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. Ballarat deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
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.
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.
Although Ballarat doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Melbourne Avalon (AVV), which is located 47 miles from Ballarat.
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 Apex, among others, in Melbourne.
Greyhound Australia operates bus routes to Ballarat. From Canberra, the bus ride to Ballarat takes 480 miles and will cost you around £128. From Sydney, the ticket costs about £130 for a journey of 720 miles.
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 £75 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £137 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Ballarat, with prices from £27 to £621 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.
Expect to pay £0.95 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 £11.30 and £15.06. The most frequently booked car type in Ballarat is Standard (Mitsubishi Outlander or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Hyundai i20 or similar) is, on average, 50% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.