be purchased at bar prices during your meal.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible.

How much walking is involved?

Participants must be able to walk for up to 2 hours along flat, accessible paths at a leisurely rate.

When does the tour run?

Tours run on the third Friday evening of each month.