Sovereign Hill & Ballarat Day Tour from Melbourne

Experience the exciting history of the gold rush era on a full-day tour to Ballarat’s amazing historical re-creation, Sovereign Hill. Also, see Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat City and the Eureka Stockade site. During school holidays, children go free when accompanied by two paying adults! This unique and unforgettable tour will have you stepping back in time to the 1850s, where gold was the international focus and the areas in which it was found were flooded with those hoping to strike it lucky.

• Get to know Ballarat and its beautiful surrounds on a tour of this impressive city.
• Experience history at Sovereign Hill – a stunning re-creation of the 1850s gold era.
• Pan for gold in an alluvial hotspot and perhaps find your own nugget!
• Tour the amazing historical sites, museums and re-creations of Victoria’s most popular gold city.

You’ll begin your exciting day with a morning pick-up (approx. 8:15am) from either Federation Square East (corner of Flinders & Russell Streets) or your Melbourne accommodation. Boarding the comfortable tour bus, you’ll travel the Western Highway – which was once the route that stagecoaches traversed in the 1850s – on your way to the amazing outdoor museum, Sovereign Hill.

During your tour, you’ll see the beautiful orchard-filled landscape of Bacchus Marsh – the old home of the Cobb & Co stagecoach. You’ll take a comprehensive tour of the beautiful city of Ballarat, its majestic statues and peaceful gardens. Be amazed at the excitement of Australia’s rebellious history as you pass the site of the 1854 Miner’s Rebellion at Eureka Stockade – the birthplace of Australia’s democracy.

Then, at Sovereign Hill, you’ll enter an amazing re-created setting representing the first ten years of the Victorian gold rush – from 1851 onwards. While here, you can interact with the colourful characters and explore the many original stores along Main Street, such as the Blacksmiths and other traditional artisans. You’ll be able to ride a stagecoach, sample some traditional homemade boiled lollies or enjoy a Devonshire tea at the famous New York Bakery. If you’re feeling peckish after exploring Sovereign Hill, you can treat yourself to a delicious lunch at the United States Hotel.

There’s so much more to do though – why not try your own luck by gold panning in the Red Gully Creek, visit the amazing Chinese Village – which will showcase the Chinese involvement in the gold rush. You can see how the Giant Crushing Battery worked and learn about traditional mining operations and equipment, or ‘Journey through the Labyrinth of Gold’ on a guided tour deep underground on an inclined tramway. The Gold Museum is a must-see too, with information on all you could ever want to know about Australia’s love affair with this precious mineral.

After an action-packed nine hours of exploring Victoria’s past, you’ll be returned in comfort to Melbourne – either richer from the knowledge you’ve gained about our exciting gold rush past, or literally richer because you found real gold while panning in Red Gully Creek!