25 Incredible Ways To Spend New Year's Eve

Still don’t have plans for New Year’s Eve? Here are 26 ways to welcome 2026.

New Year’s Eve in Australia is one of the most anticipated nights of the year, and there are so many ways to celebrate across the country. Some usher in the New Year surrounded by loved ones at home. Others flock to designated firework zones with friends or head out on the town for a night to remember.

Many flee the city, hoping for nothing more than a quiet conversation around a fire pit under the stars, while some are already fast asleep once the clock strikes midnight. Whatever your preference, here’s a few ways you can welcome 2026.

1. NYE on the Rooftop

Where: Hotel Marvell, Byron Bay, NSW
When: Until 12am
Tickets: $149 per person

Hotel Marvell in Byron Bay, NSW — Spend New Year’s Eve by the rooftop pool at Hotel Marvell.

Cheers to new beginnings at NYE on the Rooftop, hosted by Hotel Marvell in the beachside town of Byron Bay. Alongside stunning views out to the ocean, guests can look forward to Roederer champagne on arrival, snacks, roving canapes, live music and a dazzling countdown.

If you’d rather be in bed before midnight, opt for the NYE dinner downstairs at Byron Bay Oyster Bar, from 5pm–8:30pm. Known as one of Byron Bay’s most luxurious stays, why not book the night at Hotel Marvell and start 2026 in paradise?

2. House of Splendour

Where: Sydney Opera House, NSW
When: 8pm–1:30am
Tickets: $1050 per person (18+)

Champagne flutes — Cheers to 2026 at House of Splendour. (Image: Getty/Wil Punt)

Ring in the New Year with House of Splendour at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Located within Yallamundi Rooms, House of Splendour offers Sydneysiders prime real estate for the city’s midnight fireworks display.

Kick things off with a feast of canapes, free-flowing Champagne, premium wines and food stations. As the night progresses, expect bangers from a DJ on the decks, as well as roving entertainment to build the hype before the clock strikes twelve.

3. NYE25 White Party

Where: The Sebel Kiama, NSW
When: From 7pm
Tickets: $99 per person (18+)

One of Kiama’s coolest stays is hosting the party to end all parties so you can welcome 2026 with a bang. Taking full advantage of its Kiama Harbour views, the Sebel is throwing the NYE25 White Party at its onsite restaurant, Yves Social.

Jervis Bay Distilling Co. and Young Henrys will be serving up drinks as DJs pump out tunes in a bass-thumping countdown to midnight. As the name suggests, guests must come dressed to the nines in full white – so maybe avoid ordering that cab sav.

4. NYE on Bennelong Lawn

Where: Botanic Gardens of Sydney, NSW
When: From 9am
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

NYE on Bennelong Lawn in Sydney, NSW — Bennelong Lawn is the perfect vantage point for the fireworks. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Botanic Gardens of Sydney is arguably the best place to be on New Year’s Eve. With uninterrupted views across the harbour, it’s prime real estate for grabbing your favourite snacks (no BYO alcohol), spreading a blanket and enjoying the fireworks from Bennelong Lawn .

For those keen on front-row seats, gates will open at 9am – but many Sydneysiders arrive beforehand as they close once capacity hits 1000. If you miss out, don’t stress. Just head over to Fleet Steps (3000 capacity), the Tarpeian Lawn (3500 capacity) or Mrs Macquaries Point (10,000 capacity).

5. Summer Music Series

Where: Thredbo Alpine Hotel, NSW
When: 7pm–12:30am
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

Thredbo Alpine Bar in Thredbo, NSW — Celebrate 2025 the Thredbo way.

If you’re down south this NYE, you won’t miss out on the fun. The annual Summer Music Series at Thredbo Alpine Hotel will host a NYE Party presented by Balter at the Alpine Bar. Known as one of the coolest hangouts in town, you’ll be treated to more than just music.

After a day on the slopes or exploring town, slink in for a drink and live music sets by DJ Doyle and The Spindrift Saga. With a limited capacity, it’s best to arrive early – entry is free on a first-come-first-served basis.

6. New Year’s Eve Harbour Party

Where: Luna Park, Sydney, NSW
When: 6pm–2am
Tickets: $329 per person (18+)

Luna Park in Sydney, NSW — Enjoy access to unlimited rides at Luna Park this NYE. (Image: Destination NSW)

Sydney’s Luna Park invites you to celebrate the New Year on a rollercoaster high – literally. Yes, the amusement park’s New Year’s Eve Harbour Party offers prime views of the midnight fireworks, but what really sets this party apart is its line-up of extracurriculars.

