The Top 10 Things to Do in Ballarat

You've booked a holiday to Victoria, and you're staying at the beautiful Ramada Resort by Wyndham Ballarat.  Now you're planning your itinerary, and you're not sure what to include.  Well, you're in luck - this article breaks down the top 10 things to do when you're travelling to Ballarat.  Add these places to your holiday, and make sure you don't miss out on any of the amazing attractions this historic city has to offer.

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What to Do in Ballarat

The Eureka Centre

The Eureka Centre is a celebration of Australia’s anti-authoritarian past.  It honours the 1854 Eureka Rebellion, when Ballarat gold miners fought against the colonial rule of the British government.

Their actions culminated in the Battle of the Eureka Stockade; although they were quickly defeated, their defiance was a catalyst for the introduction of proper democracy to Australia.  Like Ned Kelly, they captured the popular imagination – immigrants, ground underneath the British bootheel, their insurrection grounded in the concept of egalitarianism and hope for a better future.

At the Eureka Centre, you can explore the stories of both the miners and the women who fought alongside them, and see the Eureka Flag, one of Australia’s most treasured relics.  It’s surrounded by the Eureka Stockade Memorial Gardens and also has an on-site café – the perfect place to remember some of Australian democracy’s first heroes.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
(03) 5333 0333	eurekainfo@ballarat.vic.gov.au	Click here	102 Stawell St S, Ballarat Central VIC 3350

 

Full Flight Birds of Prey Centre

Full Flight Birds of Prey Centre is a research and conservation facility committed to the protection of native raptors.  Meet owls, hawks, falcons and eagles in person, and take part in handling them using leather falconry gloves.

The centre’s lengthy personal encounters are one-on-one tours that range from 1.5-3 hours long and involve training birds like wedge-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons.  The encounters are pricey (a 1.5-hour session costs $380), but, for a birthday or other special occasion, they’re certainly an incredible experience.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
04 2995 9991	eurekainfo@ballarat.vic.gov.au	Click here	195 Kennedys Road, Miners Rest VIC 3352

 

Eerie Tours

Ballarat is one of Australia’s oldest settlements, which means the ghosts have had plenty of time to build up!  Experience skin-prickling tours which take you through places like the abandoned town of Aradale, the Aradale Mental Asylum and Ballarat Cemetery – they’re as terrifying as they sound, and even worse at night.

With professional historians employed as guides, your ghost stories will be served up with a healthy measure of facts, including historical accounts of the asylum’s 130-year operating period.  If you’ve been to Ballarat before and you’re looking for a new way to experience this fascinating city, we definitely recommend a midnight tour through the tombstones.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
1300 856 668	bookings@eerietours.com.au	Click here	N/A

 

Ballarat Wildlife Park

Ballarat Wildlife Park offers visitors an exciting, interactive experience that combines hands-on encounters and some of Australia’s most iconic species.  Ever wanted to see a cassowary up close?  Have your kids ever begged you to let them near a giant tortoise?  This is the place to do it.

In addition to their general animal exhibitions, the park features a colony of endangered Little Penguins, as well as a family of six meerkats (yes, you can schedule meerkat encounters).  The park is open every day of the year except Christmas, and is a Ballarat must-visit for families.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
(03) 5333 5933	info@wildlifepark.com.au	Click here	250 Fussell St, Ballarat East VIC 3350

 

Grampians National Park

Sandstone cliffs and foam-laced waterfalls.  Tumbled boulders and oceans of gums.  Shy rock wallabies and darting emus.  Hiking trails and bouldering.  Fishing, canoeing and kayaking.  This is Grampians National Park.

