Overview of Ballarat: 

Ballarat is filled with countless reminders of the day when it seemed half the world had set sail for the Victorian Goldfields.

Ballarat sat astride the worlds largest deposit of alluvial gold, and almost a third of all gold found in the colony was wrenched from its rich quartz reefs.

For a first hand view of the splendour that gold build take a walk along Lydiard & Sturt Streets, one of the countries finest examples of Victorian streetscapes.

Ballarat also made its mark as the site of Australia's only armed civil rebellion, when in 1854 gold miners at the Eureka Stockade stood up against an unjust colonial rule.

Today Ballarat has a contemporary side to compliment its heritage. You'll find stylish cafe's in Sturt Street, live music in the pubs, and restaurants by picturesque Lake Wendouree

At the city's shimmering heart and one of country Victoria's best known lakes.

Discover the legacy of the Ballarat gold rush, still evident in the magnificent architecture and tree-lined streets of the city today. Admire the city Victorian and Edwardian buildings, parks, gardens, statues, and churches by taking one our sightseeing tours or Inner City heritage walk.

 

Ballarat Discovery Tour

This full day sightseeing Ecotour is themed on History & Heritage, Local Food, and Wild Nature.

On this tour you discover the Iconic places of this city, visiting heritage & historic homes/buildings and locations of the 1850's Gold Rush.

Your first stop will be the Blackhill lookout, where you will have panoramic views of Ballarat.

Your guide will bring to life the heritage buildings with stories as you walk along Lydiard Street, the best example of Victorian/Edwardian streetscape architecture in Australia, also in Lydiard Street, you get to enter the Fine Art Gallery to view the goldrush art exhibition and have morning tea at the famous Craigs Royal Hotel.

Entry to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka is included to learn about the miners democratic struggle leading up the Eureka Rebellion, the only armed conflict between miners and Government forces.

View the jewel in the crown of Ballarat - Lake Wendouree & walk the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Travelling to the outskirts of Ballarat, to Buninyong, Victoria's oldest inland settlement, and to Mt Buninyong, an extinct volcano with breathtaking vista's and wild koala's.

The afternoon is spent at Sovereign Hill, which is an outdoor living museum.

Walk down Main Street, go down Redhill goldmine, pan for gold in the creek, ride a stage coach,

try a hearty meal in one of the restaurants, and watch a $150,000 gold ingot being poured.



Highlights

• Blackhill lookout,
• Lydiard Street historic walk, including morning tea at the famous Craigs Royal Hotel,
• Entry to the Fine Art Gallery
• Museum of Australian Democracy Eureka, the battlefield site of the Eureka Stockade rebellion,
• Buninyong historic town & Mt Buninyong,
• Historic mining sites of Red Hill mine and Union Jack reserve,
• Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour,
• Lake Wendouree & Botanical gardens,and
• Entry to Sovereign Hill & Gold Museum.

Meal
Morning tea is included / Lunch is not included.

Transportation
Return Train Fare Included (Melbourne/Ararat customers)

Pickup/Drop off
Ballarat/Avoca/Maryborough/Daylesford accommodation