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Ballarat Discovery Tour
Highlights
- Explore Ballarat's stunning Victorian architecture and tree-lined streets, immersing yourself in its rich gold rush history.
- Wander through Woowookarung Regional Park, encountering native wildlife and lush forests that showcase the region's natural beauty.
- Experience the excitement of panning for gold and riding a stagecoach at the immersive Sovereign Hill outdoor museum.
- Savour morning tea at the iconic Craigs Royal Hotel, enjoying a taste of local heritage in a historic setting.
The Ballarat Discovery tour is the ultimate tour of Ballarat, discovering the legacy of the Ballarat gold rush, still evident in the magnificent architecture and tree lined streets of the city today.
The tour takes you all over Ballarat to admire the city’s Victorian and Edwardian buildings, Botanical gardens, Lake Wendouree, Mt Buninyong (extinct volcano), Woowookarung Regional Park, Statues, Churches.
You walk down Lydiard Street, with its impressive gold rush buildings, where your guide will tell of stories about the men and women that made this great city.
Morning tea is the famous Craigs Royal Hotel.
Experience the native forests and wildlife of Ballarat as you drive and walk in Woowookarung Regional Park and the ex-volcano of Mt Buninyong.
Step back in time to 1860’s as you wander around the Sovereign Hill outdoor museum. Take a stagecoach ride, pan for gold in the creek, shop in Main St, watch the blacksmith or see a pure gold ingot with $150,000 being poured.
At the Eureka Centre learn about the Eureka uprising which led to a battle between the gold miners and the British army.
Entry to Sovereign Hill, Eureka Centre, Ballarat Art Gallery are all Included.
Itinerary highlights
Ballarat City
Grand architecture, historic precincts, stately gardens and broad tree line streets make Ballarat an Historic treasure trove to discover.
Lake Wendouree, was the 1956 Olympic games rowing and canoeing venue, today its a great place to unwind.
The Botanical gardens are a great place to explore with the Prime Ministers Avenue and floral displays.
The Ballarat Art Gallery has the best works of art depicted Ballarat in the gold rush days
The Eureka Centre on the battle site of the Eureka Rebellion tells of the struggles of the gold miners against Government oppression.
Sovereign Hill is an outstanding outdoor Museum, where you can be involved in the gold rush days of past, ride a stagecoach, pan for gold, go down a mine or shop in Main Street.
Tour details
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Available from 21 January 2026 to 31 December 2026
Features
Service facilities
Sevice Activity
This business does not currently offer accessible facilities.
Operation information
Golden Nugget Discovery Tours
Golden Nugget Discovery Tours is a leading Victorian Ecotourism tour operator, we conduct small group nature, sightseeing, heritage and wine tours.
It’s the ideal way for couples, small groups and individual travellers to experience the many regions of Victoria, such as Goldfields, Great Ocean Road, Grampians, Daylesford and Spa country, Murray region, Southwestern coast, Victorian Volcanic Plains plus the Pyrenees and Southern Grampians wine region.
Relive the history and heritage of the gold rush as you visit Ballarat and Bendigo.
Walk with your eco-guide along the Goldfields track to discover wild nature and gold rush relics.
See the rainforests, tall cliffs and 12 Apostles coastal scenery of the Great Ocean Road and the wide wilderness beaches of the Southern Ocean south-west.
Experience the nature of the Grampians with its wildflowers, kangaroos, emus, waterfalls, aboriginal rock art and wonderful views.
Discover Daylesford, Hepburn Springs and the Spa region. This region is famous for its mineral springs and spas.
Experience the Murray River region, with an eco river cruise, National park visits and river ferry boat history at Echuca and Swan Hill.
Travel the Silo Art Trail of the Wimmera Mallee, stopping at the many murals painted on the old grain silos.
The Pyrenees and Southern Grampians wine regions make some of the finest wines in Victoria. Taste the fine wines and food of both regions.
Tags
Accreditations
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ATEC Tourism Trade Ready
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ECO Certified (Ecotourism) by Ecotourism Australia
Memberships
- Australian Tourism Export Council
- Regional Tourist/Tourism Association/Organisation
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