Ballarat has many tourist, cultural and sporting attractions. Sovereign Hill. A world class living museum. Just a leisurely stroll from our park is the beautiful Botanical Gardens where you can catch a vintage tram ride, or maybe a ferry cruise on Lake Wendouree.

From the main thoroughfare of Sturt St, follow the signs to Lake Wendouree and the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Places like Ballarat Birdworld, Ballarat Wildlife Park and nearby Mt Buninyong have an abundance of native flora and fauna, including wallabies and koalas and a wealth of birdlife.The township of Buninyong itself is full of the sort of history and charm you would expect from Victoria’s first inland town.

Visitors can experience the dramatic story of the 1854 Eureka Rebellion. It is captured in a sound and light spectacular Blood on the Southern Cross at Sovereign Hill. The Eureka Flag, once hidden in a cupboard at the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, is now proudly displayed as the area’s most recognised symbol. The flag flew first at Bakery Hill on November 29, 1854 when thousands of miners met and swore to stand by their mates to defend their rights and liberties.

From the main thoroughfare of Sturt St, follow the signs to Lake Wendouree and the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Places like Ballarat Birdworld, Ballarat Wildlife Park and nearby Mt Buninyong have an abundance of native flora and fauna, including wallabies and koalas and a wealth of birdlife.The township of Buninyong itself is full of the sort of history and charm you would expect from Victoria’s first inland town.

The Ballarat Fine Art Gallery is the proud owner of the area’s most recognised symbol, the Eureka Flag, and houses the oldest and largest
public art collection in regional Australia.The Goldfields region is home to a strong arts community visit the many private galleries to see works by local artists working in all media.

Famous for its traditional pies, the region is home to renowned bakeries and pie shops. Local restaurants make the most of the local wines, olives, fruit and vegetables.The Goldfields covers four wine regions, all produce quality wines.The Ballarat region is celebrated for its chardonnay, pinot noir and, methode Champenoise. There are several wineries within 20km of Ballarat.The wine-producing region includes Avoca, the Pyrenees, Ararat, Moonambel and Redbank. There are 10 vineyards in the Ballarat area. The red soils and warmer temperatures of Bendigo produce award-winning Shiraz and cabernet – all deep red, with a distinct minty edge to the berry fruit.

The guided underground Quartz Mine Tour traces the development of gold mining techniques from the 1860’s to 1918, when the last mine in Ballarat closed.Veins of gold glitter in the quartz rock of the tunnels. The underground displays show the development of mining technology from the mid-19th century to 1918 The tour concludes with a train ride through early exploration areas accompanied by the sounds of a working mine. Including blasting. Quartz mining brought a stable social structure to the goldfields. It was a long-term commitment, with regular wages, hard rock mining techniques and specialised machinery.

• Experience the drama of Australia’s only rebellion at the Eureka Centre, corner of Eureka and Rodier Streets.
• Be part of the Days of Gold at Sovereign Hill Outdoor Living Museum, corner of Main Rd and Bradshaw St.
• Absorb history through the Blood on the Southern Cross Sound and light show at Sovereign Hill. Bookings are essential.
• Be introduced to Ballarat’s mining and social history at the Gold Museum opposite Sovereign Hill.
• Enjoy the flowerbeds, statue collections, walks and conservatory, at Ballarat Botanical gardens, Wendouree Pde, adjacent to the lake.
• See one of the nation’s most outstanding collection of Australian art, 40 Lydiard St.
• Take a wildlife tour with the staff at Ballarat Wildlife Park, Corner of Fussell and York Streets.
Call at the James Egan gallery at 7 Lester Rd, Bungaree 10km east of Ballarat and meet a true Australian “character” artist.