If you are thinking of planning a quiet and enjoyable vacation then you could consider planning one to Ballarat, Victoria as it has many attractions for the discerning tourist. There are many parks and gardens, war museums, statues and monuments along with the beautiful lakes and ponds. This article gives you some important information about Ballarat and what you can do here.

About Ballarat

Ballarat is around 105 kilometres from the state capital Melbourne. Ballarat became a popular town after gold was discovered nearby in 1851. The influx of over 10,000 miners turned this once agricultural town into one of Victoria’s largest settlement. Ballarat is a city well known for its heritage and history and is today a major regional center in the Goldfields region of Victoria.

The discovery of gold near Ballarat was a part of the Victorian Gold Rush that happened through the 1850s and the 1860s when the gold was easily extracted from the surface itself. Owing to this, there was a major Victorian influence in the architecture especially. This is clearly evident even today. Ballarat has flourished mainly as a tourist destination and a major inland regional center. Today Ballarat’s beautiful Victorian architecture is famous all over and draws a large number of tourists from around the world to see the structures, statues, gardens, monuments and grand heritage listed public and private buildings.

Things to do in Ballarat

There are many things you can do in and around Ballarat. Some are listed below:

o Sovereign Hill-
You can get a glimpse of the golden days of Ballarat’s Gold Rush times and experience the excitement and joy. You can witness the Blood on the Southern Cross which is a sound and light show depicting the Eureka rebellion held almost every night.

o The Eureka Center
The Eureka Center displays the history and story of how the Ballarat miners rebelled against the corrupt and unjust administration that was then overseeing in Goldfield which then led to democracy in Australia.

o Goldrush Mini Golf
Are you a fan of golf? Then you can enjoy the 18 holes mini-golf course that takes you through the world of dinosaurs, Caribbean pirate lairs and medieval castle hallways. You can experience the gold rush days when playing the outdoor course.

o Ballarat Wildlife Park
There are informative and exciting guided tours over 15 hectares of native Australian bushland where you can get to see wombats, koalas, crocodiles and much more.

o Ballarat Botanical Gardens- Lake Wendouree
These Botanical Gardens are situated on the western shores of the beautiful Lake Wendouree, which is a popular spot for walking, jogging or cycling. There is also an electric, vintage tramway that is operated on weekends and public holidays.

o Ballarat Fine Art Gallery
The Ballarat Fine Art Gallery boasts of one of Australia’s finest art collection and this is also where you will get to see the original Eureka.