BALLARAT: A BRILLIANT AUTUMN ESCAPE
From old-time photos to sunflower selfies, hit the road for these unmissable experiences in Ballarat this autumn.
ALL THE COLOUR OF THE BALLARAT BEGONIA FESTIVAL
Over the Labour Day long weekend (8-10 March), the Ballarat Botanical Gardens will be transformed into a vibrant wonderland of colour. This free event features displays of rare begonias, roving entertainment and plenty of family fun – including a giant numbat puppet operated by up to 14 audience volunteers. If you can’t get to the festival, the vibrant begonias will be on display in the Robert Clark Conservatory for several weeks afterward.
PICK YOUR OWN SUNFLOWERS
With the arrival of autumn, this may be your last chance to strike a pose with the sunflowers. Just a 15-minute drive from Ballarat, the sunflower fields in Dunnstown are expected to start blooming from late February to early March. These beauties don’t last long and tickets are limited, so be sure to book your session ahead of time.
MEET CUTE ANIMALS
Hand-feed dozens of free-roaming kangaroos at the Ballarat Wildlife Park or book a private animal encounter to get up close to koalas, wombats, tigers, meerkats and more. Don’t miss Crunch, one of the largest crocodiles in Australia, as he has launches himself out of the water for his weekly feed.
TRAVEL BACK IN TIME
Journey back to the Ballarat gold rush of 1851 at outdoor museum Sovereign Hill. Arrive early to make the most of the day’s activities and demonstrations. Take a guided tour into the Quartz Mine, complete with sound, wind and water effects. Gather the family for a costumed photograph or ride around the town in a horse-drawn coach. As the sun sets, catch the evening show AURA, which tells the story of gold through projections, sound and light.
MEDIEVAL MAGIC
Want to see the drama of knights jousting on horseback? Try your hand at archery or potion-making? Maybe even spot a dragon? The fantasy-filled Kryal Castle is open on weekends and every day during the Victorian school holidays. You can even treat yourself like a king or queen and stay the night in a castle suite.
TOP TIP: If you’re planning on visiting multiple attractions in the one trip, check out The Ballarat Pass to save up to 10% on packaged tickets.
TREATS FOR THE ROAD
From lakeside picnic packs to vegetarian banquets, you won’t go hungry in Ballarat!
Perhaps the city’s most famous sweet treat is the raspberry drops (boiled sweets) made by hand at Sovereign Hill. But there are plenty of other delicious discoveries to be made.
Lilly’s at Eureka has a fun twist on Ballarat’s history of mining, with goldmine pancakes which come topped with chocolate ‘dirt’ and buried treasure (rock candy). Il Piccolo Gelato is best paired with an afternoon wander around the city, while The Little Cupcake serves up takeaway treats in tiny picture-perfect portions.
The journey from Melbourne to Ballarat is only 90 minutes by car and about the same by V/Line train from Southern Cross Station. You’ll find the latest deals on food, drink and accommodation – plus more events and inspiration – at Visit Ballarat.
