Ballarat Part 1

 I do a lot of research as we are travelling and when I read about Ballarat, and the things to see, it becomes almost overwhelming as this former gold mining town has a lot to offer the tourist.  We have a four night stay in Ballarat and we will just have to do what we can do.....

We take the backroads from Echuca to Ballarat.  Number one we can drive so much slower while towing the van and number two it is usually the more scenic drive.  Both applied today as we found it a lovely drive through farming land that is mostly flat.  In fact the great majority of Victoria is flat and that is why it lends itself so much to irrigation.  We stop at Bridgewater on Loddon where the bakery serves us coffee and sticky buttered bun that were delicious (so much for not stopping for coffee and cake 😁).  Next to the bakery is a pop up vegetable stall where I stock up on fruit and veges.  It is not always the cheapest thing to do but you certainly get the freshest.

We arrive at the Ballarat Big 4 Van park around 2pm that gives us ample time to set up and then take a walk along the "Canadian Way" before retiring for the evening.  We have a big day planned for tomorrow.

When we wake the next morning we find the temperature has plummeted to 1 degree.  I am beginning to wonder if we will have any warm days on this journey!  But upwards and onwards, because today we have Sovereign Hill to visit.  The caravan park we have chosen is just 600m from the entrance of Sovereign Hill and we pat ourselves on the back for our choice of caravan park.  We arrive shortly after the gates open at 10am and already there are literally hundred of school kids waiting at the entrance.  Fortunately they enter a different way to the general public.  I thought it might have been a quiet day for Sovereign Hill but I forgot about the kids...

The first thing that jumps to mind is just how big Sovereign Hill is.  In fact it is spread over 25ha (around 62 acres) and divided into precincts.  Sovereign Hill is set around the 1850's gold rush period and the precincts are; Steam and Mining Precinct; Speedwell Street Precinct; Main Street Precinct and The Diggings Precinct.  There are many activities including Gold-Panning, Trooper Musket Firing, Diggings Tour, and Red Hill Mine Tour as well as a Redcoat Solders Parade.  Everywhere staff are dressed in period costume and when they pass you by you are always greeted with a "Good Morning".  It is a delight to walk around this incredible place.  We left around 2pm and had walked around 6km and still didn't get to see it all.  Philip did the underground mining tour but I decided against it.  He said he enjoyed it.

As soon as we get back to the van we gobble down taco's and head into the town area where we have the car booked in to repair a windscreen chip before it spreads.  I have read that there is some grand architecture around the inner city area so we elect to walk the streets of the CBD while we wait for the car.  The main street of Ballarat is called Sturt street and the six lane tree lined street has some wonderful historic buildings.  We wander inside the town hall with its magnificent staircase and architecture, to the information centre inside the building.  There is also a photographic exhibition here that we drop in to look at.

We next stumble upon Lydiard Street with no less than 35 historic buildings.  This street is used a lot for movie backdrops and I can understand why, as it has retained its olde world charm. I read from one of the brochures "Lydiard Street is the beating heart of a city besotted with grandeur".  

We finally arrive back at the caravan park around 4.30pm and we are both exhausted after walking more than 10kms today.  Sleep will come easily tonight and tomorrow will be a nice easy scenic drive day.