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Brilliantly unexpected

5 unexpected food & drink experiences

Delicious deals & offers

How to get more bang for your holiday buck

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Brilliantly event-full

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What's on in Ballarat this autumn

News
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Pick Your Own Sunflowers

MooraboolUntil 10 Mar
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Ballarat Begonia Festival

BallaratUntil 10 Mar
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Festival of Magic at Kryal Castle

MooraboolUntil 10 Mar
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Afternoon tea in the dahlia field

MooraboolUntil 9 Mar
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Suhani Shah: Spellbound

Ballarat14 Mar
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Harvest Moon – A Vegetarian Banquet

Ballarat14 Mar
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The Unicorn Carpark Takeover

Ballarat15 Mar
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Ballarat Rodeo at Kryal Castle

Moorabool22 Mar
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Clunes Booktown Festival

Hepburn22 & 23 Mar
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Sarah Blasko

Ballarat22 Mar
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Ziggy Alberts

Ballarat27 Mar
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CresFest 25

Hepburn4–6 Apr
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Pyrenees Unearthed Festival

Pyrenees5 Apr
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Ballarat’s Easter Display

Ballarat11–24 Apr
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Running Warehouse Ballarat Marathon

Ballarat26 & 27 Apr
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AFL Round 8 Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide

Ballarat3 May
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The Dirty Pig & Whistle

Hepburn3 & 4 May
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Sydney Dance Company presents momenta

Ballarat3 May
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Ballarat Heritage Festival

Ballarat16–25 May
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Vandemonian Lags: New Musical Theatre from the Tasmanian Convict Underbelly

Ballarat24 May
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11th Ballarat International Foto Biennale

Ballarat23 Aug–19 Oct

Insider knowledge

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$$$

Thrifty travel: How to visit Ballarat on a budget

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

See & do
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5 must-see boutique galleries in Ballarat

See & do
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6 Victorian wineries where you can sleep among the vines

Accommodation
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What’s on in Ballarat this Anzac Day long weekend

See & do
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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

News
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3 unexpected Ballarat stays

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

Food & drink
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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

See & do
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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…

BallaratThings to do
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Lake Wendouree

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

BallaratThings to do
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Mount Buninyong

***As of Thursday 6 March 2025 , access to Mt Buninyong is restricted due to a bushfire in…

BallaratThings to do
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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…

BallaratThings to do
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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 PlainsThings to do

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 fun

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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
Thumbnail for Your guide to Ballarat’s best cycling trails

Your guide to Ballarat’s best cycling trails

See & do
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Ballarat’s top Insta-worthy places to take photos

See & do
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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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Ballarat
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Ballarat
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Hepburn
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Ballarat

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About

Industry Hub

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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