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Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedMar 31, 2023
How long is the drive from Warrnambool to Echuca?
The direct drive from Warrnambool to Echuca is 241 mi (387 km), and should have a drive time of 5 hrs 20 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Warrnambool to Echuca, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Ballarat and Greater Bendigo, as well as top places to visit like The Grotto and Port Campbell National Park, or the ever-popular Bay of Islands.
The top cities between Warrnambool and Echuca are Ballarat and Greater Bendigo. Ballarat is the most popular city on the route. It's 2 hours from Warrnambool and 3 hours from Echuca.
Ballarat is a major city located in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. In 2021, its population was recorded at 113,183 residents which makes it the third-largest city in Victoria. The discovery of gold near Ballarat in 1851 led to the Victorian Gold Rush and transformed the area into one of Australia's most historic cities. Today, visitors can explore Ballarat's rich history through its impressive collection of historic buildings and open-air museum at Sovereign Hill.
Most popular city on this route
3 minutes off the main route, 43% of way to Echuca
Greater Bendigo, located in the central part of Victoria, Australia, is a local government area covering 3,000 square kilometers with a population of 121,470 as of August 2021. The region boasts an array of culinary delights including award-winning restaurants serving local produce and cafes housed in historic gold rush buildings. Among the top Thai restaurants in Greater Bendigo are Mali Thai and Malayan Orchid Restaurant which offers modern interior design and delivery services based on traditional Thai recipes.
57% as popular as Ballarat
1 minute off the main route, 75% of way to Echuca
Best stops along Warrnambool to Echuca drive
The top stops along the way from Warrnambool to Echuca (with short detours) are The Great Aussie Beer Shed & Heritage Farm Museum, Bendigo Art Gallery, and Port Campbell National Park. Other popular stops include Lake Wendouree, Port of Echuca Discovery Centre, and Central Deborah Gold Mine.
1
Bay of Islands
Bay
Nature & Parks
Bodies of Water
Very picturesque place. You definitely won’t regret visiting this place during the Great Ocean Road trip.
Artur Boiko — Google review
Some claimed the same or better than the famous of Twelve Apostles, but just as impressive in our view, the Bay of Islands is a collection of pale limestone stacks buffeted by the heavy waves of the Southern Ocean.
The Bay of Islands is about 25 minutes past the Twelve Apostles, near Peterborough. Let’s known and more peaceful to enjoy the view as less tourist known. They're particularly beautiful at sunset, and there’s a short boardwalk along the coastline where you can take in the best views. With similar scenery to the Apostles yet half the crowds, this is definitely one of the more underrated places to visit along the Great Ocean Road.
Andrew Goh — Google review
Such an amazing lookout with amazing views of the rock formations along the Great Ocean Road.
On a nice day you would be able to have some great views of the expanse.
Pragya Gupta — Google review
Bay of Islands offers great aerial views around sunset. Such clean, crisp air and breathtaking views.
ZILL NIAZI — Google review
Another great easy lookout to see along the great ocean road. Easy access and not a far walk from the car park.
Daithí Kilcourse — Google review
Beautiful view ❤️
rif raf — Google review
Awesome place to spend some quiet time. Highlight of the GOR
Gordon Richards — Google review
Beautiful scenery. Worth a visit
Sharon — Google review
4.9
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5.0
(693)
Australia
2
The Grotto
Sights & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Scenic hollowed out cave formation with a paved pathway & staircase offering sea views.
Grotto is beautiful 🤩 place to visit nice view.
Caution, extremely slippery going down the bottom half of stairs. So many different photos to take here
Will definitely visit again an again
Mj Enterprise — Google review
Nice lookout area, lots of stairs. I think due to it being low tide the water didn't reach as far in as can be seen in other photos which soured the experience a bit.
Mohammed — Google review
2/1/2023 We arrived at about 9 am, it was an overcast morning but still a beautiful site to see, saw a few small wallabies in the bushland and a red belly black snack quite close to the walking path but it didn't bother anyone and no one bothered it, not to many people around early in the mornings compared to lunch time when we travelled through a few days earlier.
Quite a few places to take nice pictures from even the teenagers appreciated the scenery
Stacey Slater — Google review
Shortish walk to the viewing area maybe 10 mins. There are some stairs so it's not pram accessible. Pretty unique site but you won't spend too much time here as there's only one thing to see. Maybe 30 minutes overall here which includes the 20 mins of walking out and back.
Greg Travassos — Google review
Absolutely stunning! If you come at the right time with the sun shining, the water in the grotto has amazing range of colors! It wasn't too crowded even on Saturday. Totally worth the stop.
Anna Kwasniak — Google review
A must see, only a few mins walk, you will go down a few steps. Definetly worth it. It is really pretty especially when It is sunny.
I do suggest going down to the cave, the angle is different. There are parking spaces dedicated to long vehicules .
Yasmine Sergent — Google review
I love this one too!! Lots of gentle steps down and easy up. Beautiful spot once you get to the bottom. Pick the clear blue sky to visit. Highly recommend it☺👍
Plenty of parkings and no toilets.
Julet Julet — Google review
Amazing place and it's a must visit when you are around Great Ocean Road. It's not so far from 12 apostles. Steps are there to get down to the spot. Love this natural wonder.
Surya Letha — Google review
Lots of stairs but well worth the journey down there. I like that there's a rock wall to keep people back from the grotto. It's well taken care of. There's a car park but no toilets and no garbage bins - you need to take your garbage home.
Sue W — Google review
Amazing spot off the beaten track, great constructing views of the quiet grotto and the battering waves and sea. Easy walk down some stairs to the grotto, and some nice view points.
