Goldfields

Travel Guide

Sovereign Hill
Bendigo
Bendigo which includes a fountain and street scenes
Bendigo which includes street scenes
Bendigo which includes a city
The cradle of Victoria’s pioneering gold rush years is now a destination for regional art galleries, gourmet providores, picturesque Victorian architecture and museums.

Victoria’s expansive inland Goldfields region chiefly encompasses Ballarat, Bendigo, Daylesford, Castlemaine, Heathcote and Maryborough, and is the historical heart of the state’s wild 19th-century gold rush. Characterised by magnificently ornate Victorian architecture and pioneering boomtowns, Goldfields is a fascinating historical region that now features museums, boutique shops, cafés and restaurants within its wide streets. Visit eccentric towns, explore historic quarters and sample award-winning wines and gourmet cheeses from the region at farmsteads and cellar doors.

Each gold-rush town will have its fair share of opulent 1850s architecture, distinctive for its weatherboards, broad awnings and ornate iron lace trim. Take a walking tour of the different towns and see preserved Victorian streetscapes in Talbot, Maldon, Dunolly and Clunes. Local museums and monuments trace the timeline of the gold rush period, the dramatic events of Ballarat’s Eureka Stockade and the diverse people who came to seek their fortune in the fields. Discover the legacy of the Chinese goldminers and the lavish gardens that were created by prospectors who struck gold.

Don’t miss a tour of the Goldfields’ fantastic regional galleries, including the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum, the Golden Dragon Chinese Museum, the Central Goldfields Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Bendigo Art Gallery and Bendigo Pottery. Many of the Goldfields’ ornate theatres are still operational and are a great place to catch a local performance or film screening.

Outside of the towns, explore the Goldfields’ great outdoors and discover stunning plains and dense forests between historical relics. Go bushwalking, cycling or mountain biking at Lake Wendouree, Lake Weeroona or Kooyoora State Park, or drop a fishing line in one of the region’s trout lakes. Scenic golf courses are dotted throughout the region. Take it all in on a soaring helicopter flight with a Goldfields aerial tour.

You can reach most places in the Goldfields region within 2 hours’ drive from Melbourne. Victoria’s regional V/Line railway service reaches most major urban centres in the Goldfields. The Goldfields’ wide selection of attractions makes it an ideal place to visit at any time of the year.

Where to stay in Goldfields

A cool peir overlooking Lake Wendouree in Ballarat. Great for long exposures.

#BvSBlue

Lake Wendouree

You'll enjoy the restaurants and museums in Lake Wendouree. You might want to make time for a stop at Lake Wendouree or Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Lake Wendouree
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Wendouree

While visiting Wendouree, you might make a stop by sights like Eureka Stadium and Flax Mill Swamp Wildlife Reserve.

Wendouree
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Golden Square

You'll enjoy the coffeehouses and parks in Golden Square. You might want to make time for a stop at Mickey Mouse Hill Bushland Reserve or Holly Street Natural Features Reserve.

Golden Square
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Delacombe

Delacombe is well-liked for its shopping. If you'd like to do some sightseeing in the greater Ballarat area, you might plan a trip to Ballarat Tramway Museum or Ballarat Golf Club.

Delacombe
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East Bendigo

If you're spending some time in East Bendigo, Bendigo East Bushland Reserve and White Hills H92 Bushland Reserve are top sights worth seeing.

East Bendigo
Roo snooze at Ballarat Wildlife Park.  

Great place for children to enjoy kangaroos and other Australian wildlife.

The kangaroos are very familiar with visitors and will happily steal sandwiches from picnic tables - Yogi Bear style.

Ballarat East

Ballarat East is noteworthy for its spas, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Eureka Hall and Eureka Aquatic Center.

Ballarat East
Mid City Ballarat
Mid City Ballarat
4 out of 5
19 Doveton St North, Ballarat, VIC
The price is P4,097 per night from 16 Mar to 17 Mar
P4,097
P4,867 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 16 - Mar 17
Stay at this 4-star motel in Ballarat. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Walking distance to shops, restaurants."

Reviewed on Mar 2, 2025

Mid City Ballarat
Quest Ballarat Station
Quest Ballarat Station
4 out of 5
Nolan, 11, Soldiers Hill, VIC
The price is P8,161 per night from 24 Mar to 25 Mar
P8,161
P8,977 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 24 - Mar 25
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Ballarat. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (417 reviews)
"Good air conditioning (was very hot during our stay, the room was very comfortable) Secure car park was convenient and easy to use, worth the $15 per night. Free laundry for guest!"

Reviewed on Mar 12, 2025

Quest Ballarat Station
Kryal Castle
Kryal Castle
4 out of 5
121 Forbes Road, Leigh Creek, VIC
The price is P3,166 per night from 18 Mar to 19 Mar
P3,166
P3,483 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 18 - Mar 19
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Leigh Creek. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Sovereign Hill and Kryal Castle are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (334 reviews)
"Incredible value for money, to have continental breakfast and castle access included for our stay was amazing, made for a great day after a long drive and an excellent chance for our toddler to enjoy the attraction. Room was basic, but enough room for our family, walls are a little thin in the budget ..."

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2025

Kryal Castle
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Quest Ballarat Station
Quest Ballarat Station
4 out of 5
Nolan, 11, Soldiers Hill, VIC
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Ballarat. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (417 reviews)
"Good air conditioning (was very hot during our stay, the room was very comfortable) Secure car park was convenient and easy to use, worth the $15 per night. Free laundry for guest!"

Reviewed on Mar 12, 2025

Quest Ballarat Station
The Provincial Boutique Hotel
The Provincial Boutique Hotel
5 out of 5
121 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat, VIC
Stay at this 5-star luxury aparthotel in Ballarat. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (887 reviews)
"It was a great experience. Staff was extremely friendly and helpfull. Next time I will book directly with The Provincial Hotel as Wotif was misleading and incorrect. Thank you Provincial staff for rectifying."

Reviewed on Feb 19, 2025

The Provincial Boutique Hotel
Hepburn Escape Villa
Hepburn Escape Villa
4 out of 5
3 Forest Avenue, Hepburn Springs, VIC
Stay at this 4-star spa vacation home in Hepburn Springs. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (85 reviews)
"Celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and thoroughly enjoyed staying at the Hepburn Springs Escape Villas for 3 nights. Very modern, exceptionally tidy and very quiet location. Would highly recommend."

Reviewed on Mar 3, 2025

Hepburn Escape Villa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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