Guidebook for Ballarat Central
Food Scene
Café Meigas have delectable food, we have never had a bad meal here, also great for vegetarians.
43 locals recommend
Meigas
33 Armstrong St NCafé Meigas have delectable food, we have never had a bad meal here, also great for vegetarians.
Zaragosa
102 Sturt StZaragosa has some of the best Mexican food that we have encountered.
Brown Grain is truly authentic Thai food. These girls know how to cook and we have never left here unsatisfied. The Banquets are also great for groups.
7 locals recommend
Brown Grain Thai Restaurant (Online Order is now available)
212 Sturt StBrown Grain is truly authentic Thai food. These girls know how to cook and we have never left here unsatisfied. The Banquets are also great for groups.
The Sporting Globe offers a terrific Sports Bar experience in the centre of town, they also have a delicious menu and are open quite late.
7 locals recommend
The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill
201 Mair StThe Sporting Globe offers a terrific Sports Bar experience in the centre of town, they also have a delicious menu and are open quite late.
Our favourite Vietnamese restaurant is Saigon Vietnam Noodle House, their rice paper rolls are to die for, and have options for both Vegetarians and Meat eaters alike.
Saigon Vietnam Noodle House
10A Armstrong St NOur favourite Vietnamese restaurant is Saigon Vietnam Noodle House, their rice paper rolls are to die for, and have options for both Vegetarians and Meat eaters alike.
Our favourite vegetarian/vegan restaurant is Chat For Tea Vegetarian Tea Garden which has an amazing range of options, the wasabi tempura and mock pork teppanyaki are amazing.
Chat For Tea
25 Armstrong St NOur favourite vegetarian/vegan restaurant is Chat For Tea Vegetarian Tea Garden which has an amazing range of options, the wasabi tempura and mock pork teppanyaki are amazing.
Just down the road you will find Oscars Hotel & Café Bar opposite the central square shopping centre, they offer delicious food (try the pizza) and coffee in a lovely art deco building.
6 locals recommend
Oscar's Hotel & Cafe Bar
18 Doveton St SJust down the road you will find Oscars Hotel & Café Bar opposite the central square shopping centre, they offer delicious food (try the pizza) and coffee in a lovely art deco building.
Located basically out our front door is The Mallow which offer a great menu of fancy pub food, it is also a terrific place for a drink.
24 locals recommend
The Mallow
20 Skipton StLocated basically out our front door is The Mallow which offer a great menu of fancy pub food, it is also a terrific place for a drink.
The Lane Coffee
35 Lydiard St NRacers Bar & Cafe
2 Wendouree ParadeAmazing coffee and food overlooking beautiful Lake Wendouree.
One of our favourite coffee and food places, very close to Sovereign Hill so a perfect stop when you leave.
22 locals recommend
Red Lion Hotel
223 Main RdOne of our favourite coffee and food places, very close to Sovereign Hill so a perfect stop when you leave.
Drinks & Nightlife
For some craft beers and great vibes, check out Hop Temple (1km), plus they have music bingo on Thursdays and delicious comfort food.
55 locals recommend
Hop Temple
24 Armstrong St NFor some craft beers and great vibes, check out Hop Temple (1km), plus they have music bingo on Thursdays and delicious comfort food.
The Lost Ones in a historic basement below a gallery, their food selection is basic, but their cocktails will blow your mind.
7 locals recommend
The Lost Ones Basement Bar
14 Camp StThe Lost Ones in a historic basement below a gallery, their food selection is basic, but their cocktails will blow your mind.
Sightseeing
Sovereign Hill is an open-air museum in Golden Point, a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Sovereign Hill depicts Ballarat's first ten years after the discovery of gold there in 1851.
56 locals recommend
Sovereign Hill station
Sovereign Hill is an open-air museum in Golden Point, a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Sovereign Hill depicts Ballarat's first ten years after the discovery of gold there in 1851.
Ballarat Wildlife Park is an interactive wildlife park situated in Ballarat, Australia which was opened by Greg Parker in 1987.
7 locals recommend
Wildlife Park
Ballarat Wildlife Park is an interactive wildlife park situated in Ballarat, Australia which was opened by Greg Parker in 1987.
Kryal Castle is a replica medieval castle located eight kilometres east of Ballarat, Australia, at Leigh Creek, just north of Dunnstown, in the foothills of Mount Warrenheip. The castle's name derives from the first initial and surname of its builder, Keith Ryall, who had made his fortune selling body armour. Construction began in 1972, and the attraction was opened to the public in 1974.
41 locals recommend
Kryal Castle
121 Forbes RdKryal Castle is a replica medieval castle located eight kilometres east of Ballarat, Australia, at Leigh Creek, just north of Dunnstown, in the foothills of Mount Warrenheip. The castle's name derives from the first initial and surname of its builder, Keith Ryall, who had made his fortune selling body armour. Construction began in 1972, and the attraction was opened to the public in 1974.
Ballarat Visitors Centre, a great place to start to purchase your Ballarat Pass and check out the surrounding attractions.
Visit Ballarat
225 Sturt StBallarat Visitors Centre, a great place to start to purchase your Ballarat Pass and check out the surrounding attractions.
