Ballarat travel guide
Ballarat Tourism | Ballarat Guide
You're Going to Love Ballarat
With a population of 97.937, Ballarat is a must-see destination in Victoria, Australia. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Ballarat to see all of its attractions.
Activities & attractions in Ballarat
Where to Eat in Ballarat
Ballarat Central is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Ballarat. These include popular favourites such as Meigas (33 Armstrong St), Pancho (213 Mair St) and Mitchell Harris Wines (38 Doveton St N). If you’re looking for affordable options, Higher Society (413 Sturt St) and Ragazzone (319 Mair Street) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Moon and Mountain (220 Mair St) and Common Ground (306 Howitt Street) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Ballarat.
When to visit Ballarat
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Ballarat in February, when the average temperature is 18 °C, and the highest can go up to 25 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is July, when it can get as cold as 4 °C, with an average temperature of 6 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 70 mm. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Ballarat, with an average rainfall of 30 mm.
How to Get to Ballarat
Plane
Although Ballarat doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Melbourne Avalon (AVV), which is located 76 km from Ballarat.
Car
Another option to get to Ballarat is to pick up a car hire from Melbourne, which is about 102 km from Ballarat. You’ll find branches of Bargain Car Rentals and Sixt, among others, in Melbourne.
Bus
Greyhound Australia operates bus routes to Ballarat. From Canberra, the bus ride to Ballarat takes 772 km and will cost you around $235. From Sydney, the ticket costs about $247 for a journey of 1159 km.
Airlines serving Ballarat
Where to stay in Ballarat
From 5-star hotels such as the The Provincial Boutique Hotel to great affordable options like the Sovereign Hill Hotel, Ballarat offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $162 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $234 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Ballarat, with prices from $51 to $1,222 per night. Ballarat Central is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Ballarat are about 15% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Ballarat
Most booked hotels in Ballarat
Hiring a car in Ballarat
Hiring a car in Ballarat costs $83 per day, on average.
You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 35% more expensive than at Melbourne.
Expect to pay $1.75 per litre in Ballarat (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $21.00 and $28.00. The most frequently booked car type in Ballarat is Mini (Kia Carnival or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Hyundai i20 or similar) is, on average, 55% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.