 Ballarat Tours
See the list below for great ideas during your stay in Ballarat.
|
History & Culture |
Welcome Nugget Tour |
Ballarat was the first of the great goldfields. On tour you will see and experience Ballarat's highlights such as Eureka Stockade, Lydiard Street heritage streetscape, Black Hill lookout, Sovereign Hill, Ballarat Art Gallery, Wathaurung Aboriginal Culture, Lake Wendoure and Mt Buninyong.
Ballarat
Goldfields Victoria
Tour runs from 6.30am to approx 5.00pm
Maximum 6 people on tour.
Free return train travel from Melbourne is included as well as pickup/drop-off at Ballarat Railway Station.
Ballarat was the first of the great goldfields to be rushed, which sat astride one of the worlds largest deposits of alluvial gold.
The tour takes you to gold heritage locations that were significent to Ballarat & Buninyong during the 1850's goldrush. See the original Eureka flag that was flown over the Eureka Stockade battleground, then go through the Eureka Centre that interprets the history of Eureka.
You enjoy a complimentary morning tea in Lydiard Street, amongst the finest gold heritage buildings.
Catch breath taking views, or spot a koala or two at Mt Buninyong, an extinct volcano. Enjoy a walk on the shores of Lake Wendouree with your Ecoguide, spotting the water birds, then to Sovereign Hill to experience Ballarat in the goldrush era, pan for gold, ride a stagecoach, shop in Main Street.
You also experience Wathaurung Aboriginal Culture at Kirrit Barreet, plus to enhance the local koala habitat, you plant a tree and receive a certificate.
|
Activity rate guide
AUD$ 93
Check tour/activity rates
GOLD100
|
| Welcome Nugget Tour details |
 Book now |
|
Kids Activities |
Sovereign Hill and Historic Ballarat |
Travel to Ballarat and visit Sovereign Hill, a perfectly re-created 1850s goldmining settlement. Explore the shops and wander the main street to visit goldsmiths and craftsmen of another time. Journey through the town of Ballarat and see the Victorian architecture of a prosperous era.
This tour departs from and returns to Melbourne and travels to Ballarat and Sovereign Hill.
Ballarat
Goldfields Victoria
Departs: 8.40am
Return: 5.30pm
There will be other people enjoying the tour on the day.
Children under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Travel to Ballarat and visit Sovereign Hill, a perfectly re-created 1850s goldmining settlement.
Explore the shops and wander the main street to visit goldsmiths and craftsmen at work. Journey through the town and see the Victorian architecture of a prosperous era. Cross the original route of the early horse drawn stage coaches.
Try your luck panning for gold, visit the museum or ride a stage coach (own expense). Tour an underground gold mine or catch a ride in a traditional horse drawn carriage (own expense). Discover the turbulent story behind one of Australia's most notorious incidents at the Eureka Stockade Centre in Ballarat.
View Ballarats historic sites and beautiful Victorian architecture, a thriving monument to the towns golden era of prosperity. Visit the Gold Museum. Enjoy browsing the unique period style stores along with real life characters and story re-enactments.
All coaches are rated 5 Star and equipped with TV, video, toilet/washroom, water, air-conditioning.
All fares include the Australian Government Goods and Services Tax (10%). |
Activity rate guide
AUD$ 60
Check tour/activity rates
APTR110
|
| Sovereign Hill and Historic Ballarat details |
Book now |
|
Nature & Eco |
Great Ocean Road and Grampians - 3 Day |
This tour shows the best of the Great Ocean Road including wildlife, rainforests and shipwrecks, staying in stunning accommodation overlooking the Southern Ocean. The tour then ventures into the Grampians National Park, rich in Aborigonal culture, unique flora and fauna and magnificent escarpments.
Tour starts in Melbourne and visits the Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell, Warrnambool, Dunkeld, Grampians National Park, Ballarat and back to Melbourne. We can provide a pick up service from any central city hotel.
Ballarat
Goldfields Victoria
This is a 3 day tour.
Minimum 2 passengers and maximum 10.
Please provide any dietary restrictions when we call you to finalise all booking details.
Remember to bring sturdy footwear, a rain jacket and an overnight bag.
Bookings cancelled or 'no shows' within 24 hours of departure incure the full rate charge. Bookngs cancelled betwween 1 week and 24 hrs before departure will incure a 50% rate charge.
