Ballarat

There are a number of attractions to visit, so call in at one of the Visitor Information Centres and ask about the Ballarat Eureka Pass which gives two days of unlimited entry to Sovereign Hill, the Gold Museum and the Eureka Centre, plus admission to Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
Pride of place in the Gold Museum goes to a replica of the famous Welcome Nugget – almost 69kg of 99 per cent pure gold and the second-largest solid-gold nugget ever found anywhere in the world.
Sovereign Hill is Australia’s premier tourist attraction and this 14-hectare open-air museum draws more than half a million visitors a year to the re-creation of Ballarat as it was in its gold-mining heyday in the 1850s. Each night the dramatic ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’ sound-and-light show re-enacts the turbulence of Australia’s only armed uprising. The Eureka Centre is distinguished by its huge sail that symbolises the flag of the Southern Cross.

Back in town you can browse through a fabulous collection of books at the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute, attend a performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre – opened in 1875 and still going strong – or indulge in the luxury and pampering of a therapeutic spa at one of the city’s new day spas. If shopping’s your passion, you’ll be happy to know there are 1800 stores to browse through, so head to Sturt Street to make a start. Here you’ll find a mix of specialty outlets, tasteful homewares, glittering antiques and collectables as well as fashion, while not far away is Bridge Mall with more of the same.

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