Ian Desouza — Google review
It's absolutely a stunning and picturesque part of the Great Ocean Road.
Hannes Van Der Colff — Google review
Located 9km west of Port Campbell, the Grotto is a surreal sight worth visiting. This enchanting rock formation combines a blowhole, archway, and cave, offering serene sea views and showcasing the wonders of nature. Accessible via a staircase, you can admire it from above or explore it at eye-level. Inside, you'll find smooth boulders and tranquil rock pools carved out of limestone. For the best view, head to the lower platform to take in the horizon and striking formations all at once.
Andrew Goh — Google review
Easy access along board walk to 2 viewing areas, then stairs to the bottom. Very nice. Good parking for long vehicles. Follow us Sweet-Az RV'n on youtube 🤙🤠
Dean Whyman — Google review
Amazing views. It's worth the drive, and it's the best of all if you can go down the stairs. I loved it and didn't want to leave 😀
Dee Sa — Google review
The Grotto is one of the must visit places along the Great Ocean Road. It's like a hidden gem when you go down the stairs. Absolutely worth to visit.
Laurence Ho (Bluegray) — Google review
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4.5
(372)
The Grotto Track, Peterborough VIC 3270, Australia
Port Campbell National Park is a sprawling park that offers an array of coastal experiences including fishing, diving and canoeing. One of the must-do bucket list items in the area is driving along Great Ocean Road, which takes visitors on a scenic route past stunning beaches and historical sites before leading them into the park. Inside Port Campbell National Park, visitors can marvel at natural wonders such as the Twelve Apostles, London Arch, Loch Ard Gorge and The Razorback.
Very pretty when the weather is right!!! If you are visiting 12 apostles, then you should definitely stop by here and enjoy the views. Meantime, take some photos. There are wild animals like snakes in the bushes, so be careful. When I visited here did see a lizard of some sort.
Long 4saken — Google review
Very good views of the twelve apostles.
It’s generally windy here so it’s advisable to wear some warm clothing. Also snakes are sometimes seen on the paths.
However the views are fantastic.
Sidhesh Ganeriwala — Google review
We walked part of the Great Ocean Walk from the 12 Apostles car park to Prince Town and back. Took us about 3 hrs. Lovely rugged coastline walk. There is a beautiful little section where you walk through a closed in coastal forest with vines hanging from the tree canopy. Very calming. The only issue, in my honest opinion, was the constant 7 to 8 hours of helicopter noise from the local charter company. It was Easter, so not sure if this is normal. We stayed in Port Campbell and heard the engine noise constantly for 3 days.
Joanna Rule — Google review
Great viewing of what is left of 12 apostles. Helicopter tours available, quite pricey.
Centre staff not helpful, toilets clean. Watch out for tiger snakes, as the warning signs are plentiful.
jennifer bradford — Google review
Gorgeous! Simply stunning. Lucky the weather good and I got to enjoy these magnificent views. Totally worth the long hours of travelling here. There was a helicopter ride available at AUD160. Did not try that out, maybe I might come back and try it out for a different perspective and view in future. Lovely sun set views.
Thaddaeus Kwok — Google review
Windy, wet but absolutely beautiful! That's a winter visit to the coast in Victoria. Well worth the weekend getaway for the scenery and rugged coastline.
Kym P. — Google review
Driving back along part of the Great Ocean Road, in an endeavour to see the 12 Apostles... but had no idea just how insane the peak viewing season was (as I've never been before)... drove straight past all the popular viewing platforms and found a wonderful place, windy, but still serene...and only 1 other couple there at the same time. Stunning view!! Sorry about the wind in the videos 😀😃
Jenny Fraser — Google review
Port Campbell is a massive park that encompasses the Twelve Apostles, the London Arch, Loch Ard Gorge, the Gibson Steps and the Grotto. All of these attractions are easily navigable, well organised and worth visiting.
These sites are all solid 4 or 5 star attractions, which makes the park itself an easy 5 stars. It's probably one of the coolest places I've been too in Australia.
Harrison Hewitt — Google review
What an amazing area of the world. Spectacular views and coastline in every direction, and surprisingly also had some picturesque forests in the area. Extremely busy area during the school holiday period. Good food and good atmosphere in the small towns dotting the coast.
Michelle Armstrong — Google review
Amazing, breathtakingly beautiful place. This is a must see on a trip to Melbourne. Take a GoWest Tour they are fantastic. Do all 3 walks even if it's raining. So stunning.
Victoria Steele — Google review
This is one of the world's most scenic drives – and its undoubted highlight is the Twelve Apostles, which tower 45 metres above the Southern Ocean.
It’s a great beautiful place to visit since it’s on the great ocean road. Port Campbell National Park is open to the public all year with free admission. Most of the park consists of natural landmarks that are free to drive up to and enjoy the sights. The park is one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations since it's located along the Great Ocean Road.
I visited during my tour to the great ocean road. Wonderful place to stay as well.
Victoria's Great Ocean Road is famous for its gorgeous beaches, lush rainforests and world class surf. ...
The 12 Apostles. ...
The Loch Ard Gorge. ...
The London Arch. ...
The Grotto.
Food Date — Google review
Only about 3 - 5 apostles left but still stunning on a good day. The Visitor Centre was closed, the toilets were dirty, and staff seemed to care less. It's definitely only worth a 2 minute stop off while passing through. Beautiful but could be so much better.
Caitlin — Google review
Must must see when driving along the Great Ocean Road 💞 I suggest going towards sunset, even more amazing looking and way less crowded in high season. You basically will be there all by yourself. Take the Gibson Steps down and walk on some of the softest sand you'll ever find. You can grab a helicopter ride as well and see it from a completely different perspective.