Expect unlimited access to every ride, as well as live DJ sets and delicious bites. Where will you be when the clock strikes 12? Whirling away on the Tango Train? Relaxing on the ferris wheel? Or tearing up the dance floor with your best mates? Get your ticket to find out!

7. NYE at The Entrance

Where: Central Coast, NSW
When: 6pm–9pm
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

Say goodbye to 2025 at The Entrance this year, with music, food trucks, rides, live entertainment and, of course, fireworks! Unfolding along the town’s picturesque waterfront at Memorial Park, NYE at The Entrance promises free thrills for the whole family.

Running across three hours and wrapping up with a 9pm fireworks display, it’s the perfect celebration for little ones in tow. Everyone can enjoy the event, thanks to accessible parking and toilets, Auslan interpreters, free earplugs and a dedicated space for those with sensory needs.

8. NYE at Felons

Where: Manly, NSW
When: From 6pm
Tickets: $149 per person

Felons Manly in Sydney, NSW — Soak up harbourside views without the crowds this New Year’s at Felons Manly.

Want the waterfront views without having to fight the crowds this New Year’s Eve? No worries, just head to Felons on Manly Wharf, where you can sit back, relax and still enjoy the iconic fireworks over the harbour (at both 9pm and midnight).

The brewery is welcoming 2026 with a sunset feast over the water, paired perfectly with ice-cold beers and DJs spinning decks on the jetty. Each ticket includes a drink upon arrival, as well as a shared menu of fresh seafood, sirloin and roaming desserts.

9. NYE on the Yarra River

Where: Afloat & Arbory, Melbourne, Vic
When: 6pm–12am
Tickets: $165–$225 per person

Afloat in Melbourne, Vic — Welcome 2026 on the Yarra River in Melbourne.

You’re in for a night to remember this New Year’s Eve if you’re in the Victorian capital. Two of Melbourne’s best restaurants, Afloat and Arbory Bar, are again teaming up to throw an epic NYE Party on the Yarra River – complete with prime views of the city’s midnight fireworks.

Hosted across both waterfront venues, guests can gather to enjoy live music and entertainment under twinkling festoon fairylights. Depending on your budget, you can book a Main Deck Afloat package ($225) or an Arbory Package ($165) – while one is on the water and the other on land, both include canapes and bottomless house drinks.

10. NYE Rooftop Party

Where: QT Melbourne, Vic
When: From 7pm
Tickets: $325 per person (18+)

Drink in views of the city skyline from Rooftop at QT , the stunning onsite bar at QT Melbourne. Treat yourself to bottomless drinks, roving canapes and freshly shucked oysters as you and your best mates groove to live bands and DJ sets.

As the year ticks over to 2026, you’ll also have uninterrupted views of the midnight fireworks. Too tired to head home afterwards? No worries! You’re already at one of Melbourne’s best hotels after all, so just book a luxurious room downstairs.

11. Dinner at Moonhouse

Where: Balaclava, Vic
When: From 5:30pm
Tickets: $88 per person

Moonhouse in Melbourne, Vic — Moonhouse will be serving a one-off set menu this New Year’s Eve.

Foodies in Melbourne this New Year’s should head to Moonhouse . Located above Restaurant Balaclava, the intimate bar is planning a one-off set menu featuring everything from freshly shucked oysters and roast duck bao to pork belly skewers and steamed gai lan.

In partnership with highly lauded Aussie distillery Archie Rose, Moonhouse will also be serving a limited edition martini, an off-menu cocktail available for one night only. Don’t leave after downing dessert either – a live DJ set will carry you through to 2026.

12. NYE at Hofbräuhaus

Where: Melbourne, Vic
When: 6:30pm–10:30pm
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

Hofbrauhaus in Melbourne, Vic — Celebrate with a stein or two of German beer at Hofbräuhaus. (Image: Brian Doherty)

Ring in the New Year Bavarian-style at Hofbräuhaus in Melbourne , a traditional-style German pub that really knows how to celebrate. It’s all about big biers and bigger cheers, with live music kicking off from 6:30pm.

The festive beer hall will be pouring steins of imported beer, as well as authentic dishes like schnitzel, spätzle and sauerkraut. There is no ticket required, no set menu and no formal seating – just great food, great drinks and even better times. Prost!

13. Woodford Folk Festival

Where: Moreton Bay, Qld
When: 27 December – 1 January
Tickets: From $142 (18+)

Woodford Folk Festival in Brisbane, Qld — Create, connect, laugh and dance into 2026. (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)

Welcome the New Year by setting your soul free at the Woodford Folk Festival . Built by a diverse congregation of the creative community, the festival has transformed into a village of music, culture and colour since its inception in 1887.

