If you plan on taking a holiday to Victoria Australia, one of the most popular tourist spots to visit outside of Melbourne is Ballarat. It does get a bit cooler than Melbourne, so take some warm clothes! One of the biggest festivals in Ballarat is their Winter Festival. Here they decorate laneways with colourful lights and have a pop up ice skating ring just off Sturt Street. One of the biggest events though is the Winter Wonderlights at Sovereign Hill. I’ll show more of this in the video guide to Ballarat.
In this video I will show you some of the best things to do in Ballarat for a family, couple or even solo traveller.
This is a list of Ballarat’s top tourist attractions
10. Ballarat Wildlife Park
The park was opened in 1987 and covers some 37 acres of natural bushland. If you want to see some natural Australian animals, Ballarat Wildlife Park has plenty, from free roaming kangaroos and emus - where you can hand feed these cute Australian animals. Learn about koalas on one of the guided tours. Get a selfie with a wombat. Watch Tasmanian devils getting fed. See giant tortoises, crocodiles and alligators. And of course the meerkats! Check out the reptile enclose for snakes and lizards. A great place to take the whole family in Ballarat.
9. Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka
The Eureka Flag is housed on the historic site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade and is surrounded by the scenic Eureka Stockade Memorial Gardens.
8. The Art Gallery of Ballarat.
If you’re an art lover, this is the place to visit in Ballart. It holds both temporary and permanent art works.
7. Gold Museum of Ballarat.
Gold is what made this town and this museum gives a fascinating insight to Ballarat’s gold rush. If you buy a ticket to Sovereign Hill, you will get the ticket included to the museum.
6. Lake Wendouree.
This is a lovely spot to visit in Ballarat - enjoy a stroll around the lake, stop of one of the cafes or just enjoy the lovely gardens of the Botanic Gardens in Ballarat. Highlights to visit are the Prime Ministers Avenue, Adam Lindsay Gordon Cottage, the Australian Ex- Prisoner of War Memorial, the Ballarat Tramway Museum (try to take a tram ride by Lake Wendouree) and the 1956 Olympic Memorial.
5. Ballarat Ghost Tour.
With Ballarat having the reputation of being one of Australia’s most haunted cities why night take a ghost tour of Ballarat at night. Eerie Ghost tours operates a weekend ghost tour of Ballarat. Meet under the clock tower at Ballarat Railway Station for a spooky 2 hour walking ghost tour. Visit haunted spots and listen to ghost stories by the guide. A fun way to see Ballarat.
4. Ballarat Heritage Tours.
Take one of this walking tours of Ballarat, learn about this history of the city and its famous landmarks. Taken by an experienced guide who is extremely knowledgeable about Ballarat history.
3. Bloody Ballarat Tour.
Take this tour of the dark side of Ballarat - true tales of murder and crime that you don’t learn in your history books. A fantastic tour you should do in Ballarat. The tours run at night.
2. Kryal Castle.
One of the more popular things to do in Ballarat, especially for the family is Kryal Castle. Built as medieval castle just outside of town. Fun things to see the knights at the Tournament Arena. Here they joust on horseback and even sword fight. Watch the wizard make potions in his workshop. Visit the Torture Museum or get lost in the castle’s maze. There are places to eat and you can even stay overnight at one of their rooms. I will do another video on accommodation at Kryal Castle. Prices are listed on the website.
1/ Sovereign Hill
Without a doubt the number one tourist attraction in Ballarat is Sovereign Hill. It has been voted Australia’s best ‘Major Tourist Attraction’ multiple times. A theme park set back as an 1850’s gold mining town. Learn to pan for gold in a replica river. Go underground on some the gold mining tours. Watch people preforming chores dressed in period costumes. See how they make candy the old way. Some other popular attractions at Sovereign Hill include the Red Coat Soldiers musket firing, horse and coach rides, bowling, candle making, getting and old photo taken and other street activities. A great place to take the whole family - a great educational experience for kids to learn about history.
During Winter Sovereign Hill has its Winter Wonderlights Festival. This is a specular light show - that for me is a must do in Ballarat. The lights and snow effects make this truly a wonderful show to experience. During the festival they decorate Main Street shops with Christmas decorates, have a band playing Christmas Carols and you might even see Santa. One of the best Christmas in July events in Australia! A must for the family!
Ticket prices are listed on the website.
*All rates and conditions subject to change without notice. Please check directly with the establishments for latest prices and conditions.
9 июл 2024
