Top Ballarat Car Tours: See the Sights!
Ballarat, you know, it’s that spot filled to the brim with a whole heap of history and golden memories. Seeing it from behind the wheel? Well, that’s something else entirely. So, are you trying to find things to do? What sorts of driving routes are available to you? Which ones are the most pleasing and interesting? Then, continue reading! I hope that the list will make your trip to this location so much better!
1. Sovereign Hill & Goldfields Loop
This is the tour that’s got it all; gold rush feels, rolling country vistas, and tiny old townships! That’s right, this particular route gets going at Sovereign Hill, and in case you aren’t already aware, this place? It’s like stepping straight into the 1850s. After your gold panning and coach-riding extravaganza, jump in the car, I feel, and point that bonnet towards the surrounding Goldfields. This driving adventure takes you past old mining settlements, such as Clunes (that one’s a book lover’s haven!), and through lovely farming country that tends to look so green. It’s not just scenery; think cute cafes and antique places too! The kind of spots where you just have to stop. Oh and by the way, the roads on the Sovereign Hill & Goldfields Loop are normally very easy to deal with! So, a big thumbs up for those of you that worry a bit when having to drive those country lanes!
2. Lake Wendouree & Botanical Gardens Drive
Fancy something a bit more chilled out, almost? Yeah well then Lake Wendouree and its Botanical Gardens could be exactly what you want! What happens on this jaunt is; you cruise around the lake (it is quite big) drinking in views that are often quite wonderful. That being the birdlife (yes, there is lots), the gardens, and the, sort of, fancy houses that circle it. You see a side of Ballarat, that can be very beautiful, by the way. Stop often at the gardens so that you are able to stretch those legs and see those crazy flowers, or the Prime Minister’s Avenue, in which the busts of every single Aussie PM stare at each other from across the lawn! That route is quite short, in truth. You might as well tag on the Avenue of Honour – that commemorates those local soldiers who went off to fight in WW1. It’s also mostly flat! Nice!
3. Western Highway Winery Tour
Want some grapes with those goldfields? Yeah, well, Ballarat has some quite lovely wineries! I am meaning that you’ll want to jump on the Western Highway and strike out westwards – where the Pyrenees wine district kind of lives. In actuality, this region is rather well known for producing wines that tend to taste good, especially its Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Most of the wineries in the area usually provide cellar door tastings; this provides you with an opportunity to get up close and almost personal, so, too, it’s almost about discovering what makes this area fairly unique. There are several small wineries; those tend to come across as particularly friendly, that could become your next spot for a fantastic food platter! Oh and while you are out there, you ought to think about checking out Beaufort – which comes across as a cute village that has shops with old-fashioned designs. That might make it even more fun!
4. Creswick & Surrounds Scenic Loop
Ok, right then, for something a little bit off that beaten track, anyway, there’s Creswick! Creswick kind of sits just to the north of Ballarat and has views that most would probably suggest are ‘rolling’. What I mean is, you will soon drive along avenues that tend to feature seriously old trees – that line the route and give off so much history. I want to point you in the direction of the Creswick Woollen Mills (yes, that’s wool with two l’s!) where they really do produce some seriously lush woollen items – a scarf could just transform that coat. A great trip at any point, in truth! You can, in some respects, check out some of the local forests – these normally offer fantastic trails and walks. Those forests could provide the chance for that picnic that you need! In any case, if you want to unwind, Creswick might be ideal.
5. Buninyong & Mount Buninyong Summit Drive
If a good lookout is what you want, then you ought to aim for the summit of Mount Buninyong. It’s quite close to Ballarat, it seems, and its slopes kind of heave with the vineyards that can produce some seriously good wine, very much like those further to the west! Very well! This isn’t the tour, anyway, this one is focused on you aiming for the top of that summit! So you are prepared, yeah? At the summit, there is normally something that you might describe as stunning to observe; it could be so awesome you see all the land surrounding the region – it goes on for miles. Plus, that hill? It’s an extinct volcano! How weird, maybe. Make sure your brakes are on point though, yeah? Cos coming down is normally a bit quicker!