Money might be a bit tighter right now but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a well-earned break.
Read on to find out how you can get more bang for your buck in Ballarat…
Getting around
- You can travel by V/Line train to Ballarat from anywhere in Victoria for around $10 or less.
- Once you’re here, catch a bus from the Ballarat Train Station to Sovereign Hill (bus 21), the Ballarat Wildlife Park (bus 20), Eureka Centre (bus 15), and the Ballarat Botanical Gardens (bus 10 or 11).
- Neuron e-scooters are available for hire all year round and are perfect for quick trips around the city.
Things to do
- Entry is free at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, with free guided tours at 11am daily. Please note: The Art Gallery of Ballarat is closed from March 2025 until early 2026 for extensive building upgrades. Check out its new off-site gallery, Backspace Gallery, at 43 Mair St.
- Take an Eerie Tours Ghost Tour of the Ballarat CBD (or Ballarat Old Cemetery, if you dare!).
- Pick up a secondhand treasure at the Ballarat Vintage and Collectables Market, with over 80 stalls to browse and it's open seven days a week from 10am-6pm. You’ll find the market a couple of minutes' drive outside of Ballarat on the M8.
- Take a guided back-of-house tour of Sovereign Hill's Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections. There's different tours to choose from including the Chinese Collection, Treasures from the Collection, and Fashion Collection.
- Check out the indoor (and free) display at the Robert Clark Conservatory in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, open daily from 9am-6pm.
- Grab a coffee from Pipers By The Lake and take a stroll around the Ballarat Farmers Market on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 9am-1pm.
- Visit the Ballarat Tramway Museum and go for a ride on a vintage tram.
- Hit the streets on one of Ballarat’s free self-guided walking tours (maps available at the Ballarat Visitor Information Centre).
- Visit the Eureka Centre and admire one of Australia’s most compelling historic artefacts – the Eureka flag. Entry is free for Ballarat residents on provision of photo ID.
- Sign up for a free tour of the Ballarat Town Hall every Wednesday and Friday at 2pm. Or take a tour of the historic Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute every Tuesday at 2pm.
- Discover some of Ballarat’s quirky cafes, antique shops, history tales, beautiful scenery and buildings on Hidden Lanes’ guided walking tours.
- For something a little bit different, try out Victoria Park's 18-hole disc golf course. Discs can be hired for free from the Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre.
Places to eat
Here’s some of our favourite places to fill our belly for under $20:
- 1816 Bakehouse (16-18 Armstrong St Nth)
- Cobb's Coffee (2 Lydiard St Sth)
- Carboni's Next Door (150 Eureka St)
- Lydiard General (313 Lydiard St Nth)
- Pat's Sandwiches (23 Little Bridge St)
- Beechworth Bakery (6 Grenville St Sth)
- Saigon Allee (30 Armstrong St Nth)
- Shep St Sandos (8 Shepperd St)
- Saigon Noodle House (10 Armstrong St Nth)
- Kosaten (30 Sturt St)
- For a sweet treat, head to Il Piccolo Gelato (217 Sturt St) or The Little Cupcake (223 Eureka St)
Where to stay
- RACV members stay for less at Creswick’s RACV Goldfields Resort with a 25% discount on accommodation.
- Join the Quest Online Advantage program to get 10% off every stay at Quest Ballarat Station and Quest Ballarat.
- Become a BIG4 Holiday Perks+ member to get 10% off your stay at (up to $50) at BIG4 Ballarat Windmill Holiday Park and NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park.
- Stay at NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park midweek and save up to 15% with a minimum stay of two nights (T&Cs apply).
- Make the most of freedom camping at Lake Burrumbeet, Creswick’s Slaty Creek, Haddon Lions Park, Smythesdale Gardens Reserve, Happy Valley Crossing Reserve, and Enfield’s Surface Point.
Note: These offers are accurate as of January 2025. Please check with individual businesses to ensure each offer is still valid.
