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

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.