Top Things to do in Ballarat
Top 10 Free Things to do in Ballarat, Victoria
Discover the best top things to do in Ballarat, Australia including Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Lake Wendouree Adventure Playground, The Crafty Squirrel, Art Gallery of Ballarat, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat Botanical Gardens, St Patrick's Cathedral, Lydiard Street, Arch of Victory, Ballarat Chocolate Shoppe.
Restaurants in Ballarat
1. Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 211 reviews
Reviewed By MrDavetheSarks - Melbourne, Australia
Great to see a memorial to those who suffered through the POW camps, including my grandfather. Shows a lot of respect those as well.
2. Lake Wendouree Adventure Playground
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By 619jeffry - Essendon, Australia
The Adventure Playground is near the shore of Lake Wendouree, adjoining the Botanic Gardens. It is suitable for older children and will keep them entertained for an hour or so.
3. The Crafty Squirrel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
The Crafty Squirrel is the working shop and studio of designer/maker Morgan Wills. The Crafty Squirrel specialises in stocking a wonderful mix of unique gifts, cool craft kits, homewares, vintage treasures and gorgeous haberdashery - collected from around the world.
Reviewed By kerryr891 - Greater Adelaide, Australia
If you are a crafty person, a lover of stitching, a creative type this little store will make your heart sing. Beauty, inspiration and whimsy in every corner and on every surface. I first saw it in Country Style magazine 5 years ago and finally got to visit. Worth the wait? It sure was.
4. Art Gallery of Ballarat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 678 reviews
An interesting and dynamic regional gallery where there is always lots to see. Upstairs, the gallery collection is definitely worth a visit, as the Gallery holds one of the best regional collections in the country and is always looking for interesting, thought-provoking ways of displaying it. Downstairs there are temporary exhibitions, with at least four open at any one time.
Reviewed By 619jeffry - Essendon, Australia
The Art Gallery of Ballarat is not impressive from the outside, but inside it is amazing. The first level is mainly visiting exhibitions and contemporary art, and the second level is a selection from the gallery's permanent collection. It has art by many prominent artists, dating from the 19th century and including Australian modernists. The Art Gallery of Ballarat has one of the best collections in Australia.
5. Lake Wendouree
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,114 reviews
Lake Wendouree, part of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, is an artifically created and maintained shallow urban lake.
Reviewed By taniao901 - Ballarat, Australia
This Lake is beautiful to stroll around , take a bike ride with the children or walk around and the botanical gardens are just across a pedestrian crossing
6. Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 792 reviews
Reviewed By CDPeel - Jan Juc, Australia
Stunning gardens with gorgeous floral displays, magnificent stately trees, plenty of grassy expanses in sun or shade for picnics, & a grand Avenue of past Australian Prime Ministers in sculptures that capture all of them very well!
7. St Patrick's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Reviewed By 619jeffry - Essendon, Australia
St Patrick's Cathedral is the principal Catholic church for Ballarat. It is built of local stone. Many of the early settlers were Irish, St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
8. Lydiard Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 213 reviews
Reviewed By clareg498 - Ballarat, Australia
The Lydiard Street Victorian streetscape boasts numerous double story architectural gems highlighting the wealth generated on the Ballarat goldfield during Victorian Ballarat. A stroll up and down the street starts with the stunning Ballarat Train Station, passes the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Old Colonists' Hall, Mining Exchange, Former Ballarat Post Office, the legal precinct, the Ballarat School of Mines, and the remnants of the former Ballarat gaol.
9. Arch of Victory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 161 reviews
Reviewed By 619jeffry - Essendon, Australia
The Arch of Victory caught me by surprise. It is a substantial structure, intended to commemorate the sacrifices of the people of Ballarat and districts in World War I. The Arch of Victory is the beginning of the Avenue of Honor, which consists of 3,771 trees, one for each local person who volunteered to serve in WWI. Not only was this the first such Avenue in Victoria, it is also the longest, stretching for 22 km (14 miles). The trees are elms and mountain ashes. The are other Avenues of Honor in Victoria, but this one remains among the most impressive
10. Ballarat Chocolate Shoppe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