Parks & Nature
Lake Wendouree has been a major social destination for residents for the past 150 years.
The Lake has a surface area of 220 hectars, circumference of 6 km and capacity of 3,860 megalitres.
Lake Wendouree is situated in the centre of Ballarat and offers a wide range of attractions and recreational activities including the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, Steve Moneghetti walking and running track, cycling trails, bird watching, indigenous playground and excellent picnic and BBQ facilities.
123 locals recommend
Lake Wendouree
Lake Wendouree has been a major social destination for residents for the past 150 years.
The Lake has a surface area of 220 hectars, circumference of 6 km and capacity of 3,860 megalitres.
Lake Wendouree is situated in the centre of Ballarat and offers a wide range of attractions and recreational activities including the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, Steve Moneghetti walking and running track, cycling trails, bird watching, indigenous playground and excellent picnic and BBQ facilities.
With over two hundred Australian and overseas Birds to see. It is a rare chance for Australian and overseas visitors to see the colours of Australian bird life .
7 locals recommend
Ballarat Bird World
408 Eddy AveWith over two hundred Australian and overseas Birds to see. It is a rare chance for Australian and overseas visitors to see the colours of Australian bird life .
The Ballarat Botanical Gardens Reserve, located on the western shore of picturesque Lake Wendouree, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, covers an area of 40 hectares which is divided into three distinct zones. The central Botanical Gardens reserve in the 'gardenesque' style of the Victorian pleasure garden. On either side there are open parkland buffers known as the North and South Gardens. The Gardens celebrated its sesquicentenary (150 years old) in 2007.
45 locals recommend
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Gillies Street NorthThe Ballarat Botanical Gardens Reserve, located on the western shore of picturesque Lake Wendouree, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, covers an area of 40 hectares which is divided into three distinct zones. The central Botanical Gardens reserve in the 'gardenesque' style of the Victorian pleasure garden. On either side there are open parkland buffers known as the North and South Gardens. The Gardens celebrated its sesquicentenary (150 years old) in 2007.
Arts & Culture
The Art Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest and largest regional art gallery in Australia. Established in 1884 as the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery by the citizens of Ballarat, both the building and part of its collection is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and by the National Trust of Victoria.
The gallery was the notable home of the original Eureka Flag (the Gallery has since lent the flag to the Eureka Centre - Home of the Eureka Flag at 102 Stawell Street South, Ballarat) and houses major collections covering the history of Australian art from the early colonial period to the present day.
113 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ballarat
40 Lydiard St NThe Art Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest and largest regional art gallery in Australia. Established in 1884 as the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery by the citizens of Ballarat, both the building and part of its collection is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and by the National Trust of Victoria.
The gallery was the notable home of the original Eureka Flag (the Gallery has since lent the flag to the Eureka Centre - Home of the Eureka Flag at 102 Stawell Street South, Ballarat) and houses major collections covering the history of Australian art from the early colonial period to the present day.
The Eureka Centre engages visitors in the compelling story of democracy. Stories are told of the ordinary men and women, past and present, who have fought for the democratic freedoms which Australians enjoy today.
Located on the historic site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade in Ballarat, the Eureka Centre explores the powerful story of Eureka as a significant part of the struggle for peoples' rights in Australia. It commemorates the pivotal role of the Eureka Stockade played in shaping Australia's democracy. This is where a group of largely young people fought injustice, and won some of the first democratic rights in the world.
24 locals recommend
Eureka Centre
102 Stawell St SThe Eureka Centre engages visitors in the compelling story of democracy. Stories are told of the ordinary men and women, past and present, who have fought for the democratic freedoms which Australians enjoy today.
Located on the historic site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade in Ballarat, the Eureka Centre explores the powerful story of Eureka as a significant part of the struggle for peoples' rights in Australia. It commemorates the pivotal role of the Eureka Stockade played in shaping Australia's democracy. This is where a group of largely young people fought injustice, and won some of the first democratic rights in the world.
Entertainment & Activities
Premier movie theatre in the Ballarat region, offer a terrific gold class theatre.
51 locals recommend
Regent Cinemas
49 Lydiard St NPremier movie theatre in the Ballarat region, offer a terrific gold class theatre.
Oz Tenpin Ballarat
810 Doveton St NTenpin Bowling for the whole family :)
Indoor Go-Karts, extremely fun for a rainy day!
6 locals recommend
Ballarat Indoor Go-Karts & Laserforce Entertainment Centre
502 Howitt StreetIndoor Go-Karts, extremely fun for a rainy day!
Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre
Gillies Street NorthLarge indoor pool and gym.
Indoor and outdoor mini-golf located on the highway out of Ballarat, it also has a Games Zone full of fun arcade games as well as a Cafe.
6 locals recommend
Gold Rush Indoor and Outdoor Mini Golf
9367 Western HighwayIndoor and outdoor mini-golf located on the highway out of Ballarat, it also has a Games Zone full of fun arcade games as well as a Cafe.
Essentials
Ballarat Laundry
711 Sturt StWoolworths Ballarat Central
25 Eastwood StColes Ballarat (Peel St)
20 Peel St S