Melbourne keeps secrets. Every week, a new one. A Hub 4 sticker is tucked away somewhere in the city, waiting for you to find it. You solve a clue, track it down, and if you're quick, you win cash. It's a weekly treasure hunt built for Melbourne's streets.
This isn't about luck. It's about knowing your city, putting in the legwork, and thinking sharp. The first hunt of the relaunch kicks off on 15 August 2026. Think of it as a reason to walk the city, to see places you wouldn't otherwise. And maybe earn some money doing it.
How the Hub 4 treasure hunt works
It starts with a clue. Each week, a new challenge lands in your Hub 4 portal. It points you towards a hidden token in Melbourne. This isn't a vague riddle. It's specific. It might lead you to a landmark, a forgotten park bench, or a corner of the city you thought you knew inside out.
Your clue is yours alone. Everyone gets the same information at the same moment. But the wording, the voice of the clue, changes for each member. This means nobody gets an advantage. There's no copying someone else's answer. The facts are identical. The presentation is personal. It keeps things fair.
You can learn more about the mechanics of the game by reading Playing Hub 4: How it goes down.
Unlocking secrets as you close in
The city gives up its secrets slowly. As you get closer to the hidden token, the game gives you more help. Get within 400 metres, and a second clue unlocks. It describes what you'd see from across the street. You might be told "look for the red awning opposite" or "it's near the old fountain".
Close the gap further. Within 120 metres, a third clue reveals almost exactly where the sticker is. It's enough to guide you to the spot. These later clues only unlock when you're physically there. You have to walk the ground. Nobody wins from their couch.
Find it, prove it, win the cash prize
Once you've cracked the clue and navigated to the location, you need to find the token. It's small, no bigger than a coaster, and it won't be sitting in plain sight. It's tucked away, a bit out of the way, but always in a publicly accessible spot. You don't need to climb fences or break rules.
When you find it, you photograph it exactly where it sits. Don't move it. Don't take it. Just snap a picture. Your phone's GPS has to verify you're within 75 metres of the sticker. This location access is mandatory to play. It's how we know your find is real. We record the distance, never your exact position.
The race against the clock
Being first to the token gives you an advantage, but it doesn't guarantee a win. The moment your photo and GPS are verified, a 15-minute exclusive window opens. During this time, only you can claim the prize.
Within that window, you answer a skill question. Get it right, and the cash is yours. Winners are paid within 48 hours. Get the question wrong, and a five-minute cooldown starts. The clock on your 15-minute window keeps running. If your exclusive window expires before you get it right, the question opens to every member. The race is properly on for everyone. It means being first is powerful, but you still need to think under pressure. You can read more about a treasure hunt with a cash prize on our blog.
Melbourne is the board
Hub 4 runs across Melbourne, Australia. We place tokens in different zones — north, east, bayside, west. This ensures wins spread out. It means you don't need to live in the CBD to have a shot. You might be exploring a street in Brunswick one week, a park in Footscray the next, or a bayside path in St Kilda.
The City of Melbourne offers a vast urban playground for this kind of adventure. Its laneways, hidden courtyards, and diverse suburbs provide endless possibilities for a challenging scavenger hunt. You'll likely discover parts of the city you've overlooked before. Navigating these zones often involves public transport, making it a true urban exploration. Check the Public Transport Victoria website for planning your journey.
It's about getting out and seeing the city from a new angle. For adults looking for non-touristy weekend activities in Melbourne, this offers a unique way to engage with the urban environment. It's one of those outdoor activities Melbourne adults can really sink their teeth into.
Skill leagues and fairness
Hub 4 is a game of skill. There's no lottery, no random draw. Every win is earned. We ensure fairness through skill leagues. Consistent winners are promoted to harder divisions. This means new members and those still learning the ropes compete at their own level. It leaves the entry division open for new challengers.
What if someone else finds the token first? The token stays where it is. If you arrive later in the week and find it, you still earn 50 skill points. This means the walk is never wasted. Those points can be spent on an extra clue in a future hunt. They can't be bought. They're earned.
Join the hunt, join the club
Membership for Hub 4 is $25 per month. That gives you unlimited access to every weekly hunt and all the clues. You can cancel any time. It's a simple deal.
You can also earn by bringing mates into the club. Every member gets a personal invite link. When someone joins through your link, you earn 10% of their membership fee. This goes straight off your own bill, for as long as they stay a member. It pays you back. It also makes the prizes bigger, as the prize pool is funded by memberships.
Hub 4 is owned and operated by Synap AI Pty Ltd (ABN 86 695 003 653 · ACN 695 003 653). We believe in a transparent and fair game. We're here for adults, 18 or over, who love Melbourne and a good challenge. One verified account per person, confirmed by SMS. It keeps the game honest. For more information on what Melbourne has to offer, check out the City of Melbourne website.
The city is full of places you haven't seen yet. Money is waiting for the right person to find it. The question is, are you up for the hunt?
The next hunt starts 15 August 2026. hub4.au