Ballarat – Brilliantly Unexpected
From period costume dress-ups to flowers in full bloom, there are so many reasons to hit the road to Ballarat this autumn. As the season turns, the city comes alive with colourful events and the weather – not too hot, not too cold – is just perfect for a picnic beside Lake Wendouree.
Here’s 5 of our favourite day trip ideas to share in the family WhatsApp chat.
- Book a private animal encounter at the Ballarat Wildlife Park – pat a cuddly koala, feed a wombat or maybe play with a cheeky meerkat!
- Get lost in a sea of yellow at Dunnstown’s Pick Your Own Sunflowers. Bring your picnic basket and a well-charged phone. Bookings are essential.
- The Ballarat Botanical Gardens will be brimming with begonias and dahlias at the annual Ballarat Begonia Festival (8-10 March). Stick with the theme and wear your brightest colours.
You can also catch the floral displays for a couple of weeks after the festival but don’t delay, these beauties won’t last long! - Take a trip back in time (and underground) on the Quartz Mine Tour at Sovereign Hill.
- Anyone for a joust? Head to Kryal Castle to see medieval knights in full body armour clash on horseback.
The journey from Melbourne to Ballarat is only 90 minutes by car and about the same by V/Line train from Southern Cross Station. A brilliant getaway is closer than you think.
Want to make a weekend of it? Find more autumn travel inspiration, deals and offers on the Visit Ballarat website.