Bret Zarkiewicz — Google review
This viewing area for the twelve apostles is great. There is a kiosk and toilets available. Be aware this place can get very busy with tourists cars and tour busses.
Jurgen Hein — Google review
It's really a wonderful piece of paradise indeed. The facilities are clean n the coffee shop just adequate to allow you more than ample time to enjoy the beauty there whilst u grab a bite on the run. So worth the long drive! There are helicopter flights as well that you can nook to enjoy the coast even more.
Roscida Mortimer — Google review
Looked nice from a distance but didnt walk through because we had our dogs. There appears to be a great walking track
Aliki Karant — Google review
Port Campbell National Park is located along the famous Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Renowned for its stunning coastal scenery, the park is home to iconic landmarks such as the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and the London Arch. The rugged cliffs, rock formations, and pristine beaches make it a popular destination for nature lovers and tourists.
Salim Hossain — Google review
Being a Victorian, I have visited The Twelve Apostles many many times over the past 60+ years & have always enjoyed the natural beauty of this stunning scenery. It does not matter what the weather is like, it is always a beautiful place to visit.
Gibson Steps is a well-known and popular tourist attraction along the Great Ocean Road. This scenic location features beautiful oceanside cliffs with a designated lookout point where visitors can witness its dramatic coastal scenery. The steps leading down to the beach offer an adventurous opportunity for those who want to explore the area on foot. Visitors can book a full-day coach tour or rent their own car to make the journey, but should be aware that some legs of the trip can be tricky and require experienced and confident drivers.
Quite a few steps down to the beach and the waves can be pretty unpredictable at times, so be aware before you go, but well worth a visit, especially if you love to explore. Wandered all the way to the end of the beach and explored the little rock/cave area, but didn't stay too long as tide was coming in. Loved the area though and so glad we climbed down. Gog and Magog also look phenomenal up close!
Jessica Dwery — Google review
One of my favorite places on the great ocean road and one of the few places you actually get to walk down to the beach and see the cliffs and limestone walls from below. I definitely prefer this one over the apostles. It’s a bit of a walk down but the views are well worth the effort. Make sure to bring sunscreen or a hat along when you visit.
Stephan Modest — Google review
The most beautiful scenic beach I've ever seen. Such an amazing place to be. We had parked at the Twelve Apostles car park and took the 2km route down to Gibson Steps Beach. It was a nice easy walk, although the flies were annoyance. The easy option of course was to park car Gibson Steps. However, we had parked at Twelve Apostles as there were rest room and we could buy drinks and snacks. The weather was perfect, hot sun with a light cool breeze. An amazing day out. It wasn't too busy as well. It was lovely here and such a great experience.
Chris Huynh — Google review
There is a small viewing platform at the top of the cliffs. But the ultimate view is from the beach. It really isn't worth a stop if you are unable to climb the steps. The steps are solid with a sturdy barrier/handrail and zigzag down the cliff face. It is from the beach that the cliffs are super impressive. Parking was limited - about 15 spots.
Pam S — Google review
A 10-minutes walk are required to visit the photo spot. The staircase was narrow, permitting only one person to pass at a time. Though the seashore was cold and windy in winter, I would say it definitely worths a visit.
??? — Google review
Where there in early August 2023, in the morning when the crowd have not arrived. The walk down the stairs can be abit tough for the elderly.. but we are rewarded with the beautiful surroundings. Parking can be just right infront or a walk from the 12 apostles visitor centre.
David Chew — Google review
Great view, especially about an hour before sunset. You cannot see many of the apostles from this location, but it lets you get down to the beach, which the other viewing points generally don’t offer.
The steps can be a bit steep, so those with limited mobility may have a better time at the viewpoint closer to the 12 apostles national park visitors center.
You can get to the steps by driving to the pull out, or by walking a longer distance (multiple kilometers) from the visitors center
Louisa Wood — Google review
Every time I go, the atmosphere is different depending on the weather and although this is my eighth visit, today's weather was the best. I took a lot of photos from below and it was nice because there weren't many people due to the year-end.
James Song — Google review
If you are coming during the day, it is a bit challenging to find a parking, since there is limited space for parking. The best time to visit is during sunset. Coming here in the end of February and it was amazingly beautiful! Absolutely a must visit place when you are driving in a great ocean road.
This is unforgettable experience.
Adi Kurniawan — Google review
Spacious car park, beautiful scenery, really worth the trip. You can find a lookout and some steps to the beach. From the beach the scenery is even more impressive. We were there in the early morning, so we had it nearly for us only. It is one of the few major formations you actually can access on the beach not from a lookout only.
fabian p — Google review
OK quick tip, the light is best in the mornings and get there before 10am as the carpark is small and fills quickly after then. Going down the steps to the beach gives you a great view of the cliffs and if you walk to the end you get spectacular views of the beach and cliffs. Well worth the time and effort when in the area. Allow an hour for a full experience.
Gavin — Google review
Hard to take a bad photo here, especially on a stunning day. The colours are magnificent. Get down to the beach and soak the scenery in. It gets less crowded really quickly if you just walk away from the steps. Glorious.
Alvin Liau — Google review
A stop and visit well worth it.
70 odd stairs to climb down and up.
Great views. Great photographic moments.
Carpark can get a little crowded in the late arvo.
gjcc73 — Google review
Really beautiful place for pictures, worth the visit. Do take note that you will need to climb up and down a narrow flight of stairs to get to the beach. It’s quite tiring if you’re unfit. Not recommended for people who can’t walk much or elderly. There is parking available. You should spend less than an hour here.
