The 10 Best Things to do in Ballarat, Victoria

An interesting and dynamic regional gallery where there is always lots to see. Upstairs, the gallery collection is definitely worth a visit, as the Gallery holds one of the best regional collections in the country and is always looking for interesting, thought-provoking ways of displaying it. Downstairs there are temporary exhibitions, with at least four open at any one time.

At Sovereign Hill, the story of an important time and place in Australian History, and the people who lived it, lives on. An internationally acclaimed tourist attraction, Sovereign Hill prides itself on its close attention to detail found in every aspect of this living, outdoor museum. Sovereign Hill is a glimpse of the vigour and excitement of life on Australia’s 1850s goldfields. Visitors can find real gold in the creek – gold pans are provided and it’s ‘finders keepers’, see $150,000 worth of molten gold poured into a gleaming bar, and take in the rich program of activities, shows and demonstrations. On Main Street there are working shops, hotels and a theatre – all based on original Ballarat businesses. Visitors are able to watch goldfields tradespeople in action and take a ride around the township in a horse-drawn coach. For the brave hearted, journey underground on a gold mine tour.

Famous for its Australian wildlife and up-close animal experiences, Ballarat Wildlife Park is just 90 minutes’ drive west from Melbourne. There’s around 100 free-roaming kangaroos waiting to be hand-fed as well as other Australian animals including koalas, wombats, little penguins, dingoes and Tasmanian devils. An impressive reptile house is home to ‘Crunch’ the 5-metre-long super croc, snakes, frogs and lizards. Around the park visitors will also see tree kangaroos, giant tortoises, emus, Sumatran tigers and much more. ‘Animal Encounter’ experiences offer a rare opportunity to pat a koala, cuddle a wombat or even have a snake wrapped over one's shoulders! Encounters include a professional photo as a memento of the experience. Ballarat Wildlife Park is open every day 9 am - 5 pm (close Christmas Day).

Lake Wendouree, part of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, is an artifically created and maintained shallow urban lake.

The Ballarat Tramway Museum is staffed by volunteer members who are dedicated to preserving and operating a part of the former Ballarat street tramways. The trams run along Wendouree Parade through the beautiful and historic Botanical Gardens on a journey of about twenty minutes. At the Tram Depot many tramway relics are on view. A variety of the Museum's trams are also on display including Horse Tram No 1 built in 1887. DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS THE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY OPEN ONLY ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, PUBLIC HOLIDAYS & TUESDAYS. ALL TRAM RIDES COMMENCE AT THE MUSEUM. Visit our website for further information.