Travelling southwest through Geelong, our first stop is at Anglesea to meet some Kangaroos. Not far is picturesque Lorne where we stop for some morning tea. Further along, at Kennet River, we take a detour and look for Koalas in their natural environment. After lunch at Apollo Bay we continue our drive through the Otway National Parks majestic Mountain Ash forest. While walking in the National Park you will have an opportunity to discover the peace and tranquility of a secluded tree fern gully. We then arrive at your 4 star accommodation close to Apollo Bay. This property offers stunning views of the Southern Ocean. Following a gourmet BBQ dinner, we take you on a 'Rainforest by Night' walk to see the magical glow worms.
DAY 2 - Enjoy a continental breakfast before we continue our journey along Great Ocean Road and our first stop, the famous Twelve Apostles. A short drive further along the coast takes us to Loch Ard Gorge, where your guide will tell you the story of the Loch Ard shipwreck with extracts read out from the journal of the two survivors and original artifacts from the shipwreck handed around. London Bridge,Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands are discovered before we turn north to Dunkeld at the foot of the Grampians.
DAY 3 - This morning we make our way through the Grampians N.P. Our first stop, Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre where the Aboriginal communities share their knowledge of the culture, both past and present, through display, exhibitions and bush tucker. We then retrace the footsteps of explorer Major Thomas Mitchell, reading extracts from his diary as he led an expedition through the region in the 1830's. We visit some astonishing lookouts where you will discover the extraordinary and dramatic formations created here 400 million years ago. Eighty percent of Aboriginal art sites in Victoria occur here in the Grampians; we visit a site which is dated at over 5,000 years old. Our route back to Melbourne takes us through historic Ballarat.
|
Activity rate guide
AUD$ 760
Check tour/activity rates
NTTS102
|
| Great Ocean Road and Grampians - 3 Day details |
Book now |
|
Rockclimbing & Abseiling |
Rock Climbing/Abseiling Day - Brisbane Ranges -Vic |
There nothing like nervously
backing over the edge on your first
abseil or the exhilaration and
accomplishment you feel when you've
reached the ground. To top this,
you will be experiencing your first
climb, the feeling when you reach
the top is undescribable! This day
is the meaning of freedom!
Ballarat
Goldfields Victoria
One day - Meeting at 9.00am and finishing around dinner time.
Designed for a minimum of 3 people, there will be no more than 1 instructor to every 10 people. Group sizes vary between 3 to 15 people. If minimum numbers are not achieved a surcharge can be paid for the trip to still proceed. Check with our office for details.
Asthmatics must bring their medication. We provide safety and emergency equipment including a back up vehicle with radio and phone communications. Participants self drive to Bacchus Marsh unless other arrangements are made. We provide morning tea & lunch. We are in the bush all day. You can meet us at the Staughton Vale Outdoor Education Centre or join us at our designated pick up points to travel up with our instructors. We are in the bush all day. Participants provide:
Warm Jumper
Long sleeve shirt to protect arms from abrasions
Shoes with good grip for abseiling
Minimum of two-litre water bottle (with water in it!)
Raincoat
Sun hat and sunscreen
The program may be postponed or cancelled in cases of bad weather although often than not a trip to the pub can wait out the rain. It can be quite cold at the top of the cliff so warm clothing is necessary.
Learn the joys of up and down in the vertical world. It's a lot easier than it looks.
You spend half of the day abseiling and have the option of attempting forward abseiling. The other half of the day is spent learning to rock climb at your own pace and in an atmosphere that allows you to challenge yourself to the level you wish to push yourself.
Experienced and professional instructors, lead the activities. Whether we are rafting, abseiling or climbing, we believe that our adventures are about experiencing people as well as personal challenges with as much fun and great memories on the way. |
Activity rate guide
AUD$ 185
Check tour/activity rates
ADCO112
|
| Rock Climbing/Abseiling Day - Brisbane Ranges -Vic details |
Book now |
|
Rockclimbing & Abseiling |
Wild Caving - Labertouche Victoria |
The sense of adventure you feel
when caving is second to none,
navigating your way through a maze
of passages that will eventually
lead you to the exit requires
excellent leadership, teamwork and
an appetite for fun.
Now that the highest mountains have been climbed, the great rivers discovered and all the jungles penetrated, discovering the underground world of mazes, rivers and caverns is one of the last frontiers open to the explorer. Caves are one of the few places you can visit where it is possible that no one has been before you. Don't expect ladders with handrails and coloured lights - the caves we explore are wild.
