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 among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 11 days in order to fully appreciate everything Ballarat has to offer.

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 February
Estimated hotel price
$143
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ballarat in February
Estimated hotel price
$143
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 47 miles from Ballarat.

Car

Another option to get to Ballarat is to pick up a car hire from Melbourne, which is about 63 miles from Ballarat. You’ll find branches of Bargain Car Rentals and Budget, among others, in Melbourne.

Bus

Greyhound Australia operates bus routes to Ballarat. From Sydney, the bus ride to Ballarat takes 720 miles and will cost you around $268. From Brisbane, the ticket costs about $479 for a journey of 2370 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 hire from Melbourne, which is about 63 miles from Ballarat. You’ll find branches of Bargain Car Rentals and Budget, among others, in Melbourne.

Bus

Greyhound Australia operates bus routes to Ballarat. From Sydney, the bus ride to Ballarat takes 720 miles and will cost you around $268. From Brisbane, the ticket costs about $479 for a journey of 2370 miles.

Airports near Ballarat

Airlines serving Ballarat

Lufthansa
Good (4,664 reviews)
KLM
Good (850 reviews)
SWISS
Good (942 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,540 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,306 reviews)
Air France
Good (983 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,584 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (484 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,960 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,120 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,467 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,860 reviews)
Finnair
Good (871 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (923 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (827 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,652 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (401 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (716 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (502 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 $154 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $222 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Ballarat, with prices from $56 to $1,288 per night. Ballarat Central is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Ballarat are about 18% 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)
$173+
Craig's Royal Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$152+
Quality Inn & Suites The Menzies
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$131+
Mercure Ballarat - Hotel & Convention Centre
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$160+

Hiring a car in Ballarat

Expect to pay $1.90 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 $22.76 and $30.34. Economy (Hyundai i20 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ballarat, while also 55% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay $1.90 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 $22.76 and $30.34. Economy (Hyundai i20 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Ballarat, while also 55% cheaper than other types, on average.