Celestine — Google review
What a nice workout walking down and up!
When I reach the beach and look up to the wall, I kinda felt like... wow is it really this tall?
Nice place tho!
Tidarat Kamtongkaew — Google review
Beautiful part of the world. I'm glad we had low tide and were able to walk down the near 100 steps down to the beach and back up again. It does test your fitness levels, yet soo worth it. A must do activity for most people.
The parking there is a bit limited, so be warned you may not be able to do this bit. However, you can undertake the 2/3 km round trip walk from the 12 Apostles to there if you so wish to do that instead.
Roscida Mortimer — Google review
Gibson Steps, nestled along the rugged coastline near the Twelve Apostles, offers a remarkable coastal encounter. These massive cliffs and limestone formations showcase nature's raw beauty. The highlight is the staircase leading down to the pristine beach, providing an up-close view of the towering cliffs and the Southern Ocean's wild waves.
Visitors are treated to a sensory experience as the sea breeze mingles with the sound of crashing waves, creating a truly immersive atmosphere. The geological formations and expansive ocean vistas make Gibson Steps a must-visit destination for those exploring the Great Ocean Road, offering a unique perspective on the breathtaking landscapes of Australia's southern coastline.
ajleeblog — Google review
Amazing view. Platform short walk for view. A short walk down some steps to the beach. Fantastic spot to get your toes wet but not for swimming. Next to the great ocean walk. Lots of tourists. Bad parking but spots available. Tour groups.
Robert Lee — Google review
Beautiful sunset views! Wish I had more time to peacefully sit down and enjoy the views and sunset. Have to come back to do that.
Mani Bhagavathula — Google review
Breathtaking views of the towering limestone cliffs of the Twelve Apostles. It is a popular spot to marvel at the rugged coastline and snap some stunning photos. The steps provide a unique perspective, allowing you to get up close to the majestic cliffs and feel the power of the Southern Ocean.
Zongle — Google review
One of the few places you can accees the wide beach and admire the cliffs. Accessible down steps along the cliff with railings. We left our shoes at the bottom and walked along the wide beach. Car park was small so we had to wait a few minutes for another car to leave.
Kate — Google review
Very nice place for beach visit and enjoy the breeze... can park outside the area and walk down...
However, there is no place for clothes changing if going for a swim...
Will recommend others to come
darluvcas — Google review
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4.5
(342)
National Park, Great Ocean Rd, Port Campbell VIC 3269, Australia
It's a lovely place to have a BBQ or picnic. There is electric BBQ on site and covered seating and tables. There are some very nice and established trees and shrubs here. There is also a wonderful rose garden here and around Melbourne Cup day the rises look so spectacular! There are toilets on site if you need to use the facilities. A good place to take the kids to fly a kite or throw a ball or frisbee.
Ketobbey Waters — Google review
Beautiful gardens, could have so many uses
Mrs A — Google review
Nice park for a picnic lunch
Ray Newman — Google review
Nice park
Des White — Google review
4.7
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4.5
(40)
Cobden VIC 3266, Australia
I'll never travel to Echuca without this trip planner again
We did the 6 hour tour on the 2nd July with Jasmine & there were 11 people on the tour. It was so fascinating being able to communicate with the spirits, got some great responses when using the equipment from the spirits. Jasmine was an awesome guide taking us round to different buildings that we hadn't been on the shorter tour. Using the equipment to communicate was great. Will plan to do another 6 hour paranormal investigation soon. Well worth coming to Aradale.
Jared — Google review
We went on the extended 4 hour tour last night. I personally think the large group was too big for this type of tour. Not only was it our group, but there were several on the property at the same time, which made it extremely hard to hear, see, or get into the vibe. Our guide, who was very knowledgeable about Aradale just didn't have the tools to capture the audience and convey the stories.... something that will come with more experience. The 4 hours became very repetitive and due to covid was mostly outdoors. A few suggestions for those who are about to embark on a tour..... wear enclosed shoes, take plenty of water (even a small insulated bag with some) along with a snack, and..... the most important item to take... BUG SPRAY. The mosquitoes were horrendous!
Lyn Clarke — Google review
We did the extended 4 hour tour. Our guide provided excellent history and humour to the experience. It was sometimes difficult to hear her due to the size of the group, so maybe limiting numbers would be a better idea, however overall a creepy and interesting experience.
Lisa Carboni — Google review
My friends and I attended the 2 hour ghost tour, and our tour guide Sage was excellent. She has extensive knowledge when it comes to the asylum. The tour was informative.
If you are looking for more of a scare, they also have a paranormal investigation tour, which looks really good.
Sarah Ellard — Google review
This is an amazing piece of Victorian history. The guides were passionate and knowledgeable and the tales they told were engaging and entertaining. What a shame that this estate is not being maintained. Why is it not heritage listed. So much potential going to waste.
Anne Hamilton — Google review
We returned to Aradale for the 2nd time for the 6 hour paranormal investigation because we enjoyed our visit so much last time. Travelling all the way from Adelaide.
This time we were fortunate enough to have Sage as our guide and omg!! She was amazing and so knowledgeable. It’s so obvious to see how passionate she is about her job.
As my friend and I have investigated quite a lot, she left us to do our thing and was just there if we needed her, which we did many times, just because the place is an absolute maze and we surely would have gotten ourselves lost without her help.
