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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Ballarat has to offer.

Where to Eat in Ballarat

Ballarat Central is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Ballarat. These include popular favorites such as Pancho (213 Mair St), Mitchell Harris Wines (38 Doveton St N) and Meigas (33 Armstrong St). 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 April
Estimated hotel price
$71
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ballarat in April
Estimated hotel price
$71
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Ballarat in February, when the average temperature is 64.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 77 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is July, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 42.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 2.8″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Ballarat, with an average rainfall of 1.2″.

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 47 miles from Ballarat.

Car

Another option to get to Ballarat is to pick up a car rental from Melbourne, which is about 63 miles 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 480 miles and will cost you around $158. From Sydney, the ticket costs about $162 for a journey of 720 miles.

Plane

Although Ballarat doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Melbourne Avalon (AVV), which is located 47 miles from Ballarat.

Car

Another option to get to Ballarat is to pick up a car rental from Melbourne, which is about 63 miles 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 480 miles and will cost you around $158. From Sydney, the ticket costs about $162 for a journey of 720 miles.

Airports near Ballarat

Airlines serving Ballarat

Lufthansa
Good (7,188 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,351 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,846 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,641 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,870 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,550 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,669 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,536 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (833 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,905 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,249 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (8,071 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,318 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,420 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,340 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,236 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,298 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (874 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (783 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (885 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 $93 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $166 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Ballarat, with prices from $34 to $708 per night. Ballarat Central is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Ballarat are about 52% 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 (8.8, 1015 reviews)
$115+
Craig's Royal Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1599 reviews)
$96+
Quality Inn & Suites The Menzies
4 stars
Good (7.7, 1794 reviews)
$78+
Mercure Ballarat - Hotel & Convention Centre
4 stars
Good (7.7, 1703 reviews)
$102+
Camellia Cottage Bed & Breakfast
0 stars
Poor (0, 0 reviews)
$51+

Renting a car in Ballarat

Expect to pay $4.05 per gallon in Ballarat (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $48.60 and $64.81. Economy (Suzuki Swift or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Ballarat, while also 36% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay $4.05 per gallon in Ballarat (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $48.60 and $64.81. Economy (Suzuki Swift or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Ballarat, while also 36% cheaper than other types, on average.