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.

When to visit Ballarat

Ballarat in January
Estimated hotel price
$137
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ballarat in January
Estimated hotel price
$137
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 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 $226. From Sydney, the ticket costs about $245 for a journey of 1159 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 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 $226. From Sydney, the ticket costs about $245 for a journey of 1159 km.

Airports near Ballarat

Airlines serving Ballarat

Lufthansa
Good (4,640 reviews)
KLM
Good (849 reviews)
SWISS
Good (925 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,473 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,298 reviews)
Air France
Good (982 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,557 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (477 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,937 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,126 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,481 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,770 reviews)
Finnair
Good (879 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (832 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (913 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (397 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,545 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (710 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (495 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 $155 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $244 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Ballarat, with prices from $52 to $1,189 per night. Ballarat Central is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Ballarat are about 19% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Ballarat

Most booked hotels in Ballarat

Best Western PLUS Ballarat Suites
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$159+
Craig's Royal Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$141+
Quality Inn & Suites The Menzies
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$118+
Mercure Ballarat - Hotel & Convention Centre
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$145+

Hiring a car in Ballarat

Hiring a car in Ballarat costs $65 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 2% more expensive than at Melbourne.

Expect to pay $1.79 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 $21.46 and $28.61. Economy (Hyundai i20 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ballarat, while also 49% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Ballarat costs $65 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 2% more expensive than at Melbourne.

Expect to pay $1.79 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 $21.46 and $28.61. Economy (Hyundai i20 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ballarat, while also 49% cheaper than other types, on average.