This place is so active! It’s the only place we have investigated where we have had to turn the music box off because it was being activated so often and was becoming annoying 😆
If you love the paranormal and are fascinated with abandoned asylums, do yourself a favour and visit Aradale! You will not regret it! Or maybe you will…… 👻
Thank you so much Sage!! You were fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed spending the night on Mad Man’s Hill with you. We can only hope we are lucky enough to get you again when we visit for the third time!
Leah Jackson — Google review
Great experience, the host was very theatrical and entertaining. I loved hearing about the stories of the patients, whether true or not it didn't phase me it's more about the experience. I think two hours is plenty!
Stella Gonzalez — Google review
Great experience for ghost hunters.
Did the Friday night 2 hour ghost tour with Dahlia and learned the history of the place as we went between buildings and even visited the morgue. The following night we attended the 6 hour investigation with Jasmine and Scooby. All 3 of these guides were awesome, scooby was in particular amazing. We certainly managed to communicate with spirits with their ghost equipment. They even let us roam areas to hunt by ourselves. Would love to go back and investigate again and do the 4 hour ghost tour.
Andrew Chapman — Google review
Brilliant. From arrival to departure you become absorbed in your far from welcoming environment. There were on a few occasions I could feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck and I'm a sceptic! The tour guide absolutely suited his role, although I think a bit of captain jack sparrow might have creeped in. Anyway, a great tour and highly recommended. Well worth the drive up and spending the night in Ararat. Sleeping on the other hand...that took a bit of time...
Nick Egglington — Google review
Last night (Saturday 14/05/22) I did the Ballarat Walking Tour with our guide Damian. He was an incredible storyteller, his wit and passion made it that much better. The heritage buildings were beautiful to see and history behind them made it that much more interesting. We were lucky to have good weather and a FULL MOON. 🌚 It went for 2 hours but I wish it went longer, I could have listened to his stories all night. Even if you're a sceptic/non-believer, still 10/10 recommend and recommend Damian as your guide! He also wore this beautiful coat.
Elly Williams — Google review
We took the 4hr ghost tour with host Riley who was exceptionally knowledgeable and despite having a large than average group, kept good time allowing us to experience a very wide area of Aradale throughout the night.
We will definitely be coming back again
Keith Baker — Google review
Amazing place so much history and sadness, Nathaniel is an amazing and knowledgeable tour guide and took us in all of the hot spot areas! A few strange things happened to some of us in the group, whispers heard and some of us feeling light headed and dizzy. Highly recommend, definately will be back for the paranormal tour! A photo of a face in the window from the tour ??
emily aiello — Google review
My partner and I did the 6hr investigation tour.. we are now planning to go back with my parents very shortly. Our guide Di was absolutely awesome, so full of info and history and she really helped calm my nerves with her laid back and humorous nature, nothing short of amazing. Plus it was a nearly full moon, so the atmosphere was that bit spookier. Highly recommend going, even if you're a sceptic! 😅
UnicornLord — Google review
Unfortunately we (and a few others) followed Google Maps and ended up at the wrong entrance. However the tour guide was very understanding and shortly after 8pm we were all accounted for and began the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and extremely entertaining.
Very interesting stories were told and its quite chilling to be walking through this beautiful old building knowing that it had such a gruesome purpose. Highly recommend!
Madelaine Tabone — Google review
We did the 2 hour tour on Saturday with Lady Luna as our guide. She was full of knowledge and had a great sense of humour had some great stories about the asylum. Definitely recommend doing this ghost tour and now looking at doing an extended tour next time.
Ankie Katta — Google review
We did the 11pm ghost tour and it was truly something else. Our tour guide Sage was absolutely awesome and really set the scene for what we could expect. Some unspeakable acts took place here and it was both interesting and terrifying to learn about them standing in the actual lunatic asylum at midnight, in the dark! Definitely scary, but also fun. Highly recommend!
Luisa Modesti — Google review
Its a creepy old building that you get to visit at night, whilst being told some horrific stories of how the patients were treated.
Whats not to love?
Our guide 'Sage' was fantastic, very knowledgeable and entertaining.
Chantal Bromley — Google review
We came down from Queensland and could only get in the 2 hour tour sadly but it was an awesome night. Our tour guide Sage was amazing and really knew how to tell the stories in a way that really made you feel for the people who were committed there. She also made sure everyone felt comfortable and included. Top notch tour guide! We will definitely be back in the next 12 months for the 4 hour tour.
Tamika Matheson — Google review
Jasmine was an amazing host and really went above and beyond in her role as our tour guide loved every minute of the experience and she knows so much about the grounds and it's colourful past the buildings are truly amazing and I will be recommending it to all my friends and family thank you for the amazing tour
Cj Reff — Google review
If you want to go to a chilling, eerie and visit an intact part of brutal history, this is the tour. We had seen many you tube paranormal videos on the asylum, and it was definitely the place with many stories, haunting feelings and very memorable experience. Our guide Daria (I hope that’s right) was very in touch with the spirit world, and told many stories that are unexplained, and was a wealth of knowledge of the history of Aradale.
We have many photos of orbs, and an unexplained experience either a fan spinning at high revolutions in doors on a still night, which stopped on our guides request, and started again when she said we were not here to hurt anyone, and that they could continue playing.
My partner had an overwhelming sudden sickness in one part, and definitely felt the presence we were not alone, with unexplained noises and movement. We are certainly back for the full paranormal investigation tour.
What an amazing place, tour and sad part of our history with terrible treatments.
wolf drumming — Google review
Four of us booked the 6 hour paranormal investigation and were lucky enough to have Jasmine as our guide!! This was spooky, so fun and so informative. We had a BALL and can’t wait to come back. THANKS JASMINE!! 👻
Niki M — Google review
Wow what an incredible night. The Aradale ghost tour was one suprise after another. Extra fun to experience the ghostly energy in the morgue.
