No matter where you live in Victoria, it now costs you about $10 or less to travel to and from Ballarat by train.
For our metro friends, all you need to do is hop on a V/Line train at Melbourne's Southern Cross Station and, in around 90 minutes, you'll be arriving at the historic Ballarat Train Station.
And what makes this super affordable day trip even better is there's so much to explore in Ballarat on foot.
Read on to discover 10 things to do within a 10-minute walk of the Ballarat Train Station...
Visit the Art Gallery of Ballarat
Just 250m from the Ballarat Train Station is the Art Gallery of Ballarat – Australia's oldest regional gallery.
Open 10am-5pm daily, the gallery's impressive collection of Australian art is a seamless blend of works from colonial to contemporary periods.
And guess what? It's free to browse the permanent collection plus most temporary exhibitions.
Take a seat at some of Ballarat's best restaurants and cafes
Ballarat takes its food very seriously and it shows, with the glowing press showered on the city's top restaurants, bars and cafes.
Some of our favourite CBD eateries and watering holes can be found in:
- Right near the train station in Lydiard Street (Itinerant Spirits, Nolans, Boom Time Dumplings, Lola, Lydiard General and Cobb's Coffee)
- Armstrong Street (Grainery Lane, Meigas, Saigon Allee, The Forge Pizzeria, Roy Hammond, Hop Temple, 1816 Bakehouse and Hydrant Food Hall)
- Mair Street (Renard, Aunty Jacks and Pancho)
Hit the pavement on Ballarat's Historic Streetscapes Walking Tour
Discover the grand architectural links to Ballarat’s dramatic past on the self-guided Historic Streetscapes Walking Tour.
Unearth the fortunes lavished upon the buildings in Lydiard Street, enjoy the melding of architecture in Camp Street, and soak in the history of Sturt Street.
Channel your creative side
Unleash your inner artist with these CBD workshops and experiences:
- Learn about the world of distilling at Itinerant Spirits' Explorer Masterclass
- Hand paint a pot or vase at Ivy&Coco's Creative Vibes workshop
- Indulge your tastebuds in a Malaysian or Indonesian cooking experience at Flying Chillies
- Create your own work of art at Pinot & Picasso's paint and sip experience
- Become a master distiller at Grainery Lane's gin tasting and blending masterclass
- Sign up for boozy art class Paint Your Mate at Hop Temple
- Try your hand at making signature cocktails at Roy Hammond
Indulge in some retail therapy
Shop for something special at:
- the Art Gallery of Ballarat Shop
- homewares boutique Ivy&Coco
- Collins Booksellers Ballarat on Lydiard
- antiques and vintage store Rocket and Belle
- Sweet Fern Fragrance Boutique
- giftwares store The Ballarat Imaginarium
Check out the city's public art collection
Ballarat is home to one of Australia's largest and most significant regional public art collections with a swag of more than 120 artworks.
The self-guided Contemporary Public Art Walk showcases nine of the city's hero pieces, including renowned illustrator Travis Price's Main Road mural.
Tour some of Ballarat's historic buildings
Dig a little deep into Ballarat's part with a guided tour of:
- the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute (circa 1859), with tours every Tuesday at 2pm
- the Ballarat Town Hall (circa 1860), with free tours every Wednesday and Friday at 2pm
Or explore a different side of Ballarat with Hidden Lanes' guided tours.
The Ballarat City Tales Walking Tour is a journey through the city’s mysterious lanes, quirky shops and fascinating tales.
Catch the bus to Sovereign Hill and the Ballarat Wildlife Park
If you're keen to explore beyond the Ballarat CBD, jump on a public bus and head to some of the city's top tourist attractions, including Sovereign Hill, the Ballarat Wildlife Park and the Eureka Centre.
The city's main bus interchange is located right next door to the Ballarat Train Station.
Hop off at the Wendouree Train Station
Another option is to stay on the train beyond the Ballarat Train Station and then disembark a couple of minutes later at the city's second station – the Wendouree Train Station.
A quick 10-minute walk will take you to the beautiful Lake Wendouree precinct, complete with:
- the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, including the Robert Clark Conservatory and the Prime Ministers Avenue
- the Ballarat Tramway Museum
- the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
- waterside eateries including Pipers by the Lake and the Ballarat Yacht Club
Stay the night in the CBD
With the money you're saving on travel expenses, why not splurge a little and turn your Ballarat day trip into an overnight stay?
Within a couple of blocks of the Ballarat Train Station you'll find:
- The Provincial Hotel
- Quest Ballarat Station
- Hotel Vera
- The George Hotel
- Craig's Royal Hotel
- Converted Baptist church Battista