The vibrant event is held in the magical lands of Woodfordia by Lake Gkula, around a 1.5-hour drive north of Brisbane. Headlined by local, national and international acts, festival-goers are invited to create, connect, laugh, listen and dance into 2026.

14. NYE at Haven Pool Club

Where: Mondrian Gold Coast, Qld
When: 9pm–12:30am
Tickets: $295 per person (18+)

One of Australia’s hottest hotel openings of 2025, Mondrian Gold Coast is not only celebrating the beginning of 2026, but its first year of operational success. The lively open-air event will take over the hotel’s oceanfront deck, known as Haven Pool Club , for a party like no other.

Guests can expect live hibachi stations, premium beverages (including endless margaritas) and a rotating line-up of local DJs, including Nicka35, Carter, Kira Kira and SVLT. Welcome the New Year in tropical bliss, immersed in the Gold Coast’s unmistakable coastal energy.

15. Dinner at The Lex

Where: W Brisbane, Qld
When: From 5pm or 6:15pm
Tickets: $195 per person

The Lex at W Brisbane, Qld — Indulge in a sumptuous four-course menu this NYE at The Lex. (Image: Markus Ravik)

You’re invited to dine in style this New Year’s Eve at The Lex , located on level three of the stunning W Brisbane. Not only does this unmatched Brissie location deliver world-class food and service, but it also offers first-row seats to the NYE fireworks.

Indulge in a sumptuous four-course menu, as well as champagne, cocktails, beer and wine. Top it all off with live music and breathtaking views of the city skyline as you reminisce on the year. Reservations are from either 5pm or 6:15pm for a two-hour seating.

16. NYE White Party

Where: Cali Beach Club, Surfers Paradise, Qld
When: From 7pm
Tickets: $109–$179 (18+)

Cali Beach Club in Surfers Paradise, Qld — Cali Beach Club is ringing in 2025 with a classic White Party.

If your ideal New Year’s Eve celebrations involve partying into the early hours, then Cali Beach Club’s NYE White Party is for you. Set against the sparkling backdrop of Surfers Paradise, guests can look forward to live DJ sets, roving entertainment and beachside fireworks.

There’s plenty of space to mingle and dance with your mates, but if you’re keen to level up the night, book a poolside lounge, deck daybed, booth, or go all-out with a VIP cabana. While early bird and first release tickets have sold out, second and final release tickets are still up for grabs.

17. Taste of Summer

Where: Hobart, Tas
When: 27 December – 3 January
Tickets: $90 per person (on NYE)

food stalls at the Hobart/Nipaluna’s Taste of Summer — Taste of Summer is one of the capital’s best festivals. (Image: Alastair Bett)

Hobart’s gorgeous waterfront explodes with flavour and festivity over the New Year period, as Taste of Summer transforms Princes Wharf into a celebration of Tasmania’s finest produce. The week-long celebration opens at midday daily, giving you plenty of time to grab a coffee and wander down.

Over 80 locally led artisan stalls will be dishing up seasonal fare, fresh seafood, craft beer and premium wines across the week, paired perfectly with a line-up of live music. Don’t miss the big NYE party – with neon lights, performances and fireworks over the harbour, it’s the ultimate way to welcome 2026.

18. Launceston BeerFest

Where: Royal Park, Launceston, Tas
When: 4pm – 12:30am
Tickets: $43 per person

Beer tasting paddles — Cheers to 2025 with over 200 craft brews at NYE Beerfest in Launceston. (Image: Pauline Loroy)

Launceston’s annual NYE Beerfest invites you to spend the final day of the year at Royal Park, sampling your choice of more than 200 top-notch brews. Do you accept? If so, you’ve just signed up for one of the city’s hottest events – and there’s so much more than just beer to look forward to.

In the lead-up to an epic fireworks display come midnight, you can attend tasting sessions, masterclasses, comedy shows, live music sets and the (not-so-official) beer olympics. If you’re not a fan of beer, you’re still welcome – just grab a cider, wine cocktail or spirit instead!

19. Snack Festival

Where: Claremont Showground, Perth, WA
When: 5pm–1am
Tickets: $145 per person (18+)

Snack Festival in Perth, WA — Ring in the New Year at Snack Festival in Perth.