Di was a fantastic tour guide. Very informative, lots of fun and genuine in her approach.
Highly recommend 👌
Claire Chancellor — Google review
We done the 11.30 pm Saturday tour with Lithium . We were the only 2 on the tour so we got some extras . We learnt so much about the history and treatment of the patients. It would of been a living hell when it turns out the drs are the real lunatics the way they treated their patients was criminal and barbaric. We had a great tour thoroughly enjoyed ourselves got lil spooky at times I felt a very cold wind go past me and my partner felt something brush his leg . But a great big shout out to Lithium who done an amazing tour and when it was over the whole team at aradale helped us out and went above and beyond for us when our car wouldn't start. Thank you again for all your help and hospitality . We will definitely be back to do the 6 hour paranormal activity tour can't wait to see you all again thank you again Lithium your awsome and we appreciate you .
Thoroughly enjoyed the tour through the "drives' interesting to see the underground cellar - unique in Australia. The wine tasting afterwards was a great inclusion, got to enjoy a variety of sparkling and still wines.
IGuideU — Google review
I booked glamping package at Seppelt Cellar to celebrate my husband’s birthday . I am really glad that I choose this place. We had such an amazing time while staying there and having underground tour done by Ricky. He told us so much about the Seppelt history in such an engaging way that you would love to know more about this place. Everyone should try this place out for different experiences like staying here, want to have dine ỉn experience, underground tour and want to book Seppelt hall for upcoming big gatherings. If there’s any doubt ask Ricky he is the best at what he does and he will go extra miles to give you best experience of this place.
Shashi Narwat — Google review
Had the best tour here, tour guide was so Knowledgeable yet fun and a great sense of humor. The drives are amazing and the story is cool but the sparkling shiraz.... amazing! I don't like much champagne but this is beautiful. Definitely worth a visit.
Ted Fisher — Google review
Great historical tour, very knowledgeable guide, really interesting 75 minute walk through history
Simon Richardson — Google review
We did the 3pm tour. It was informative and interesting. You get to see the original old tunnels and equipment. We finished off with the premium tasting which was worthwhile. Even bought a couple of bottles. A great addition to any Grampians holiday.
Drew Unsworth — Google review
The highlight was the tour and our tour guide Ricky who was extremely enthusiastic and funny. Very interesting and unique tour of the cellar. I highly recommend it as it's really impressive.
The tour is $22 including tasting. It lasts 1h.
Unfortunately the sparkling wine wasn't really good for my personal taste.
Viki cp — Google review
If you are in the Grampians region this is a must do.
The tour of the historical winery was so interesting.
Our tour guide Ricky, was so friendly and helpful. He made the experience informative and fun. His knowledge of the history of the winery was amazing and his ability to speak to the group was incredible.
Thank you Ricky for making our large group tour such a memorable experience.
The tour is $22 and goes for about 1 hour and you will be guided through the historically underground cellar tunnels and wine making facilities.
It includes a tasting of some of their most famous wines and the sparkling Shiraz is truly unique.
The deep dive dinner includes 3 courses served in the cellar tunnels with unlimited wines. Delicious food and such friendly service. Thank you Ricky. You made our experience at Seppelt truly memorable. 😊
James Rousseaux — Google review
A great experience and insight into the history of the Seppelts Winery. The underground cellar tour was amazing. Ricky our tour lead was great and communicated the aspects of the sites history very well.
Shaun Stewart — Google review
Very interesting tour of the underground wine cellars. Very knowledgeable guide. Great ground available for picnics. Lovely little cafe with a range of wines and related products to try, cheese platters available as well.
Mitchell Aust — Google review
Great underground cellars tour, it was very informative and interesting. After the tour we had premium wine tasting, the staff were knowledge and the wines were delicious. Definitely recommended to visit if you are in the area.
Karel Simek — Google review
Fantastic and must-do Tour of the Underground Cellars, a very unique experience. Colin was a great storyteller and very knowledgeable. Wines are excellent and we’d love to return for the underground dining experience. Highly recommended!!!
Kristy Moorhouse — Google review
My husband, and I thoroughly enjoyed the underground tour. Our guide Ricky was personable and very knowledgeable. So much history attached to this site! We are still enjoying our sparkling purchases.
Sue Hall — Google review
What an exceptional tour. The guide was fantastic, funny and adaptable. My wife has bilateral cochlear and he kept checking in to make sure she could hear and was next to her most the time. The wine tasting was great too. Those tunnels have more history than you might think. Be aware there are stairs into cellar they are 2 flights of 10 ish stairs. And nowhere to sit on tour after initial talk.
Adrian Hallam — Google review
The underground tour at Seppelt Great Western is really incredibly interesting and very well led by Ricky. They have 3 kilometres of underground tunnels (called drives) which were dug over a period of 60 years, mostly by gold miners who were no longer finding gold. The tunnels were used for housing 3 million bottles of sparkling wine! These days the bottles are stored elsewhere and the tunnels are part of a museum. They also do dinners in an underground dining room which would be awesome.
The tasting following the tour was great - - it included 4 different styles of sparkling wine. Personally I loved the sparkling Shiraz. Additionally you can taste other Seppelt wines for $10 or a premium tasting for $25
It is a magical thing to do, full of history in a wonderful little Victorian town, called Great Western. It’s only 2 hours & 20 minutes from Melbourne. Well worth the trip.
