Guidebook for Lake Wendouree
Foodies
Ballarat's best brunch spot. I've called it.
http://www.webstersmarketandcafe.com/
34 locals recommend
Webster's Market And Cafe
61 Webster St Ballarat's best brunch spot. I've called it.
http://www.webstersmarketandcafe.com/
Sweet coffee spot- serving Coffee Supreme, baked goods and all day breakfast. You'll find Ballarat locals here.
https://www.localcafeballarat.com/
8 locals recommend
The Local
313 Lydiard St NSweet coffee spot- serving Coffee Supreme, baked goods and all day breakfast. You'll find Ballarat locals here.
https://www.localcafeballarat.com/
Great atmosphere and plenty of seating for two or ten! Great coffee from Espresso di Manfredi. You'll find local produce and goods just inside the door.
https://www.eclectictastes.com.au/
14 locals recommend
Eclectic Tastes cafe & pantry
2 Burnbank StGreat atmosphere and plenty of seating for two or ten! Great coffee from Espresso di Manfredi. You'll find local produce and goods just inside the door.
https://www.eclectictastes.com.au/
Iconic Ballarat coffee haunt with a loyal following. Excellent eclectic CD collection!
42 locals recommend
L'espresso
417 Sturt St Iconic Ballarat coffee haunt with a loyal following. Excellent eclectic CD collection!
New coffee spot in Ballarat. Hidden down a laneway in Central Ballarat serving up Seven Seeds coffee.
14 locals recommend
Hydrant Food Hall
3 McKenzie St New coffee spot in Ballarat. Hidden down a laneway in Central Ballarat serving up Seven Seeds coffee.
Best Vietnamese in town. Cash only. I vote for the chicken laksa and steamed wontons.
Saigon Vietnam Noodle House
10A Armstrong St N Best Vietnamese in town. Cash only. I vote for the chicken laksa and steamed wontons.
Bookings need to be made in advance for this incredible fine dining experience.
https://www.underbar.com.au/
13 locals recommend
Underbar
3 Doveton St NBookings need to be made in advance for this incredible fine dining experience.
https://www.underbar.com.au/
Griffin Burger
330 Gillies Street NorthGreat burgers!! Try the daily fries.
https://www.griffinburger.com/
The Mallow
20 Skipton StBest pub grub in Ballarat.
https://themallow.com.au/
The famous Ballarat pizza shop! The Shearers Lamb pizza is my fav.
48 locals recommend
The Forge Pizzeria
14 Armstrong St NThe famous Ballarat pizza shop! The Shearers Lamb pizza is my fav.
Meigas
33 Armstrong St NSpanish tapas bar. Very popular- make a reservation!
Authentic Italian at it's finest. A selection of artisan wood fired pizzas, antipasti and pasta dishes.
http://carbonis.com.au/
11 locals recommend
Carboni's Italian Kitchen
152 Eureka StAuthentic Italian at it's finest. A selection of artisan wood fired pizzas, antipasti and pasta dishes.
http://carbonis.com.au/
Best Asian fushion in town! Great cocktails. Requires a reservation most nights!
26 locals recommend
Moon & Mountain
220 Mair StBest Asian fushion in town! Great cocktails. Requires a reservation most nights!
Pancho
213 Armstrong St NTaco hotspot.
Drinks & Nightlife
Mitchell Harris Wines
38 Doveton St NGreat bar with extensive wine list! Small tapas menu.
Heaps of frothies on tap! Great for craft beer lovers. Also serves up great ginger beer. Gets pretty busy- get there early for a seat. Food is ok.
http://hoptemple.com.au/
55 locals recommend
Hop Temple
24 Armstrong St NHeaps of frothies on tap! Great for craft beer lovers. Also serves up great ginger beer. Gets pretty busy- get there early for a seat. Food is ok.
http://hoptemple.com.au/
The Faux Social Club
209 Mair St Open late. Good espresso martinis. Attracts a young crowd.
Classic Pub with usual TAB facilities and a great outdoor area. Live music on weekends.
10 locals recommend
The Western Hotel
1221 Sturt StClassic Pub with usual TAB facilities and a great outdoor area. Live music on weekends.
Athletic Club Brewery
47 Mair St EFormally known as Karova Lounge, Volta has recently opened with a facelift. Enjoy a vast array of live music here.
https://www.voltaartsandculture.com.au/
Volta Arts & Culture
15 Field StreetFormally known as Karova Lounge, Volta has recently opened with a facelift. Enjoy a vast array of live music here.
https://www.voltaartsandculture.com.au/
Ballarat Highlights
Famous in town.
Sovereign Hill station
Words straight from the Distillery: "At Kilderkin Distillery our focus is on the very best premium gin and whisky. We are dedicated, passionate purists, that have been dreaming about and planning our distillery for a long time. Our stills are designed for lightness of spirit, to produce a smooth and clean drink. Our gins are beautiful neat, on ice or with your favourite mixer. We believe it is possible to design the perfect gin for all occasions."
Kilderkin Distillery
14A Hill StreetWords straight from the Distillery: "At Kilderkin Distillery our focus is on the very best premium gin and whisky. We are dedicated, passionate purists, that have been dreaming about and planning our distillery for a long time. Our stills are designed for lightness of spirit, to produce a smooth and clean drink. Our gins are beautiful neat, on ice or with your favourite mixer. We believe it is possible to design the perfect gin for all occasions."