Ballarat
Goldfields Victoria
Travel time from Pakenham to cave entrance - 1 hour
Prep time & morning tea - 1/2 hour
Underground experience - 3 hours
BBQ lunch - 1 1/2 hours
Return to Pakenham - 1 hour
Minimum numbers are 6 people and maximum people per group are 24 people. If minimum numbers are not achieved a surcharge can be paid for the trip to still proceed. Check with our office for details.
We shall supply a minimum of 2 instructors and you shall work in a group no larger than 6 per instructor
We provide:
* Head torches and power source
* Backup light source
* Harnesses with screwgates and descending device
* Abseil & lowering ropes
* Caving helmets
* Caving ladder
* Cave evacuation stretcher
* Main first aid kit on the surface
* Phone communication on the surface
* Instructors carry a cave first aid bag & spare light sources
* Morning Tea & Lunch
* Overalls for those without
* Transport from designated meeting points
You provide:
* Overalls or old clothes
* Old clothes to be worn underneath overalls
* Old shoes
* Large garbage bags to put muddy clothes in
* Change of clothes
* Raincoat
* Towel
Logistics:
You shall return from under the ground wet & muddy. It is a good idea to get changed before getting back into their vehicle & store your muddy clothes & shoes in plastic bags.
Anything worn underground may get torn & will get wet & muddy. Please ensure you are suitably dressed with arm and leg protection. Overalls are the best...
Participants must be at least twelve years old.
Labertouche Cave is an ideal introduction to adventure caving and will open your eyes to a whole new world that exists beneath the ground's surface. The day commences with a briefing of equipment and geological history of the cave. Large granite boulders that have rolled into the valley formed the cave that you will be exploring. Over the thousands of years, the gaps between these rocks were filled with debris such as clay, then washed away and shaped by the river running through.
The entrance and exit to the caves involve the use of ladders and/or ropes and your journey in the cave will see you exploring chambers and tunnels. Crawl, climb and get downright dirty!
It contains large arachnid, glowworms and other vertebrates and takes between 2 - 3 hours to pass a group through the cave.
You take it in turns to lead through the cave with our staff acting as safety officers with first aid kits, spare light sources and the knowledge to extract a person or group as quickly as possible if deemed necessary. Leadership and teamwork are encouraged as you attempt to navigate your way through the maze of passages and squeezes to reach the exit point.
The staff on the journey shall between them, possess the following certifications:
First Aid
Vertical Rescue certification to a national level
Abseiling & Climbing certification to a national level
You shall need to fill out indemnity and medical forms before you may participate. Participants under 18 must have parent/guardian signature and supervision.
Spectators shall not be allowed underground but can observe the entry/exit |
Activity rate guide
AUD$ 185
Check tour/activity rates
ADCO114
|
| Wild Caving - Labertouche Victoria details |
Book now |
|
Rockclimbing & Abseiling |
Wild Caving/Abseiling/Climbing Two Days - Buchan |
Learning the ups and downs of the vertical world is easier than it looks. Don't expect ladders with handrails and coloured lights - the caves we explore are wild and as such have no adornments under 100 million years old.
You enter through a small squeeze and abseil into Baby Berger. Your instructors will lead this one as it has many potential dangers to the uninitiated. After squeezing through a number of vertical drops and viewing the shark fin and other types of unique cave formations, you arrive at a 50 metre vertical chasm with a caving ladder hanging half way to the bottom. Those that choose, descend to the bottom of the ladder (On belay), clip into the bottom rung with their panic strap, turn off their torch and let go. It is a feeling of flying you shall never forget. The smell of adrenalin is strong as you ascend back to the top to join your friends.
Ballarat
Goldfields Victoria
Two days starting Saturday morning 9.00 A.M. - Sunday 4.00 P.M.
Minimum: 6 participants
Maximum: 24 participants
Asthmatics must bring their medication.
All caving & safety gear, accommodation and breakfasts included.
Participants provide:
Overalls or old clothes
Old clothes to be worn underneath overalls
Old shoes
Large garbage bags to put muddy clothes in
Change of clothes
Raincoat The trip can run in all weather conditions.
