One of the fastest growing satellite towns to Melbourne, Ballarat is a bustling metropolis in its own right these days, but it still retains its country town charm. There’s so much to explore here, you might do as many Melbournians have done and decide to make it your home for keeps.
Wild times for the whole family
Ballarat Wildlife Park is a charming family run animal sanctuary with the usual collection of Australian animals and some interesting international residents too. They offer one on one Animal Encounters with their Koalas, Snakes, Wombats, Giant Tortoise, Cassowary, Tree Kangaroo and Tawny Frogmouth, sure to be an unforgettable experience and an amazing addition to the photo album all at once. They have a free-roaming area where you can feed kangaroos and other animals, and they recently welcomed two tigers as well, so there is plenty to see here.
Go back in time at Kryal Castle
A medieval castle is not something you expect to see in Australia, but Kryal Castle have built a medievalesque fantasy that the whole family can enjoy. There are jousting displays, feasts and all kinds of medieval shenanigans on show here, and you can even stay overnight, in surely one of Australia’s most unique accommodation options. On the weekends the merchant stalls are all open, and if you’re lucky you might be there for the Timeline Festival or one of the other historical re-enactment festivals that happen here throughout the year.
Strike Gold
Ballarat’s gold rush history is a point of pride for locals and there are many opportunities to explore it here. Sovereign Hill is worth a look, and make the time for the Gold Museum while you’re there – you can visit it separately to the park, so it’s a great option if you’re looking to conserve time and funds. There are all kinds of fascinating relics from the gold rush here with more than a hundred thousand items in the collection. You’ll also find some priceless memorabilia from the famous Eureka Stockade here, surely Ballarat’s most well known historical event.
Eureka, you’ve found it!
For further Eureka Stockade explorations and to see the most famous relic of all – the iconic Eureka Stockade Flag showcasing the Southern Cross, you shouldn’t miss The Eureka Centre. The flag is the centrepiece of the collection and what most visitors come to see but there’s a lot of other interesting things here to explore as well, from the gold rush artefacts to the beautifully landscaped gardens.
Stroll in the Gardens
On the western shore of Lake Wendouree you will find the beautiful Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Ballarat’s mild climate allows all sorts of delicate green beauties to flourish here and the lovingly tended gardens always have something new happening. There are beautiful marble statues to admire, tinkling fountains, and the strikingly modern Robert Clark Conservatory. It’s a glasshouse like none you’ve ever seen, with an architecturally bold design and an enthusiastic calendar of seasonal displays. Each autumn they go all out for the Ballarat Begonia Festival, so be sure to check out all the beautiful blooms on display then.
