The best natural wonders to discover in Ballarat

The Wadawarrung term for "resting place," Ballarat is the ultimate destination for those looking to relax, unwind and reconnect with nature. While the town may be renowned for the  gold rush of the mid 19th century, it’s now a buzzing hive of art, events, food, wine and natural attractions. Take the 110km journey along the Western Freeway from Melbourne's CBD and discover the multifarious wonders of Victoria's third-largest city. 

We've teamed up with Visit Ballarat and Visit Victoria for their 'Stay close, go further' campaign to give you a fresh guide on what makes the region stand up. So whether you're pining for a romantic getaway, a family-friendly holiday or a leisurely weekend break, there is so much more than gold to pan for in and around Ballarat. 

_{Mount Buninyong lookout | Photograph: Carmen Zammit}

BACK TO NATURE 

See the view from the top of Mount Buninyong lookout

Time Out drove up the winding country roads to Mount Buninyong's lookout to behold the region's sweeping views. Long the spiritual home of the Keyeet Balug clan of the Wadawurrung people, Mount Buninyong is an extinct volcanic mountain 745m above sea level, a 20-minute drive from downtown Ballarat. Park your car at the nearby summit carpark and head up the lookout tower to feel on top of the world with the tower's 360-degree views. Make sure to pack a picnic lunch – we recommend Carboni's Next Door Deli (see below) – to enjoy on one of the picnic tables nearby, and if you're lucky, you may even spot a koala in the treetops. 

_{Lake Wendouree | Photograph: Carmen Zammit}

Ride a bike around Lake Wendouree

See Ballarat in full bloom with a gentle cycle around the paradisial Lake Wendouree. After Time Out got our hot wheels from Ballarat Bike Hire, we zipped along the 6km loop that skirts the lake and takes you by the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Cycle past the mature trees, marble statues and rainbow-like floral displays that brim with foliage, fuchsias and hydrangeas. You’ll also find an adventure playground, Indigenous play space and the Ballarat Tramway Museum en route. If you need a moment to recharge your batteries like us, stop at Piper's by the Lake or the Boatshed Restaurant for a coffee and spot the black swans with red bills amongst the uninterrupted blue. Cycling the lake is a great way to experience Ballarat, especially for families with active kids. For an all-day adventure, the lake loop connects with the Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail (see While You're There below).

_{Earl's Deli | Photograph: Supplied/Earl's Deli}

EAT

Lunch like nobility at Earls Deli

Nothing beats a good sandwich, especially when made with fresh local ingredients and from Earls Deli. Taking its namesake from the original inventor of the sandwich, the Earl of Sandwich John Montagu, Earls Deli can be found in a little nook down a laneway in central Ballarat. The delicatessen serves up a rotating selection of hot and cold sandwiches, with fillings like roast chicken with tarragon and pickle and eggplant parm with burrata and salsa verde; how could you resist?

STAY

_{Graze-Ballan | Photograph: Carmen Zammit}

Get off grid at Graze-Ballan farm 

Flanked by the rolling landscape, we drove on to the serene oasis of Graze-Ballan. Less than an hour's drive from Melbourne, the farmstay experience – run by husband-and-wife Jill and Phil – is an enclosed space with a 1960s-inspired Gypsy Van and Retro Caravan, with all the bells and whistles from towels, linen and toiletries. You can even roam around Graze-Ballan's large paddock and meet the straw-munching Colin the Alpaca, some goats, puddle ducks and squawking guinea fowl. In promising a gourmet experience with country hospitality, Graze-Ballan is the perfect place for pet-owning couples or families wanting to disconnect. 

_{Carboni's Next Door Deli | Photograph: Carmen Zammit}

WHILE YOU'RE THERE… 

Art essential: A trip to Ballarat is not complete without a stopover at the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Australia's oldest regional gallery offers a magnificent collection of over 11,500 Australian paintings, sculptures, ceramics and works on paper. As well as its permanent collection, the heritage-listed art gallery also hosts touring art exhibitions and ones drawn from its wide-ranging collection. Expect to encounter artworks by Patricia Piccinini, David Noonan, Thomas Flintoff, Fiona Foley and Grace Crowley. 

Picnic tip: Finding Carboni's Next Door Deli is like stumbling upon a little pocket of Italy. Here, they work with the best Italian and local produce to serve everything from traditional cakes, pastries and biscuits, paninis, freshly-made pasta and sauces, ready-to-go pizzas, ice cream and sorbets. You can also get a stunning picnic hamper here to take with you out into the wilds.

For beer lovers: Good beer, wine, and food; that's Hop Temple's philosophy. Follow the umbrellas and festooned lighting to an elusive laneway where you can choose from more than 220 craft beers and ciders – the largest range in Victoria. Inside this converted stable you can bop to live music with some beer and tuck into their caramel bacon popcorn, Korean fried chicken or housemade pork and ginger dumplings.

Family attraction: Go panning for a slice of history with a trip to Sovereign Hill, a recreation of the 1850s in Ballarat. When gold was discovered in 1851, the sleepy settlement became a booming gold rush town, and you can experience this history for yourself with their outdoor museum. Time will slip away from you at Sovereign Hill, where you see horsedrawn carriages, try your hand at calligraphy, visit a show at the Victorian Theatre, or pan for gold.

For foodies: Pronounced "oon-de-bar" (Swedish for wonderful), Underbar is a farm-to-table dining by chef Derek Boath inspired by local purveyors and producers of the Ballarat region. The intimate dining experience only seats 14 and has an ever-changing menu that promises to take you on a journey through Ballarat and beyond via Japan and France. If you want to taste what Ballarat is all about, this is the hottest seat in town.

For active visitors: Keen cyclists or even keener walkers should consider doing the Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail, a 57km trail passing through the historic townships of Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Linton. The journey traverses native grassland, former goldfields, Chinese cemetery and the spectacular wooden Nimmons Bridge.

_{Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail | Photograph: Supplied/Visit Ballarat}