Cathy Eaton — Google review
We had an amazing time with a very informative guide. I have driven past so many times and thought I should really take a look, so glad I did. $20.00 tour and tasting, great coffee and delicious chicken pie. I absolutely loved it. Thanks so much for having us. 🥂🥂
Robyn Hamilton — Google review
The tour was such a gem. Our tour guide Ricky was a great character, super nice and friendly. The winery has such an amazing history and such a beautiful cellar (the biggest in the southern hemisphere as we found out). Highly recommend!
Will Lienert — Google review
We had a wonderful time on our Underground tour today with friends and with our wonderful guide Colin who had a great knowledge of the history of Seppelt Winery. The tunnels were amazing and the whole tour was much better than we expected and would even had wine and champagne tastings at the end, included in the price. A wonderful day and would do it again
Rhonda McCormick — Google review
Went to Seppelt on a Tuesday and we did a wine tasting and tour with our amazing guide Ricky. Ricky was engaging and funny as well as very knowledgeable! We really enjoyed our day. Thanks Ricky and Seppelt! Regards Kate and Eddie 🍷☺️
Kate Elliott — Google review
I had the pleasure of visiting this winery, and Ricky was truly exceptional. His knowledge and personal touch added so much to the experience. Learning about the region's history and the winery's inner workings was fascinating. Ricky's expertise truly elevated the cellar door visit. The underground tunnels were truly awesome, you can truly feel the history down there. It's definitely worth a vist. My only suggestion would be to seamlessly blend the old-world charm of the tunnels with a more modern cellar door/venue. This place has all the elements to become a world-class venue. The staff, the wines, and the rich history are fantastic. Hats off to the family leasing the cellardoor.
The Ballarat Botanical Gardens reserve is a wonderful place to visit with kids. It has a variety of trees and plants, as well as a conservatory that features different types of plants. The gardens are also great for a summer picnic.
Beautiful garden with flowers in bloom even in autumn.
Park was clean and well maintained. The playground is huge and also provides a public outdoor gym facility.
Decorated with statues and busts of past prime ministers and a greenhouse.
Lots of different birds which include black swans by the lake nearby.
Henry S — Google review
Beautiful gardens with lots to see. The greenhouse is filled with a seasonal display of the most beautiful colours. The prime ministers lane is quirky and the playground across the road is huge. Cafe also across the road with great views of the lake and the perfect hot chocolate.
Toilets at the cafe and also in the gardens. Street parking.
Akini Thotage — Google review
One pleasant and refreshing surprise of a garden. Its beautifully maintained. Loved the sculptures and walk. A must visit
Bobby Ng — Google review
We thought this was a really nice surprise of a place to wander through. It's ideal because if you are a tourist (like us) you can also wonder across the road and visit Lake Wendouree and if travelling with kids the Adventure Playground is nearby too.
What we loved was the statues throughout the gardens, including the walk featuring all the prime ministers.
I believe there was a cafe nearby too however there's loads of lawn areas to stop and have a picnic.
Tash Mohring — Google review
It's one of the best Botanic gardens I have seen. The Avenue of Prime Ministers was wonderful. The greenhouse is probably the most beautiful I have encountered in some time, with the floral and colour arrangements, incredible for a relatively small greenhouse! And the giant American trees; wow!
Well-worth a picnic and visit with Wendouree Lake alongside! Just a sparkling area, with the tramway museum, also a must-see!
VGJF — Google review
Beautifully managed gardens, a credit to all staff involved with maintaining these gardens.
Some areas were stunning with the autumn colours.
A beautiful peaceful walk with so much to see.
A must visit location if you are in Ballarat.
Matt M — Google review
A beautiful botanic gardens covering a large area. Lots of thick soft grass to have a picnic on. It has a lovely greenhouse with beautiful flowers (photos included) that is free to visit, donations appreciated. There is a craft cottage with wares for sale, lots of history with the statues of the heads of all Australian Prime Ministers on display, a tram ride and a war memorial nearby. There is also Lake Wendouree and a big playground for kids nearby. Recommend a visit when in Ballarat.
Jess Mueller — Google review
Beautiful gardens with sweeping lawns and shady trees, a large lake and plenty of picnic spots. If you prefer seated dining Pipers Restaurant awaits you at the lakeside.
Clean toilets are available and plenty of parking.
The Begonia festival help every year in March is an absolute must with a variety of plants available for sale. Not to be missed.
Peter Lindsay — Google review
Lovely visit and my little one enjoyed her time. Being a stroller if you want to walk the whole gardens. Check out the craft shops and conservatory. Fun jungle gym for big and little kids. Lots of black swans.
Prithvijit Roy — Google review
The place is wide and spacious. There are so many trees and a wide variety of plants in the garden. The greenhouse also has a lot of beautiful species on display. Even in winter when we visited, the place was fun to go to.
Jaja Lorenzo — Google review
The gardens are meticulously maintained, and the variety of plants and flowers is astounding. The Rose Garden is a sensory paradise with its vibrant colors and sweet fragrances. Walking along the Prime Ministers Avenue, you’ll learn about Australia’s history while enjoying the shade of majestic trees.
The Alfred Deakin Prime Ministers’ Fountain is a tranquil spot to unwind, and the swan-filled lake adds to the overall serenity. I could spend hours here, exploring the diverse plant collections and taking in the natural beauty.
The gardens also offer a range of activities and events throughout the year, making it a fantastic destination for families and nature enthusiasts alike. I can’t recommend Ballarat Botanical Gardens enough – it’s a peaceful and educational escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
If you’re in Ballarat, do yourself a favor and pay a visit to this botanical paradise. You won’t be disappointed!