Entertainment & Activities
Surrounded by a 6km walking track. Very popular for sunday strolls. Home to rowing regattas and iron man events.
123 locals recommend
Lake Wendouree
Surrounded by a 6km walking track. Very popular for sunday strolls. Home to rowing regattas and iron man events.
Shopping
Beautiful homewares and gifts.
The Foundry (411 Mair St) - formerly The Upholstery Gallery (528 Mair St)
411 Mair StBeautiful homewares and gifts.
Great selection of books and some last minute gifts. They also do gorgeous free gift wrapping!
Collins Booksellers
22 Lydiard St NGreat selection of books and some last minute gifts. They also do gorgeous free gift wrapping!
Wen & Ware Living
52 Bridge MallHomewares and coffee!
Sweet Fern
27 Armstrong St SGorgeous fragrance boutique... aka a perfumery. Stocks Aesop products.
Essentials
Gets busy after the school pick up 3:30-4pm.
Great selection of Gluten Free products. You can buy Fromager d'Affinois here and some great local The Mt. Langi Ghiran 'Billi Billi' Pinot Gris.
10 locals recommend
Ryans IGA Pleasant Park
Pleasant Street SouthGets busy after the school pick up 3:30-4pm.
Great selection of Gluten Free products. You can buy Fromager d'Affinois here and some great local The Mt. Langi Ghiran 'Billi Billi' Pinot Gris.
Crawford's Pharmacy
1342 Sturt St Small family owned Pharmacy.
Ballarat Health Services
1 Drummond St NBallarat's Public Hospital.
St John of God Ballarat Hospital
101 Drummond St NBallarat's Private Hospital
Eureka Medical & Dental Centre
14 Albert StBulk billing GPs- usually a pretty long wait. Pharmacy onsite.
Dry cleaners on the corner- and up the street you'll find Ballarat Laundry with coin machines.
Cressbell's Dry Cleaners
631 Sturt St Dry cleaners on the corner- and up the street you'll find Ballarat Laundry with coin machines.
The best fresh produce in town with all your gourmet needs.
22 locals recommend
Wilsons Fruit and Vegetables
85-91 Mair St EThe best fresh produce in town with all your gourmet needs.
Parks & Nature
Union Jack Reserve
This reserve has spectacular basalt columns, dramatic cliff lines and the resident Peregrine Falcon may even be sighted! It is only 30 minutes from Ballarat, along the Pitfield-Scarsdale road.
Devils Kitchen Geological Reserve
This reserve has spectacular basalt columns, dramatic cliff lines and the resident Peregrine Falcon may even be sighted! It is only 30 minutes from Ballarat, along the Pitfield-Scarsdale road.
A popular spot for all ages, St Georges Lake was once a mining dam but today serves as a great summer base for water activities. If you're not in the mood to make a splash, take a hike around the lake's edge and surround yourself in nature's embrace before having a serene picnic or BBQ.
10 locals recommend
St Georges Lake
Saint Georges Lake RoadA popular spot for all ages, St Georges Lake was once a mining dam but today serves as a great summer base for water activities. If you're not in the mood to make a splash, take a hike around the lake's edge and surround yourself in nature's embrace before having a serene picnic or BBQ.
A popular spot with locals and visitors alike, the walks at the Enfield State Park offer a rich diversity of wildflowers including stunning native orchids. Try your hand at fossicking, just ensure you have your licence and check the map for the permitted areas. Other great activities include horse riding, cycling and picnicking in the park.
Enfield State Park
A popular spot with locals and visitors alike, the walks at the Enfield State Park offer a rich diversity of wildflowers including stunning native orchids. Try your hand at fossicking, just ensure you have your licence and check the map for the permitted areas. Other great activities include horse riding, cycling and picnicking in the park.
Another great Creswick swim spot, Calembeen Lake and its tranquil surrounds are a firm local favourite. With a picturesque walking track, this space provides the chance to take part in a whole range of summer recreational activities including fishing, swimming or bushwalking. But don't be get too excited by the jumping towers, which can't be used any more for safety reasons!
Calembeen Park - Creswick
Another great Creswick swim spot, Calembeen Lake and its tranquil surrounds are a firm local favourite. With a picturesque walking track, this space provides the chance to take part in a whole range of summer recreational activities including fishing, swimming or bushwalking. But don't be get too excited by the jumping towers, which can't be used any more for safety reasons!
Mount Buninyong
Owned by Greg Parker and his family who are passionate about conservation of wildlife and the environment. Home to penguins, koalas, wombats, kangaroos and even crocodiles. Tasmanian Devils and a beautiful Southern Cassowary. Ballarat Wildlife Park houses a rich collection of native Australian wildlife in 16 hectares of natural bushland.
23 locals recommend
Ballarat Wildlife Park station
Owned by Greg Parker and his family who are passionate about conservation of wildlife and the environment. Home to penguins, koalas, wombats, kangaroos and even crocodiles. Tasmanian Devils and a beautiful Southern Cassowary. Ballarat Wildlife Park houses a rich collection of native Australian wildlife in 16 hectares of natural bushland.