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Brilliantly unexpected

5 unexpected food & drink experiences

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What's on in Ballarat this autumn

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The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow

Ballarat16 May
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Ballarat Heritage Festival

Ballarat16–25 May
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Art Gallery of Ballarat Backspace Gallery: Stephanie Cartledge Conservation status

Ballarat17 May–29 Jun
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Hidden

Ballarat16 May
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Steamrail Victoria – Eureka Express

Ballarat17 & 18 May
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DC3 – 1940’s Vintage Airliner Flights

Ballarat17 & 18 May
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Ballarat’s Biggest Heritage Book Sale Weekend

Ballarat17 & 18 May
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Craft Lab 25

Ballarat17–25 May
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Scenes From the Climate Era

Ballarat20 May
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The Great Takeaway

Ballarat22 May
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Heritage Harvest Weekend at Sovereign Hill

Ballarat24 & 25 May
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Legends of Steel at Kryal Castle

Moorabool24 & 25 May
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Ballarat Steam Train Rides

Ballarat24 & 25 May
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Ballarat Beard and Stache Competition

Ballarat24 May
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Vandemonian Lags: New Musical Theatre from the Tasmanian Convict Underbelly

Ballarat24 May
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Heritage Conversations: A life in photos—John Gollings

Ballarat24 May
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Buninyong Film Festival

Ballarat23 & 24 May
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Hop Temple Ballarat Heritage Festival Dog Beard and Stache Competition

Ballarat25 May
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Obsidian Dark Beer Festival

Ballarat28 Jun
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Winter Wonderlights

Ballarat4–27 Jul
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Georgie Carroll – Infectious – Ballarat

Ballarat5 Jul
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Kate Ceberano – The Australian Made Tour

Ballarat19 Jul
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Wil Anderson – Wilegitimate

Ballarat2 Aug
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Yong

Ballarat7 & 8 Aug
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11th Ballarat International Foto Biennale

Ballarat23 Aug–19 Oct
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Lawrence Mooney – Dead Set Country – Ballarat

Ballarat8 Nov
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Dave Hughes – WTF?

Ballarat22 Nov
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Spilt Milk Ballarat

Ballarat6 Dec

Insider knowledge

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16-25 May

Celebrate the past at Ballarat Heritage Weekend

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What’s on in Ballarat this Mother’s Day weekend

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5 must-see boutique galleries in Ballarat

See & do
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Thrifty Travel: Visit Ballarat on a budget

See & do
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What’s on in Ballarat this June long weekend

See & do
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What’s new in Ballarat

News
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6 Victorian wineries where you can sleep among the vines

Accommodation
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Campbell Addy to headline 2025 Ballarat International Foto Biennale

News
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The past lives of 12 Ballarat buildings

See & do
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A chef’s guide to Ballarat: Jose Fernandez

Food & drink
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10 things to do within a 10-minute walk of the Ballarat Train Station

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3 unexpected Ballarat stays

Accommodation
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And Ballarat’s 2025 Good Food hats go to…

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20 things to do in Ballarat under $20

Family-friendly
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Your ultimate guide to dog-friendly Ballarat

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Where to get Ballarat’s best Sunday breakfast and brunch

Food & drink
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Ballarat by night

See & do

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Awe-inspiring itineraries

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Get your market fix

Browse arts and crafts, vintage clothing and memorabilia, sample artisanal eats and farm-fresh produce or chat to local sellers and craftspeople.

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Choose your own adventure

Things to do...
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Sovereign Hill

Sovereign Hill is a living museum presenting the story of Ballarat as a gold rush boomtown. Gold was…

BallaratThings to do
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Golden City Paddle Steamer and Museum Society

View the history of paddle boats, the digital photographic images and watch new and old videos of activities…

BallaratOutdoors & nature
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Lake Wendouree

Lake Wendouree has been a community destination for more than 150 years. Located in central Ballarat next to…

BallaratOutdoors & nature
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Mount Buninyong

**Note: Road closures are currently in place at Mount Buninyong. For more information and updates, visit traffic.transport.vic.gov.au** Mount…

BallaratOutdoors & nature
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Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Located on the western shore of Lake Wendouree, approximately four kilometres from Ballarat’s CBD, the Gardens are a…

BallaratAttractions
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Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail

The 53km Ballarat–Skipton Rail Trail runs along the former railway to Skipton, from western Ballarat, Haddon, Smythesdale and…

Golden PlainsOutdoors & nature

Explore the region

Our region offers a dynamic blend of culture, diversity and creative expression.

Well-known for our award-winning attractions, gold rush heritage and warm welcome, what makes us really special is our world-class art, noteworthy architecture, vibrant gastronomic offerings and lively event scene.

Family adventures

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10 places to eat out with kids in Ballarat

Family-friendly
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Ballarat’s best farm experiences

Makers & growers
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5 things to do with kids in Ballarat

Family-friendly
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Your guide to Ballarat’s best cycling trails

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Ballarat’s top Insta-worthy places to take photos

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5 ways to explore the great outdoors in Ballarat

See & do
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Where to find Ballarat’s best parks and gardens

See & do
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10 accessible ways to experience Ballarat

See & do
Hydrant Food Hall

10 accessible ways to experience Ballarat

Join Ryan Smith from The Access Agency as he gets a taste of Ballarat's access-friendly cafes, restaurants, hotels and attractions.

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Bite-size Ballarat

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Ballarat
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Ballarat
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Ballarat
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Ballarat
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Ballarat
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Visitor Information Centres

Ballarat Town Hall
225 Sturt Street
Ballarat VIC 3350

Ballarat Botanical Gardens
401-405 Wendouree Parade
Lake Wendouree VIC 3350

1800 44 66 33

Contact us

Acknowledgement of Country

Across Victoria’s Midwest, we acknowledge that we travel across the ancient landscapes of many First Peoples communities. These lands have been nurtured and cared for over tens of thousands of years and we respect the work of Traditional Custodians for their ongoing care and protection.

We recognise the past injustices against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country. As our knowledge grows, we hope that we can learn from their resilience and creativity that has guided them for over 60,000 years. As we invite people to visit and explore Victoria’s Midwest, we ask that alongside us, you also grow to respect the stories, living culture and connection to Country of the Ancestors and Elders of our First Peoples.

©️ 2025 Visit Ballarat. This initiative is funded by the City of Ballarat and Tourism Midwest Victoria.

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