Ballarat in 2 days

Ballarat rewards a slow weekend: a gold-rush town that kept its buildings. Sovereign Hill fills most of a day, the gardens and gallery fill the second, and the lake ties it together.

historyfamilyVictoriagardensResearched from official sources

When to go

Spring and autumn. Winter is cold but the gallery and Sovereign Hill are indoors-friendly.

The plan, day by day

Day 1

Sovereign Hill and the goldfields

08:00🚆Drive Melbourne to BallaratMelbourneAround 1h30 on the Western Freeway, or 1h40 by V/Line train.
10:00★Sovereign HillGolden PointPanning, the mine tour and the gold pour — allow five hours.About A$46 per person
13:00🍽Lunch in the Sovereign Hill townshipGolden Point
15:00★Australian Centre for Gold Rush CollectionsBallarat
18:30🍽Dinner on Lydiard StreetBallarat Central
21:00🏨Overnight in BallaratBallarat

Day 2

Wildlife, gardens and the gallery

09:00★Ballarat Wildlife ParkBallarat EastKoala feeding and the wombat talk run on a fixed schedule.About A$42 per person
11:30★Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Prime Ministers AvenueLake WendoureeFree. The Begonia Conservatory is the highlight.
13:00★Walk or ride around Lake WendoureeLake Wendouree6 km flat loop, rowing course from the 1956 Olympics.
14:30★Art Gallery of BallaratBallarat CentralOldest regional gallery in Australia; home of the Eureka Flag.
16:30🚆Drive homeMelbourne

Before you go

Buy Sovereign Hill tickets online for the cheaper rate
Comfortable shoes — Sovereign Hill is all gravel and hills
Check the Art Gallery of Ballarat exhibition calendar
Layers: Ballarat runs several degrees colder than Melbourne

This list is created with your trip, so you can tick it off as you pack.

Where this came from

Opening hours, prices and track closures change. Check the official source before you rely on a timed booking — we never earn a commission on anything listed here.