Morning – Sovereign Hill
It’s hard to imagine today that in the 19th century, Ballarat was the centre of the largest alluvial gold rush the world has ever known. But you don’t need to imagine it – you can experience it through a visit to Sovereign Hill. Time Out says, ‘there’s nothing quite like it in Australia’, so don’t miss the chance to visit this living museum while you’re in town. Sovereign Hill presents the history of 1850s Ballarat as a gold rush boomtown. Take a 45-minute guided underground mine tour to learn how Ballarat’s miners once mined for gold. And why not try your hand at gold panning? There’s even a new accessible panning area with an elevated water channel.
Lunch – The Shared Table
A short 10-minute drive from Sovereign Hill is The Shared Table in Buninyong, where you can enjoy a leisurely lunch showcasing local produce. The Shared Table’s specialty is their Dine Without Decision menu – a selection of savoury dishes chosen by the chefs ($80 per person). What could be easier?
Afternoon – Perridak Arts
A short drive back into central Ballarat will take you to Perridak Arts. Perridak Arts is a proudly First Nations-owned and operated gallery dedicated to showcasing the artistry, heritage and storytelling of local First Nations artists. Every piece in the gallery at Perridak Arts, whether painting, weaving, sculpture or handcrafted design carries the essence of Country, culture and connection.
Check in to Hotel Vera
After a busy day getting to know Ballarat, it’s time to check into Hotel Vera for some downtime before heading out for the evening. Located in a 19th century mansion in the heart of Ballarat’s CBD, Hotel Vera has seven personalised suites, each named after a charming goldfields region. This boutique hotel offers guests a luxurious and quiet oasis within an historic, yet contemporary environment.
Evening – Dinner at Mr Jones
Get ready for an unexpected evening. Just a short drive from Hotel Vera is Mr Jones, a fine-dining modern Asian restaurant presented by chef Damien Jones (previously of hatted Ballarat restaurant Catfish Thai). Mr Jones offers a fine dining banquet menu from $65 per person, with the option of matched wines. The menu changes weekly using the best seasonal ingredients available.
Morning – Breakfast at Webster’s Market and Café
Start the morning with breakfast at Webster’s Market and Café. It's a short 3-minute drive from Hotel Vera or an 11-minute walk through the historic streets of central Ballarat. Webster’s is a charmingly renovated heritage corner store where you can simply have an expertly brewed coffee or indulge in one of their breakfast specialities, such as the Breakfast Board (honey and vanilla yoghurt, super seeds and nuts, seasonal fruits, smoked salmon, smashed avocado and goats’ cheese, poached egg, sourdough and fruit toast).
Lake Wendouree
Lake Wendouree has been a community destination for more than 150 years. There’s a 6km walking/running track around the perimeter of the lake but you don’t need to walk the whole distance – you can start and stop anywhere along the track. The picturesque lakeside walk takes you past grand homes, historic monuments, boathouses, wetland birds and the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. It’s a beautiful stroll at any time of the year, as the birdlife and the surrounds change with the seasons.
Morning workshop at The Pottage
Now it’s time for some creative inspiration! Head to The Pottage’s sunroom art studio to paint your own pottery. The brianchild of Ballarat ceramicist and social media influencer Shelby Sherritt, The Pottage offers 3-hour workshops in a warm, welcoming environment where you can foster your artistic spark. Choose a piece of pottery to paint and adorn it with colour to create your own cherished masterpiece. Following the workshop, your pottery will be glazed and fired by The Pottage team. It will be available for you to pick up between 1-3 weeks after the workshop, with postage also available.
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Lunch – Pancho
It’s time to head to Pancho for lunch, where the food will transport you from Ballarat to Central America. The menu features Central and South American cuisine, with dishes from Colombia, Peru, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The specials board often features dishes from even further afield, like Bolivia and Uruguay.
Afternoon – Collins Booksellers Ballarat on Lydiard
Just around the corner from Pancho is Collins Booksellers Ballarat on Lydiard, a must-visit for book lovers. It’s a destination bookstore in an historical and architecturally rich precinct with the largest range of books in Ballarat. The bookshop will take you back in time with its pressed tin roof, old-style bookcases, wooden floors, open fireplaces, heritage front counter and old-fashioned signage.
Collins Booksellers Ballarat on Lydiard
22 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central, VIC 3350
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Something extra: Wootten – Cordwainer and Leather Craftsmen
If you have time and would like to experience something extraordinary, consider visiting the Wootten flagship store. Located in a former World War II gun cotton factory, Wootten make standard made-to-order and custom-fit footwear. Shoes are made one pair at a time and to your specifications. Wootten’s range of leather goods also includes aprons, belts, bags and more. If you’ve ever wanted a pair of shoes designed especially for you, then make sure to stop in at Wootten.
Afternoon – Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa
The day spa features eight luxury treatment rooms including two dual suites, private bathing, a pedicure lounge, two relaxation lounges plus The Sanctuary with a heated hydrotherapy pool and traditional stone sauna. Sanctuary Access Passes give you entry to the sauna and hydrotherapy pool, or book in for one of the Signature Spa Journeys which include a two-hour treatment plus a one-hour Sanctuary Access Pass.
