Ballarat - Victoria
 Switch on your sense of adventure, rekindle your love of history, fine tune your appreciation of the natural world, and take a trip to Ballarat, where you will discover a city with a rich cultural heritage and vibrant lifestyle. Ballarat is situated 110 kilometres north west of Melbourne, and is a fantastic day trip, short break or longer stay destination.
Built on the wealth of gold, Ballarat is a monument to the pioneering adventurers who left their distant homelands in search of prosperity in the gold rush of the 1850’s. Also referred to as the ‘Garden City’ and the ‘City of Statues’, Ballarat offers a wealth of attractions and activities.
Attractions
Sovereign Hill - Step back in time to the 1850’s and be caught up in the thrill of gold fever at Sovereign Hill. A living, working, outdoor museum, Sovereign Hill tells the story of the first difficult years on Ballarat’s goldfields following the discovery of gold in 1851.
At night Sovereign Hill provides the dramatic backdrop for the ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’ sound and light spectacular. This is an exciting show that recreates the tense and terrible days leading up to the battle at Eureka in 1854.
Eureka Centre - For a greater insight into the story of Eureka, a visit to Ballarat’s Eureka Centre is a must. A modern, interactive display tells the story of the miners’ brief, but bloody uprising, in the early hours of December 3rd, 1854.
Ballarat Wildlife Park provides a rare and rewarding opportunity to enjoy close contact with koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and wombats. Visitors can also thrill to the spectacle of a mature crocodile being hand fed.
Ballarat Bird World has one of the largest collections of native birds in the country. The 600 plus live birds are located in 14 acres of natural bushland complete with waterfalls, native rainforest and fish pond – all accessible by one kilometre of raised walkway.
Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial is one of the newest tourist attractions in Ballarat, honouring more than 35,000 Australians who were held prisoner during the Boer War, the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War.
Set on the edge of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, the focal point of the Memorial is a 130 metre long black granite wall, engraved with the names of all known Australian Ex-Prisoners of War.
Culture
Looking for a cultural indulgence? Her Majesty’s Theatre is Australia’s oldest, continuously running live theatre, presenting a distinguished program of plays, musicals dance and music.
The Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Australia’s oldest and largest regional gallery has one of the country’s finest collections of Australian works, and regularly stages major touring exhibitions.
Ballarat’s newest cultural centre is the Kirrit Barreet Ballarat Aboriginal Cultural Centre, offering visitors the chance to experience the Living History Museum and explore the Aboriginal Fine Art Gallery.
General
The wealth and splendour of the gold rush years is evident in the fine architecture of historic Lydiard Street, while the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the shores of Lake Wendouree are home to the Prime Ministers Avenue, a collection of bronze busts of each Australian Prime Minister.
After touring the sites of Ballarat grab a coffee in one of the City’s many lively cafés, or stay for lunch or dinner.
Ballarat is noted for its annual Begonia Festival featuring the world’s largest collection of tuberous begonias, and the Royal South Street Competition – Australia’s longest running eisteddfod which features music, dance, drama and calisthenics.
Ballarat is also considered the ‘events capital’ of regional Victoria with an interesting event occurring most weekends of the year, attracting thousands of visitors to the City annually.
Climate: Ballarat experiences a temperate climate with four seasons. The average daily maximum temperature for January is 24.9ºC, while for July it is 10ºC. In non drought years, the mean annual rainfall is 705mm, with August being the wettest month (77mm). There are an average of 198 rain free days per year.
Ballarat offers an excellent range of accommodation, from heritage homestays to relaxing motels, great holiday parks and indulgent bed and breakfasts. It is also the gateway to the Goldfields tourist region of Victoria and the spectacular Great Southern Touring Route comprising, Ballarat, the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road.
The Ballarat Visitor Information Centre in Sturt Street in the heart of the City, can provide you with free maps and brochures for all local attractions.
To browse for more great places to stay go to Ballarat Holiday Accommodation. |