Dylan and I have visited Ballarat twice, but admittedly never been to some of the popular attractions like the replica mining town at Sovereign Hill.
It takes around 2 hours by car from the city, but the town is also accessible by train. There’s more flexibility with a car, but you can just as easily enjoy the town if you are only traveling by train.
If traveling by train from the city, take the V/Line from Southern Cross Station (travel takes from 1.5-2 hours).
Places to see:
| Place | Tickets | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereign Hill | $49 for adults, $29 for children | An open-air museum designed to look like an old mining town. Explore underground on a mine tour, cosplay as a gold rush character, pan for gold, hop onto a coach ride, see live rare trades demonstrations, browse the shops, and meet some colourful costumed characters. |
| Ballarat Botanical Gardens | Free | Beautiful, beautiful flowers. Have a walk around the lake and grab a bite at the Boatshed Restaurant. |
| Art Gallery of Ballarat | Free | Quite a known, popular gallery for art with temporary and permanent exhibits. |
| Town centre | Free | Just have a stroll around the town, find a cafe or restaurant you’d like to try, and enjoy the old-town style architecture, the nature, and the trees. |
| Ballarat Tramway Museum | $10 for adults, $5 for children | The entrance fee includes a tram ride. |