Dinner – Babae
Dinner tonight is at Babae, the intimate 26-seat fine-dining restaurant housed within Hotel Vera. Babae is a chef-hatted restaurant led by acclaimed culinary director Tim Foster. The restaurant features an ever-changing seasonal menu with a creative focus on place, produce, flavour and technique celebrating contemporary Australian cuisine. Its menu is crafted in partnership with farmers, breeders and providores from the goldfields region and includes an abundance of produce from the hotel’s kitchen garden.
Morning – Market day
The Ballarat Farmers Market is held in North Gardens Reserve (just off Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree). It operates all year round on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month. This market is the go-to for local produce and creative stalls. From the market, you’re going to embark on a lunch tour with winery visits, so make sure you have nominated a designated driver who won’t drink and drive. If everyone wants to enjoy the afternoon without driving restrictions, consider hiring a driver. The Visitor Information Centre can provide you with contact details for local drivers.
Lunch – Black Cat Truffles
Black Cat Truffles offers both winter and summer truffle experiences. The winter season commences on 31 May 2025 and the summer season commences on 14 December 2025. In season, truffle hunts are available at an additional cost and can be enjoyed with lunch or a cooking class. On this trip, rather than hunting for truffles, you’re instead going to enjoy the culinary delights of Black Cat Truffles’ on-site restaurant, where truffles feature throughout the menu when they’re in season. Black Cat Truffles is run by well-known local chef, Liam Downes, and is renowned for its innovative food. The restaurant received a chef’s hat in the 2025 Australian Good Food Guide.
Afternoon – Eastern Peake
Eastern Peake is a leader in boutique wines selling exclusively to restaurants and niche retailers nationally. The vineyard’s tasting room is one of the few places where you can taste (or buy) these exceptional wines. Eastern Peake produces brut (sparkling), chardonnay and pinot noir using organic farming techniques.
Afternoon – Wayward Winery
Wayward is a stunning winery situated on the side of the dormant volcano, Quoin Hill, with amazing views over the Pyrenees Ranges. It’s a beautiful spot to sit and take in the vista and the winery has a grazing menu if you’re still feeling peckish after lunch. If you visit in winter, be sure to check out the sunset. The winery produces four varietals of grape – pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay and shiraz.
Evening – dinner and drinks at Itinerant Spirits
Back in Ballarat, it’s time to visit an historic bluestone goods shed to enjoy some local ‘itinerant’ spirits. Here, a range of whiskey, gin and vodka are created using locally sourced ingredients. Sample Itinerant Spirits’ very own Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey. There’s a delightful menu too, offering everything from snacks and charcuterie through to pizzas and more substantial sharing plates.
Something Brilliantly Unexpected – Eerie Tours Ghost Tour
After imbibing spirits of the liquid kind with dinner, why not investigate spirits of the paranormal kind? Eerie Tours run guided ghost tours from the Ballarat Railway Station providing a night of uncanny experiences and tales of the birth of the Australian spirit – set against the backdrop of Ballarat’s beautiful Gothic-inspired architecture.
Breakfast at The Turret Café
After checking out of your hotel, head to The Turret Café for breakfast. The Turret Café is situated in a beautifully restored 1890s heritage building and offers local produce, friendly service, great coffee and all-day breakfast. It was a 2024 Golden Plate State Award winner and won the Best Café, Pub and Restaurant in the Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards.
Ballarat streetscapes
You’ve been driving around Ballarat for a few days now, but here’s an opportunity to really absorb the heritage and history around you in the centre of Ballarat. Take a photo at Travis Price’s Hop Queen mural and the iconic Hop Lane umbrellas (off Armstrong Street North between CBD bars, Roy Hammond and Hop Temple. The umbrellas change according to the season so, one day, they could be red and white, but the next time you’re in town, they could be black, yellow and red. They’ve become quite an Insta-worthy feature among visitors and locals alike!
1816 Bakehouse
While you’re in the area, why not drop into the 1816 Bakehouse on Armstrong Street North, just a hop, step and a jump from the umbrellas! 1816 Bakehouse is an artisan bakery renowned for its sourdough breads, house-made pastries and hand-made pies. It also stocks local specialty goods from Ballarat and surrounds.
Lunch – Johnny Alloo
If you’ve worked up an appetite exploring the city’s streets, then the locals will tell you the place to head to is Johnny Alloo. Johnny Alloo is a local favourite, named after Ballarat’s first restaurateur. The café is housed in a building originally built in the 1870s and renovated to expose the beautiful solid brickwork and provide a contemporary take on the mid-century and art deco design styles. It’s a delightful place to have lunch, with a menu sure to cater to everyone with everything from sandwiches through to more hearty meals.
Carboni’s Next Door
After lunch, it’s time to think about heading home, but not before stopping in at a Ballarat institution, Carboni’s Italian Kitchen, to stock up on fresh pasta to take home. Carboni’s specialises in artisan fresh pasta and their delicatessen stocks all manner of gourmet products sourced directly from Italy. Pasta is made daily on the premises and is on offer along with a wide variety of premium antipasti, charcuterie, cheese, sauces and so much more.
Ballarat Vintage and Collectables Market
Don’t leave Ballarat without a visit to the Ballarat Vintage and Collectables Market, situated on the National Highway at Warrenheip. It’s open 7 days a week and has over 80 stalls specialising in vintage goods and collectables. You’ll want to spend all afternoon there exploring the vast array of curiosities that cater to every taste imaginable.
Ballarat Vintage and Collectables Market
M8/9367B National Highway, Warrenheip VIC 3352
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