15 culture-steeped things to do in Ballarat

From enthralling portals into a bygone era to cutting-edge creativity, the best things to do in Ballarat are pure gold.

History is never far from your fingertips in Ballarat thanks to grand architecture instantly transporting you back to the heady days of the gold rush. But there’s a new energy pulsing through the wrought-iron-trimmed streets today as Victoria’s third-largest city undergoes a cultural renaissance. Experience its thriving dining scene, join a maker’s workshop, or lose yourself in surprising odes to the past — the most gratifying things to do in Ballarat are listed below.

1. Take a heritage walking tour

heritage buildings along Sturt, Ballarat — Discover heritage buildings along Sturt St. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Built on gold wealth, Ballarat was the wealthiest city in the world at one point during the 1850s and its wonderfully preserved heritage streetscape reflects this. Get to know the history of this gold-rush town by signing up for a walking tour with Hidden Lanes or take a Heritage self-guided one via Ballarat Revealed .

Learn about the beginnings of Ballarat from the corner of Sturt and Grenville streets and take in buildings ranging from the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute, which has been edifying and entertaining locals for more than 150 years, to sites including Ballarat’s very own Turkish Bath House – now a skate ramp.

2. Catch a performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat

the exterior of Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat — World-class acts are sure to enchant viewers at Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat. (Image: Michael Pham)

Whether you’re stirred by the theatre, awed by world-famous mentalists or craving a night out to the sound of live music, Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat is the place to let your hair down. Sitting ever-so-pretty as Australia’s oldest continuously operational live theatre (it opened in 1875), these spectacular bones play host to a revolving door of world-class acts. In 2025, Sarah Blasko will be enchanting audiences, as will the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s James Ehnes and a production of Kinky Boots. But no matter when you visit, the calibre of what’s on always impresses. Check the website regularly to tee your visit up with a dream show.

3. Indulge in me-time at Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa

Venture into the gardens of the Mercure Hotel to unearth Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa , a self-care destination you’ll struggle to part with. Enveloped in lush greenery, the facilities span six treatment rooms, a floating pedicure lounge, a relaxation lounge with an open fireplace (hello, romantic winter treat), a heated hydrotherapy pool and a sauna. It’s enough to get you there without a booked treatment but don’t miss the chance to pamper yourself with the spa’s impressive list of massages, body therapy and wraps, facials and beauty services.

4. Visit the Art Gallery of Ballarat

a look inside the Art Gallery of Ballarat — The Art Gallery of Ballarat is Australia’s oldest regional gallery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Another of Ballarat’s truly grand heritage buildings, the Art Gallery of Ballarat is, in fact, Australia’s oldest regional gallery. Opened in 1884, it boasts an impressive collection of Australian art history from the early colonial period to the present day. While the beloved attraction will be closed from March 3, 2025, for at least 18 months as it undergoes extensive renovations, the gallery’s permanent collection will be presented alongside touring and temporary exhibitions. Showcased throughout elegant 19th-century rooms and contemporary architectural additions (plus all-new plans, yet to be revealed), this is a Ballarat bucket list item. And, of course, the gift shop is great, too, selling art books and one-of-a-kind products by local artisans.

5. Take a trip back in time at Sovereign Hill

locals during 1850s Ballarat at Sovereign Hill — Travel back in time to the gold rush era. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Since 1970, Sovereign Hill has been telling the tale of life as it was in 1850s Ballarat, during the greatest shallow alluvial gold rush the world has ever seen. A living outdoor museum built on a former gold-mining site, today it’s a Ballarat icon: costumed characters and horse and carts populate a goldfields town full of shops, hotels, schools, factories, a gold diggings and underground mines.

Its immersive theatre experience, Aura, is a standout. The light and sound show unfolds through hundreds of projections that follow the story of gold from its very beginnings, incorporating the Wadawurrung creation story, right up until the current day. Stay on site at the Sovereign Hill Hotel for the whole package.

6. Take a history lesson at the Eureka Centre Ballarat

two young boys with their father exploring the artefacts at the Eureka Centre Ballarat — Learn about the gold rush town through cultural artefacts. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Visit the Eureka Centre Ballarat to experience another important part of Australian history: the site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade Rebellion and the home of the Eureka Flag – one of the nation’s most important cultural artefacts. Through art installations and digital technology, you’ll hear the stories of men and women who fought for miners’ rights and helped inform the development of modern democratic Australia, as well as learn about the cultural impact of the gold rush.

7. Lose yourself in a Ballarat festival

a performer wearing a costume at the Ballarat Begonia Festival — Join the vibrant and colourful Ballarat Begonia Festival. (Image: Supplied)

Ballarat hosts a roster of arts and cultural festivals, so time your visit accordingly. The Ballarat Begonia Festival , staged annually across the March long weekend, is exactly what it sounds like. You’ll gasp at the sheer volume of those delicate blooms — we’re talking thousands on display spanning more than 500 varieties — inside the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, and find joy in the interactive workshops, roving entertainment and food trucks. Meanwhile, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale is another noteworthy consideration, presenting a showcase of photographic exhibitions, talks, workshops and events every two years in spring.

8. Take a foodie masterclass

a hand holding a glass of crafted gin at Kilderkin Distillery, Ballarat — Concoct your own gin with expert distillers at Kilderkin Distillery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Tap into Ballarat’s rich food culture by signing up for a hands-on workshop or masterclass. Kilderkin Distillery offers DIY gin classes with expert distillers and, at Aunty Jacks , you can learn how to brew your own craft beer. When your tummy starts to rumble, head on over to Italian ristorante Carboni’s for a fresh pasta masterclass or try one of Flying Chillies ‘ Indonesian and Malaysian cooking experiences.