More NYE wonderland than music festival, Snack takes over Perth’s Claremont Showground with three main stages hosting epic music acts. Each stage has its own offshoot: The Pyramid Stage has a silent disco dancefloor, Sin City, a kissing booth, and the Duckzilla Stage, a VIP deck.

But that’s not all – in fact, it’s just the beginning. The festival also features thrilling rides and food trucks, as well as a beer garden, wedding chapel, snow park, piercing station, tattoo parlour and sumo wrestling ring. You’ll be having so much fun you won’t even notice the clock striking midnight.

20. Taste of Hearth

Where: Ritz-Carlton Perth, WA
When: 6pm–9.30pm
Tickets: $355 per person

Hearth in Perth, WA — Hearth champions fresh, local and seasonal produce.

See out 2025 with a decadent six-course dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Perth’s Taste of Hearth this New Year’s Eve. But it won’t be your usual menu. In true Hearth fashion, the menu is inspired by Western Australia’s landscape, from coast to country.

Think everything from torched Shark Bay scallops and Manjimup marron to a divine dessert of burnt coconut pavlova with quandong, desert lime and Geraldton wax. Service will pause at 8:15pm so guests can head out onto the terrace and watch the fireworks over Elizabeth Quay.

21. NYE Seafood Bash

Where: Stamford Plaza Adelaide, SA
When: 7:30pm–12:30am
Tickets: $229 per person (18+)

If you’re a foodie in the South Australian capital this NYE, you simply must find your way to the Stamford Plaza Adelaide. Why, you may ask? Because they’re hosting the Gonna Be Golden New Year’s Eve Seafood Bash , of course!

The all-local menu features fresh oysters, swimmer crab, Atlantic salmon, bluefin tuna, king prawns, scallop ceviche and more – paired with Wagyu Asado, fresh salads, charcuterie and dessert. There will also be a five-hour unlimited drinks package, live music and an award for best dressed!

22. New Year’s Eve Gala

Where: Kingsford The Barossa, SA
When: 6pm–1am
Tickets: $395 per person

Kingsford The Barossa in SA — Guests will be treated to a three-course set menu with paired wines.

To farewell 2025 in style, Kingsford The Barossa will be hosting an elegant New Year’s Eve Gala . Guests will begin with champagne and canapes before heading to the Wine Fault for a three-course set menu with paired wines.

Dinner finishes at 9:30pm, but the party is just getting started. Guests will be moved into the Lodge Bar, where live music, a late-night chef’s cheese table and drinks will carry you into the New Year. Be sure to book a room to avoid driving home, too.

23. Adelaide Strikers vs. Brisbane Heat

Where: Adelaide Oval, SA
When: From 7:15pm
Tickets: $69–$89

Adelaide Oval in SA — Adelaide Oval will host the nail-biting match on New Year’s Eve. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Sports fans – this one’s for you. It may not be the most conventional end of year celebration, but it sure is one of the coolest ways to do it. On New Year’s Eve 2025, the Adelaide Strikers will hit their home pitch to take on Brisbane Heat in an intense twenty20 match that’ll have the crowd going crazy.

Once the game finishes, be sure to stick around for an epic live performance by Birds of Tokyo. Still keen to kick on? Book your spot at the Post-Match Bash and enjoy one of Adelaide Oval’s best vantage points for the midnight fireworks.

24. NYE Concert

Where: Darwin Waterfront, NT
When: 3pm–12am
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

Say farewell to 2025 along Darwin’s picturesque waterfront with the city’s annual live concert , followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the sea. Enjoy performances by local musicians and entertainers before hitting the dancefloor for headliner Eskimo Joe.

This exciting community event is free for all to attend, so bring a picnic spread and relax on the grass with your nearest and dearest. Gates open at 3pm, with entertainment commencing from 5pm onwards.

25. New Year’s in the City

Where: Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, ACT
When: 6pm–12:30am
Tickets: Free entry; no ticket required

NYE fireworks at Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra — Fireworks will light up Lake Burley Griffin at 9pm and midnight. (Image: EventsACT)

The country’s capital is turning up the heat this month for New Years in the City , promising a dazzling end to 2025. Grab your family and friends, find a big picnic blanket and pack all the snacks before heading down to Lake Burley Griffin in the afternoon.

After securing your waterfront spot for a perfect view of the fireworks, settle in for live music, entertainment, food trucks and that buzzing, building atmosphere. Whether you head home after the 9pm fireworks or stick around for the full midnight display, you’re in for a night to remember.

*All events were available to book at the time of writing.

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten , the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery , a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades .

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho , José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits . At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial , which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections .

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle , ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.