Hello, my name is Max Burns-McRuvie founder of Journey Walks with Jocelyn Gulliver.

Launched in 2017, Journey Walks is a small, independent collective of historian-guides who bring Australia’s fascinating history and culture to life through tours and events. As a young vibrant team of professional storytellers we are proud to represent the future of heritage tourism. We strive to offer truly engaging experiences that are carefully crafted through extensive research and our passion for the past.

Over the last 4 years Journey Walks has gained extensive experience curating tours and events for public, private, corporate and educational groups. We are closely partnered with a great range of historic venues and pubs across Sydney, and regularly host unique history, food and wine experiences with Sydney Restaurant Group. We also collaborate with the Historic Houses Association, the National Trust, Sydney University and the City of Sydney council to engage contemporary audiences with historical tours, events and activities.

While the ongoing Covid situation presents many challenges for small tours businesses such as Journey Walks, we are proud to be a strong and dynamic team that is able face these challenges by providing creative new solutions.

In the online sphere: we now offer live-virtual history and crime tours via zoom in the Rocks, the City, the Botanic Gardens, Kings Cross and Balmain. These tours are interactive, engaging and customised to each client. While they tap into modern technologies such as augmented reality, they also highlight the power of good old fashioned storytelling and have received excellent feedback from corporate and educational groups tuning in from America, England, Japan and across Australia.

Embracing the growth of regional tourism in NSW: during 2020 Journey Walks also launched a branch of our tour operations in the Byron Bay shire. These adventures explore the great local tastes and tales of the region’s charming coastal townships and historic hinterland villages ( find out more here: BYRON TOURS )

In the world of media and production: we are currently involved in the making of a national film-documentary, a reality TV show, several pod-casts and various videos and recordings that broadcast our stories to the world.

As always, our primary occupation — no matter the location, tour, event or production — is to forge a connection between our audiences and the unique local heritage that is woven into historic places, people and periods of time in an engaging and imaginative way.

We can’t wait for you to join us as we explore the fascinating stories of our past and present together.

Journey Walks is a 5 star rated experience. Find out what our guests have to say about their recent experiences with us by visiting us on Trip Advisor or Google reviews

ABOUT US: OUR TEAM & EXPERIENCE

MAX BURNS-MCRUVIE — HISTORIAN-GUIDE, DIRECTOR OF JOURNEY WALKS:

I have always been passionate about history and storytelling. I’ve followed this passion academically gaining a Bachelor of Communications majoring in English and History from the University of NSW and a Master of Museum and Heritage Studies from Sydney University. My Masters’ Thesis explores the origins of Sydney’s tourism industry in the 19th century and the development of the city’s international identity as a travel destination.

Over the last 12+ years I have also been lucky enough to share this passion in a very practical way — by creating and conducting historical walking tours in fascinating locations such as Sydney, Barcelona, Amsterdam. Over this time, I have focussed on reinterpreting the Age of Exploration, gaining a deeper understanding of the Colonial Age, animating the eccentricities of the Victorian Age and digging up as many juicy crime stories from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Aside from tours, I host regular events that animate Sydney’s criminal heritage and explore robberies, murders and mysteries from the city’s infamous underworld. I present these stories, with matching food and drink tastings, at unique events such as History through Whisky, Gin City : Sin City and Cocktails & Crime Stories, in collaboration with some of Sydney’s best historic bars, restaurants and heritage venues.

I truly believe that an engaging history tour or presentation is the best way to bring the past to life and connect our contemporary lives with the fascinating stories buried in our heritage. On behalf of my brilliant team of guides at Journey Walks, I welcome you onboard for an unforgettable experience!

APRIL MCNEE — HISTORIAN-GUIDE: 

I am a ‘born and bred’ Sydney-sider whose passion for living history began at a young age. I completed an undergraduate degree in History and Medieval Studies at the University of Sydney as well as my Masters in Museum and Heritage Studies.

After finishing my post-graduate studies I moved to the UK in order to work with historical dress collections, and began working part-time as a tour-guide in London.

I discovered the joy in sharing history with people and bringing a city to life for them – Revealing how the smallest, most mundane things we take for granted – like a cup of tea – are the product of hundreds of years of history, trade, social and political forces.
Coming home to Sydney two years ago, I knew tour-guiding was too fun to stop – and have enjoyed rediscovering a love for Australian History and leading tours with Journey Walks.
When I am not tour guiding, I run a gallery for the NSW Embroiderers’ Guild and am currently working as a Research Assistant at Sydney University. 

DANICA MICALLEF — HISTORIAN-GUIDE: 

MAX BARNETT — HISTORIAN-GUIDE: 

JOCELYN GULLIVER — OPERATIONS – ACCOUNTS , DIRECTOR OF JOURNEY WALKS: