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 7 days in order to fully appreciate everything Ballarat has to offer.

Where to Eat in Ballarat

Ballarat Central is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Ballarat. These include popular favorites such as Pancho (36 Armstrong St N), Meigas (33 Armstrong St) and Johnny Alloo (32 Drummond Street). If you’re looking for affordable options, Moon and Mountain (220 Mair St) and Ragazzone (319 Mair Street) are great picks.

When to visit Ballarat

Ballarat in August
Estimated hotel price
$69
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ballarat in August
Estimated hotel price
$69
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Ballarat in February, when the average temperature is 64.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 77 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is July, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 42.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 2.8″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Ballarat, with an average rainfall of 1.2″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Average
Fahrenheit (°F)
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 47 miles from Ballarat.

Car

Another option to get to Ballarat is to pick up a car rental from Melbourne, which is about 63 miles from Ballarat. You’ll find branches of Bargain Car Rentals and Sixt, among others, in Melbourne.

Bus

Greyhound Australia operates bus routes to Ballarat. From Sydney, the bus ride to Ballarat takes 720 miles and will cost you around $161. From Brisbane, the ticket costs about $266 for a journey of 2370 miles.

Airports near Ballarat

Airlines serving Ballarat

Lufthansa
Good (2,630 reviews)
KLM
Good (407 reviews)
British Airways
Good (1,791 reviews)
SWISS
Good (543 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (1,537 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,052 reviews)
Air France
Good (512 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (3,277 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (310 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (1,476 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (1,306 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (2,105 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (500 reviews)
Finnair
Good (801 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (487 reviews)
LOT
Good (414 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (3,143 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (407 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (191 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (148 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 $116 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $141 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Ballarat, with prices from $34 to $1,002 per night. Ballarat Central is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Ballarat are about 19% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Ballarat

Most booked hotels in Ballarat

Quest Ballarat
Excellent (8.5, 344 reviews)
$126+
Bakery Hill Motel
Good (7.9, 940 reviews)
$78+
Mercure Ballarat - Hotel & Convention Centre
Good (7.8, 1410 reviews)
$110+
Avenue Motel
Good (7.7, 637 reviews)
$69+
Mid City Ballarat
Good (7, 534 reviews)
$96+
Camellia Cottage Bed And Breakfast
Poor (0, 0 reviews)
$51+
See all hotels

Renting a car in Ballarat

Renting a car in Ballarat costs $46 per day, on average, or $319 if you want to rent if for 7 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 30% cheaper than airport locations in Ballarat.

Expect to pay $4.20 per gallon in Ballarat (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $50.42 and $67.23. The most frequently booked car type in Ballarat is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Nissan Qashqai or similar) are, on average, 35% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.