Things to do with kids in Ballarat
Most families come to Ballarat for Sovereign Hill, and it deserves a full day. Kids pan for real gold, wander the 1850s streets and go underground on a mine tour. It is closed to the public on Mondays.
On a second day, head to Lake Wendouree. The flat track around it is good for scooters, and the adventure playground on Windmill Drive is a good place to stop. On weekends, volunteers run heritage trams along the lakeside, and on summer Sundays a replica paddle steamer takes 45-minute cruises. The Botanical Gardens on the same shore have marble statues to hunt for.
The Eureka Centre holds the original Eureka Flag and runs story time for under-fives on Thursdays. On Saturday nights, the old observatory opens for stargazing, but book ahead.
61 family outings, waterfalls and walks across the region, sorted by drive time from Ballarat. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.
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Free · 31
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Top things to do in Ballarat
Pan for gold at Sovereign Hill
Kids pan for real gold, wander an 1850s township and go underground on a mine tour. Plan a full day, since more than twenty experiences come with entry. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm; Mondays are for booked school groups only.
under 5 min
Museum · Sovereign Hill
Photo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
See the Eureka Flag
The Eureka Centre is home to the Eureka Flag, a key artefact of Australian history. Children up to five can join Thursday story time, with songs and show-and-tell. It opens 10am to 5pm daily; a family pass is $22, and under-fives are free.
under 5 min
Museum · Eureka Centre Ballarat
Photo: Peterdownunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Scoot around Lake Wendouree
The 6km Steve Moneghetti track circles the lake, past the rowing course used at the 1956 Olympics. Stop at the Ballarat Community Adventure Playground on Windmill Drive. It has a Liberty Swing and soft rubber ground.
under 5 min
Lake · Lake Wendouree
Photo: Ed Dunens, CC BY 2.0
Cruise the lake on a paddle boat
The Golden City is a working replica of a paddle boat that sailed Lake Wendouree from the 1880s. From October to April, 45-minute cruises leave Gardens Wharf on the hour from 1pm on Sundays, weather permitting. The lakeside museum in the old Gill's Boatshed opens Sundays, 10am to 3pm.
under 5 min
Museum · Lake Wendouree Museum
Photo: seefit, CC BY 2.0
Hunt for statues in the Botanical Gardens
Ballarat's Botanical Gardens were set up in 1858 on the western shore of Lake Wendouree. Kids can hunt for the Italian marble statues, then look inside the conservatory and fernery. Parking along Wendouree Parade is free, with accessible toilets at each end.
under 5 min
Gardens · Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Photo: Biatch at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Ride a heritage tram by the lake
Volunteers run heritage trams on a 3km return trip along the original 1887 tramway, beside the gardens and the lake. Trams run 11am to 4pm on weekends and public holidays, and 10am to 3pm on Tuesdays. Thursdays in the school holidays are tram days too.
under 5 min
Museum · Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photo: Peterdownunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Look at the stars at the Observatory
The observatory's first buildings opened in 1886, and its Baker Telescope was the first large telescope built in Australia. Public sessions run on Saturday evenings, and every program has to be booked ahead. Programs include night-sky viewing, 3D movies and star parties.
under 5 min
Museum · Ballarat Municipal Observatory and Museum
Photo: Gareth Little-Hales, CC BY-SA 4.0
Take in the view from Black Hill
The Black Hill lookout gives sweeping views over Ballarat and the district to the south. The reserve is also the city's mountain bike hub, with two pump tracks and a skills area.
under 5 min
Lookout · Black Hill Lookout
Photo: Wayne Sleep, CC BY-SA 2.0
Entry tickets
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Sovereign Hill
Ballarat Wildlife Park
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Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.