9. Marvel in the Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades

women joining the SAORI Weaving Workshop with Prue Simmons — Sign up for the SAORI Weaving Workshop with Prue Simmons. (Image: Supplied)

Speaking of getting your hands dirty with the experts, carve out significant time to dabble in whatever’s going on at the Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades during your visit. An inspiring hub of imagination and cultural appreciation, the beloved attraction runs masterclasses, events and workshops to immerse visitors in the creative spirit of the region. 2025 will see 150 individual workshops led by 60 admired artists, so whether it’s silversmithing, dry stone walling, water colouring, wood turning or something else that lures you in, there’s fresh learning for everyone.

10. Sample Ballarat’s wine region

a man holding a wine bottle at Eastern Peake, Ballarat — Eastern Peake is a leader in boutique wines. (Image: Visit Victoria)

In addition to a flourishing dining scene, Ballarat is home to its own boutique wine region, which specialises in cold-climate wines like pinot noir, chardonnay and delicate sparklings, as well as riesling and shiraz.

Don’t miss a tasting at Latta Vino , 20 minutes north of town at Coghills Creek, where winemaker Owen Latta makes waves with his mostly natural creations. His old stomping ground, the nearby Eastern Peake , is also worthy of significant swilling as Owen perfected his craft on the winery still owned by his dad.

There’s also Wayward Winery , located about 30 minutes’ drive from the thick of town, which nails pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay and shiraz grapes: covering all good bases, really.

11. Discover unforgettable Ballarat dining experiences

Underbar is a 16-seat fine-dining restaurant — Head chef Derek Boath previously worked at New York’s three-Michelin-starred “Per Se".

So many standouts, so little time. Foodies will struggle to craft an itinerary that covers all the best restaurants in Ballarat — but it’s plenty fun trying. Underbar , located in an unassuming space with no sign at the door, is a superb 20-seat fine-dining restaurant serving a seasonal tasting menu shaped by the surrounds courtesy of chef Derek Boath. Reservations open on the first day of each month and get snapped up quickly.

Then there’s the talk of town in early 2025, Babae , fixed firmly on shining a light on the most exceptional regional produce and ingredients. You’ll find it lighting up the already stunning Hotel Vera on Sturt St, one of Ballarat’s best accommodation picks.

12. Spend an afternoon at Lake Wendouree

boats lined up at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat — Admire the quaint and historic Lake Wendouree boat sheds. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Take a walk around Ballarat’s picturesque Lake Wendouree, originally a swamp and now one of the nicest ways to spend a sunny afternoon. After a botanic garden was laid out on its western shore in the 1850s, the lake itself saw a transformation and by the 1870s, it had two rowing clubs and pleasure craft to recommend it as the recreational hub it remains to this day.

Have a casual bite at The Yacht Club , admire the quaint and historic Lake Wendouree boat sheds and then take to the water for a trip back in time onboard the replica Golden City Paddle Steamer . This 45-minute cruise takes in scenic views and the history of the lake during the warmer months.

13. Explore Ballarat Botanical Gardens

a couple walking along Ballarat Botanical Gardens — Stroll along colourful flowerbeds at Ballarat Botanical Gardens. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wander through the beautiful Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the western side of Lake Wendouree. Regional Victoria’s oldest inland botanic gardens is a medley of mature trees and marble statues set within colourful flowerbeds. Covering 40 hectares, it’s also home to the Robert Clark Conservatory, a striking modern build harbouring an oasis of seasonal displays that’s a hub for that Ballarat Begonia Festival we discussed earlier.

The gardens are also home to the Ballarat Tramway Museum , one of the best Ballarat things to experience with kids, which invites you to ride in one of the 100-year-old trams that provided Ballarat’s public transport until 1971. A 20-minute ride, it journeys through the gardens and alongside Lake Wendouree.

14. Sample farm-to fork specialities at Tuki Restaurant

dining at Tuki Restaurant, Ballarat — Taste the paddock-to-plate offerings at Tuki Restaurant.

Whether you’re an avid fisher or not, a trip to Tuki offers a unique experience, just 40 minutes from Ballarat and set at the end of an unsealed road on top of a hill with verdant valley views.

The ponds here are stocked with rainbow trouts and visitors are guaranteed a catch, but there’s also a fine-dining restaurant to prioritise. Dishes include such pond- and paddock-to-plate offerings, including its famed trout done with the likes of fennel, orange and native ingredients, and we highly recommend letting the experts steer your journey by diving into a five-course tasting menu.

15. Meet true locals at Ballarat Wildlife Park

a meerkat at Ballarat Wildlife Park — Have a close encounter with a meerkat. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Family-run Ballarat Wildlife Park is home to a large variety of native Australian animals and other far-flung creatures, including free-roaming kangaroos, wombats and a colony of little penguins. Meet Kai and his little sister Akasha, the park’s resident Sumatran tigers, and choose from several animal encounters with meerkats, koalas and even a giant tortoise who’s over 80 years old.

Discover the best things to do in Ballarat

Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

walking trails in the Yarra Valley — You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy — Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy — A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate , I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate — Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

kangaroos in Yarra Valley — Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

the Yarra Valley vineyards — Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway — The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

Playing there

the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley — Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art . Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

Eating and drinking there

Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station — The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)