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

If you’re looking for affordable options, Black Cat Truffle By Liam Downes (150 Howards Rd) and North Ballarat Sports Club (725 Creswick Road) are great picks.

When to visit Ballarat

Ballarat in February
Estimated hotel price
$142
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ballarat in February
Estimated hotel price
$142
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 Ace Rental Cars, 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 $246. From Sydney, the ticket costs about $267 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 Ace Rental Cars, 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 $246. From Sydney, the ticket costs about $267 for a journey of 1159 km.

Airports near Ballarat

Airlines serving Ballarat

Lufthansa
Good (7,248 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,366 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,794 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,731 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,799 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (875 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,597 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,683 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,631 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,989 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,584 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (7,605 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,319 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,332 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,228 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,357 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (899 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,317 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (778 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (864 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 $150 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $241 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Ballarat, with prices from $55 to $1,151 per night. Ballarat Central is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Ballarat are about 46% 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, Excellent reviews)
$185+
Craig's Royal Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$158+
Quality Inn & Suites The Menzies
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$129+
Mercure Ballarat - Hotel & Convention Centre
4 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$163+

Hiring a car in Ballarat

Hiring a car in Ballarat costs $72 per day, on average, or $788 if you want to hire it for 11 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 26% more expensive than at Melbourne.

Expect to pay $1.84 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 $22.05 and $29.40. The most frequently booked car type in Ballarat is Standard (Class Commercial Truck or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Suzuki Swift or similar) is, on average, 31% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Ballarat costs $72 per day, on average, or $788 if you want to hire it for 11 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 26% more expensive than at Melbourne.

Expect to pay $1.84 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 $22.05 and $29.40. The most frequently booked car type in Ballarat is Standard (Class Commercial Truck or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Suzuki Swift or similar) is, on average, 31% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.