Victoria, Australia

Ballarat Attractions

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From historic sites, gold mines, city highlights, wildlife parks, state parks and stunning gardens throughout, these are just some of the attractions that you can look forward to when you come to Ballarat located around one hour’s drive northwest of Melbourne in the backcountry of Victoria. Situated within what is classed as the Gold Fields, Ballarat has history and heritage dating back to the early gold mining days of around the 1850s and so much can be seen and learned of this period in the historic buildings, museums and galleries. Visit Sovereign Hill which is where you can step back in time as you walk through a recreated gold mining community or perhaps a trip to Bird World with the kids is something you are after. You can walk through the beautiful parks and gardens that Ballarat is well known for and even sample some culinary delights with the variety of dining options, cafes, and eateries that line the streets as well as having excellent accommodation.

People from all around come to Ballarat to pan for their own, take an underground tour through a mine, visit the Eureka Centre which has many stories to tell as does the Gold Museum where you can see gold nuggets, coins, and much more dating back many years. Catch a show at Her Majesty’s Theatre, visit the Ballarat Aviation Museum or ride on the Ballarat Vintage Tramway to see the sights. The kids will love the Wildlife Park along with the many walking tracks and bush walks that include walks through the Creswick Regional Park, Enfield State Park or a walk along the Great Dividing Trail is always a must-do attraction in Ballarat.

Base your holiday around one of the annual events and festivals that come through Ballarat which include the Ballarat Begonia Festival in the Botanical Gardens or perhaps the Ballarat Show where you can see live entertainment, animal displays, ride many fun-filled rides, see fireworks and view heritage displays is what interests you. There is also the Spring Festival and weekend markets that showcase the delights of the local region to take in too! Tour through the neighbouring wineries where you can also sample some regional wines along the way and then wrap up the day with a trip to one of the family-friendly attractions such as Fun Bugs Playhouse, Happy Jacks Play World, the indoor go-kart racing centre or tenpin bowling centre.

From playing a round of golf to exploring the surrounding National Parks and state parks Ballarat has many attractions to suit all travellers, whatever your interest might be! You can take it easy, get the blood pumping with some excellent outdoor adventures, or just enjoy the many leisurely attractions like the city walks and picnic grounds. You can take to a bicycle for the day with so many varying bike tracks in and around the city or choose from a range of tours that operate throughout the year.

Food and wine lovers, nature lovers, people who are drawn to the fine arts and culture of the passing years, families, younger travellers and anyone just looking for the ideal holiday destination for their next trip will find so much to see and do in Ballarat it will simply amaze you. The attractions here are huge, and to many to list them all, so find out about what you can include in your trip to Ballarat and what you will have to look forward to.