Wendouree

Getting to Wendouree

Ballarat is an easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne on the Western Freeway (M8). Alternatively, from Geelong take the southern section of the A300; from Bendigo and Castlemaine take the northern section of the same highway. The train station is in Lydiard Street in the centre of the city. Take a look around as Lydiard Street has one of the best examples of Victorian-era streetscapes in Australia.

1. 01
   Ballarat Railway Station

   There are frequent V/Line trains that run from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne.

2. 02
   Wendouree Railway Station

   Most V/Line trains also continue to Wendouree, which is a station serving western Ballarat.

Worth seeing

1. 01
   Art Gallery of Ballarat

   40 Lydiard Street North, fax: +61 3 5320 5791.

2. 02
   Ballarat Botanical Gardens
3. 03
   Ballarat Tramway Museum

   The museum operates a fleet of historic trams along 1.3 km of original track through the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

4. 04
   Ballarat Wildlife Park

   Corner York and Fussell Streets, Ballarat East, fax: +61 3 5333 4025, info@wildlifepark.com.au.

5. 05
   Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka
6. 06
   Kryal Castle

   A replica medieval castle situated just eight kilometres out of Ballarat on the Western Freeway.

Things to do

1. 01
   Begonia Festival
2. 02
   Ballarat Heritage Weekend
3. 03
   Eureka Stadium

Where to eat

Crazy Asian, 107 Bridge Mall. Good value Chinese, Indian and Thai. L'espresso, 417 Sturt St,. Formally a music store, this place serves some of the best coffee in town, along with quality Italian-based fare that is interesting and reasonably priced. Choose a CD from the wall to listen to, and try the housemade icecream. Eureka Pizza & Bistro, 316 Sturt St. Italian institution.