An essential part of the First Nations cultural landscape, the breadth of the Grampians is scattered with Aboriginal rock art, and was traditionally known as Gariwerd.  The incredible scenery, combined with the Grampians’ unique role in dreaming stories, make this place a must-visit if you’re staying in Ballarat.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
04 2995 9991	eurekainfo@ballarat.vic.gov.au	Click here	195 Kennedys Road, Miners Rest VIC 3352

 

James Egan Gallery

James Egan was a genuine Ballarat treasure.  Cut from the same cloth as the painters and bush poets of bygone years, he worked as a tent boxer and a horse breaker before becoming one of Australia’s most renowned artists.  His paintings – of landscapes, birds, people and Ned Kelly – have made their way into the halls of Buckingham Palace, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office and the Russian White House.

Although this eccentric figure passed away in 2017, his work remains open to the public at the James Egan Gallery, and his legacy as one of modern Australia’s foremost painters remains untarnished.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
04 2995 9991	eurekainfo@ballarat.vic.gov.au	Click here	1789 Sunraysia Hwy, Addington VIC 3352

 

Ballarat Tramway Museum

From 1887 to 1971, trams were Ballarat’s main mode of public transport.  The Ballarat Tramway Museum is dedicated to preserving the city’s fleet of trams; their collection features a number of number of circa-WWI tramcars from Melbourne, as well as a Ballarat Horse Tram No. 1 from 1887 and a 1905 Electric Supply Company of Victoria tramcar.  The trams are operated along actual tramlines, and keep things authentic with original-style conductors, tickets, paperwork and tram stops.

Stepping aboard a Ballarat tram is a step back in time – perfect for history buffs and families alike.  Because the museum is a non-profit association, both self-guided exploration and formal tours are free, although, if you do visit, a $2 donation is a great way to help preserve the fascinating legacy of old Ballarat.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
(03) 5334 1580	info@btm.org.au	Click Here	South Gardens Reserve, Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree VIC 3350

 

Sovereign Hill

Sovereign Hill is the indisputable centrepiece of Ballarat.  Built to recapture the chaos and excitement of the 1850s gold rush, this open-air museum functions as a reconstructed mining town that spans 25 acres.  Featuring costumed performers, over 40 horses, gold mines and underground tunnels, it’s a truly unique experience that everyone – old and young – should see.

Chandlers and blacksmiths work alongside musket-toting soldiers and confectioners, and guests are free to wander between demonstrations or go on guided tours that delve deep into the history of Ballarat.  If you’ve already visited Sovereign Hill before, try AURA, an immersive theatre experience that ranges from the Dreamtime all the way to the 1850s.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
(03) 5337 1199	N/A	Click here	Bradshaw St, Golden Point VIC 3350

 

Kryal Castle

Step back in time at Australia’s own medieval castle.  Boasting gothic towers, knights in shining armour, a torture dungeon and more, Kryal Castle combines the grit of the Middle Ages with the magic of Arthurian mythology.  A giant stone castle might not be exactly what comes to mind when you think of Ballarat, but, if you’re travelling with your family, this is definitely not one you want to miss.

In addition to the entertaining line-up of activities, shows and attractions, the Castle also regularly hosts events, like the Medieval Feast and Murder Mystery Night.  If you’re staying in Ballarat for a few nights, attending can be a great way for the kids to have a fun evening and make some new friends.

Phone	Email	Website	Address
(03) 5334 8500	N/A	Click here	121 Forbes Rd, Leigh Creek VIC 3352

 

Black Hill Reserve

 

A scenic swathe of bushland just minutes from the Ballarat CBD, Black Hill Reserve is punctured by the remnants of open-cut mines.  Although there’s a number of walking trails that meander through the gums and towering pines, capped off by a panoramic lookout, it’s most popular with mountain bikers.

With six cross country trails, four downhill tracks, two pump tracks, a skills area and an advanced jump park, it’s the perfect way for your kids to let off a bit of energy.  It’s a cruisy 18-minute drive from Ramada Ballarat, so you can conclude a day of exploring with a relaxing bushwalk as your little terrors zoom past you on two wheels.

 

Phone	Email	Website	Address
(03) 5320 5500	info@ballarat.vic.gov.au	Click here	746 Chisholm St, Black Hill VIC 3350

 

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