We provide:
Caving:
* Head torches and power source
* Backup light source
* Harnesses with screwgates and descending device
* Abseil & lowering ropes
* Caving helmets
* Caving ladder
* Cave evacuation stretcher
* Main first aid kit on the surface
* Radio & phone communication on the surface
* Instructors carry a cave first aid bag & spare light sources
Climbing/abseiling:
* Evacuation Stretcher
* Main First Aid Kit
* Back up vehicle with radio and phone communications
* Climbing shoes
* All climbing & Abseiling safety equipment
Accommodation at Bucha Lodge
Transport if required
Breakfasts
We supply overalls but feel free to bring your own
At first, vertical caving can be a bit un-nerving until you get your caving legs, and then it's like being a kid again, exploring the maze of tight passages and massive chambers, staring in awe at the incredible formations that nature has formed from the limestone over the millions of years and feeling privileged to be one of the few people lucky enough to experience this. Our guides make sure you safely travel through the caves by roping the areas that are needed and by guiding you back out when you're ready to leave. Very few people find their way out of Honeycomb (Yes it's just like it's name) without some assistance. The caves covered range from walk in caves to those that require abseiling to get in and climbing to get out.
Accommodation is at Buchan Lodge where breakfast is provided. All other meals can be cooked here and are to be supplied by yourself. Buchan Lodge is self contained with all cooking amenities and a free breakfast. You will need to bring sheets, Doona or a sleeping bag and a pillow. Sleeping is in very comfortable bunk houses. Call Dick from Buchan Lodge on 03 5155 9421 for more information. |
Activity rate guide
AUD$ 385
Check tour/activity rates
ADCO115
|
| Wild Caving/Abseiling/Climbing Two Days - Buchan details |
Book now |
|
Team Building |
Underground Goldmine Adventure Tour |
The Goldfields of Victoria, is the goldmine experience of a lifetime!
Become a gold miner in overalls, hard hat and lamp and descend 85 metres to the heart of the mine. You will experience working drills to unearth the mother lode of gold just waiting for you. Any gold you find you keep!
This activity will travel from the Ballarat Railway Station, and visits Central Deborah Goldmine and Maldon.
Ballarat
Goldfields Victoria
From Melbourne catch the train at Southern Cross Railway Station
0625am to Ballarat.
Arrive at Ballarat Railway Station 15 minutes prior to pickup tickets.
Return by train to Melbourne 7.50pm. Train ticket price included.
Maximum of 6 on Discovery Tour.
Maximum of 10 with guide in Mine.
Minimum age 8 years old
Will be climbing up and down ladders.
If claustrophobic, not recommended.
Minimum Numbers 1 person.
Maximum Numbers 6 persons.
Minimum Age is 8 yrs old.
Flat soled walking shoes/boots.
You will be underground in dark, noisy conditions, at times climbing ladders, working mine drills.
IF CLAUSTROPHOBIC NOT RECOMMENDED.
This is the only goldmine adventure of its kind in Victoria.
You travel to the Goldfields of Victoria, the richest goldfields in the world during the gold rush of the 1850s to 1880s.
At the goldmine you become a gold miner, dressing in overalls, wearing the miners hard hat with miners lamp. Then you descend down 85 metres to the workings of the goldmine. Here you work mine drills to unearth a rich mother lode of gold waiting to be found. Any gold you find you keep.
After some hard work it's lunch time in the Crib Room (included in the tour price).
When you come back to the earths surface, you have time check out the gold mining exhibits before heading off to one of the best kept gold mining towns to explore and relax.
Then back to Melbourne to tell your friends about the amazing Underground Goldmine Adventure Tour.
We are an Australian Accredited Tourism Business by the Tourism Accreditation Board of Victoria.
Staff are fully qualified Eco guides offering the highest quality personal service.
Waiver/Indemnity Forms may have to be signed before commencing activity. |
Activity rate guide
AUD$ 75
Check tour/activity rates
GOLD101
|
| Underground Goldmine Adventure Tour details |
Book now |
About Hotel.com.au
Hotel.com.au provides a wide choice of competitive
rate hotel reservations for over 79,000 hotels in more than 180
countries world wide. Please see customer help to contact us and for common customer queries. If looking for hotels in a particular city or destination please see our site map of hotels world wide.
Sleep with us... Book now!
Hotel and Travel Advertisements
Please click here to bookmark this Hotel.com.au page with  plus many more bookmark organisers.
More Ballarat tours and activities [1]
|  |
Welcome Nugget Tour