The best things to do in Ballarat: attractions, galleries and museums

Sovereign Hill

Sovereign Hill might be Ballarat’s most popular attraction – and for good reason. This authentically recreated 1850s gold rush village is open Tuesday to Sunday, plus school holidays and public holidays. Set on a real former gold mining site, Sovereign Hill delights visitors with underground mine tours, gold panning opportunities, traditional shops and dwellings, costumed characters, coach rides, and working demonstrations. RACV Members save on tickets to Sovereign Hill too.

Onsite, the Gold Museum (Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections) displays beautiful colonial costumes, furniture, gold, miners’ licences, and more. There’s also the Australian Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, which offers paid workshops on rare skills and knowledge such as metalworking, woodworking, leatherworking, lacemaking, locksmithing, and calligraphy.

Tack on the AURA Sound & Light Spectacular experience if possible. This 90-minute nighttime projection show is a fascinating display about life on the gritty goldfields.

Visiting in July? Don’t miss Winter Wonderlights, another nighttime experience that puts on a magical wintry show complete with faux snow for guests.

The Eureka Centre

No trip to Ballarat is complete without a visit to the Eureka Centre. It’s located at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park: the site of the famous 1854 Eureka Stockade that saw gold miners rebel against the government for their rights. Along with the Eureka Flag itself, the Eureka Centre hosts an exhibition on the historical moment, plus momuments, memorials, and a park complete with lake. Learn about the Eureka story right where it happened.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

Get up close and personal with animals at Ballarat Wildlife Park, which allows guests to hand-feed more than 100 free-roaming kangaroos. You’ll see a large koala colony, wombats, emus, Tasmanian devils, little penguins, and other Australian native animals. Don’t miss Crunch the giant saltwater crocodile, who is fed on weekends and school holidays in a breathtaking croc show.

Giggle at quoll antics from the onsite cafe, marvel at the stunning tree kangaroo, explore a reptile house full of pythons and venemous snakes, and wave to giant tortoises, komodo dragons and other gentle giants. There’s even a tiger sanctuary housing two Sumatran-Siberian tigers! There are multiple animal presentations throughout the day, and you can purchase animal encounters to get even closer to a select range of animals. Plus, RACV Members save on tickets to Ballarat Wildlife Park.