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.

Where to Eat in Ballarat

Ballarat Central is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Ballarat. These include popular favourites such as Pancho (213 Mair St), Meigas (33 Armstrong St) and Ragazzone (319 Mair Street). If you’re looking for affordable options, Higher Society (413 Sturt St) and Moon and Mountain (220 Mair St) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Common Ground (306 Howitt Street) and Ballarat Yacht Club (Wendouree Pde) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Ballarat.

When to visit Ballarat

Ballarat in December
Estimated hotel price
$138
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ballarat in December
Estimated hotel price
$138
1 night at 3-star hotel

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.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

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 Turo, among others, in Melbourne.

Bus

Greyhound Australia operates bus routes to Ballarat. From Sydney, the bus ride to Ballarat takes 1159 km and will cost you around $253. From Brisbane, the ticket costs about $413 for a journey of 3718 km.

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 Turo, among others, in Melbourne.

Bus

Greyhound Australia operates bus routes to Ballarat. From Sydney, the bus ride to Ballarat takes 1159 km and will cost you around $253. From Brisbane, the ticket costs about $413 for a journey of 3718 km.

Airports near Ballarat

Airlines serving Ballarat

Lufthansa
Good (6,983 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,335 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,766 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,574 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (8,246 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,841 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,635 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (776 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,456 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,779 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,289 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,622 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (8,734 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,276 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,325 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,686 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,304 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,178 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (819 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (775 reviews)
Show more

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 $151 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $273 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Ballarat, with prices from $53 to $1,113 per night. Ballarat Central is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Ballarat are about 47% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Ballarat by neighbourhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Ballarat

Most booked hotels in Ballarat

Craig's Royal Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$141+
Bakery Hill Motel
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$102+
Quality Inn & Suites The Menzies
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$115+
Mercure Ballarat - Hotel & Convention Centre
4 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
$159+

Hiring a car in Ballarat

Hiring a car in Ballarat costs $73 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 28% more expensive than at Melbourne.

Expect to pay $1.67 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 $19.99 and $26.66. Compact (Suzuki Baleno or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ballarat, while also 30% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Ballarat costs $73 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 28% more expensive than at Melbourne.

Expect to pay $1.67 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 $19.99 and $26.66. Compact (Suzuki Baleno or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ballarat, while also 30% cheaper than other types, on average.

Ballarat Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Ballarat city guide for the best Ballarat travel tips. To help you organise your Ballarat trip ideas, this Ballarat visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.