Deep Kang — Google review
A delightful day all round. The Begonia Festival was truly a sight to see, beautiful.
The Botanical Gardens themselves stand alone, and are well worth the traveling time from Melbourne. The trees in these gardens are old tall and majestic. Unfortunately l didn't think to take pics of them, but plenty of flowers. The Begonia Festival is held on the Labour Day long weekend and provided free for all to enjoy by the municipal of Ballarat.
There's a lot to see in this lovely town so pack a picnic lunch as we did and make the most the day.
Helen Stecenko — Google review
I visited the P.O.W. Memorial. to pay my respect. Wonderful experience. Beautiful setting. Memorable.
Margaret Webster — Google review
Great place to visit and have a walk around, lots of bird life, flower gardens, it also has historical significance with plenty of statues, a Cafe is there for coffee or light meals. If you are in Ballarat you must visit. 5 Stars
Richard Allgood — Google review
Beautiful place to go with the family and have a picnic. Big playground for kids, tables to sit down and eat. Great spot to see some lovely birds as well.
The public bathrooms are in good conditions.
Deyanelis “Nell” Delgado — Google review
An absolutely beautiful place, especially in lovely weather. I highly recommend a visit. There's plenty of available parking.
Easy access to restrooms and water refills is a plus ☺️
Santa Natalia — Google review
Great to learn about the Prime Ministers. Excellent garden, great for quiet contemplation, walking in fresh air or Pokemon Go. Well presented and maintained. Great displays and famous for the Begonia festival. Great if you like trams, political history or nature.
Scott Hebbard — Google review
Amazing close experience with the kangaroos. It was fun to pet them and feed them.
Other exotic Australia animals and reptiles were very interesting too.
You won't be disappointed. Entry fee is reasonable too. Highly recommended.
Rose, May En Liu — Google review
Begonia Festival. Variety of stalls and crafty things to do for kids. The maze was a great feature with finding items and testing local knowledge. Great family outing, heat was an issue, but water availability was able to be accessed for free. To top it off, I was able to buy some beautiful Begonia plants.
Nara Peterson — Google review
We went there as a group on the Tuesday after the Begonia festival and it was lovely. The staff/ gardeners did an excellent job. Thank you so much for presenting all the flowers and surrounds in such a delightful way
steve Nelson — Google review
MUST SEE IN BALLART
Beautiful, big, relaxing and colorful. This Botanic Gardens have the most beautiful flower collection from different types of Dhalias to the larger exhibition of begonias. The experience of the living nature of the flora and the fauna (bees, ladybugs, black swans and ducks) it's AMAZING.
Highly recommend 👌🏻
daniela rodriguez — Google review
I have been to few Botanical gardens but this location without a doubt was one of the most diverse gardens. It’s got a garden with glass house, a restaurant, a tiny island (Windmill Drive island), a boat hire, an adventure play ground for kids and guess what !!! and even a Tram museum with an actual tram that you can ride in.
Near Edward VII pavilion is where you can find benches facing the river Wendouree. That gives you an opportunity to enjoy the scenery of river and birds. There also parking spots for cars.
Have a small hike along river via Windmill drive and across the road you will reach entrance to the gardens. Good collection of different flora and fauna. With a beautiful sculpture house within the gardens. The team museum is close to adventure playground but make sure you book tickets.
Kids and elderly friendly. Heaps of parking. Will definitely recommend for travellers.
R D — Google review
Beautiful gardens to explore with a lovely pond full of fish, animal topiary & flower beds. We had a lovely walk & or kids enjoyed it too. It was a bit rainy, so we got warm drinks from piper's cafe over the road first. There was quite a few upgrades ongoing but it didn't detract from the stunning gardens.
Corinna Hull — Google review
Amazing place to walk and spend time! Great sense of Calm and peace. There's lots to see and savour. Greenery, flowers and lots more!
Lake Wendouree is a large, man-made body of water that is home to a variety of wildlife including black swans. The lake is located in Ballarat, Victoria and has been around for centuries. It is perfect for swimming, fishing, and boating.
A visit to Ballarat is not complete without a walk along the lovely Lake Wendouree. The sunsets are spectacular here. It’s very serene and calm, the perfect respite from the stresses of everyday life.
Z L — Google review
Fantastic walk around the lake. Takes about 90 minutes ( 6kms) to walk the circuit at an enjoyable rate, or maybe quicker it's up to you. Stop off for coffee or lunch at The Boathouse, or Piper on the Lake, situated either end of the lake.
Althea — Google review
One of the best place to visit, while in Ballarat , I felt it a great place to relax, lake itself looks great, good path away to walk and greenery grass to sit, and playground made specially of woods, that are designed to reflect little bit of ballarat itself. Enjoyed the scooter ride it was fun. Enjoyed our visit to Ballarat. Enjoyed the swans company, There were around over 100 black swans, fearless swan which are familiar with people,
suman basnet — Google review
Always a lovely spot, 6km running/walking/bike track around the lake, getting lights put in which will be great for safety at dusk and early mornings. Lots of bird life, great for kayaking, SUP or windsurfing and fishing. Lots of playgrounds and toilets around every side of the lake.
Emm Donnie — Google review
Nice lake with beautiful walking track. Beautiful botanical garden at one side of lake. Nice place for morning and evening walk.
Harish Kumar — Google review
Amazing lake with a sunny day. Took nearly an hour if you walk around the whole lake. You can kayak, canoe and swim there too. My peaceful place to be.
Curious George x Dinosaur in AU, 好奇猴子X一隻恐龍的澳洲日常 (澳洲人妻日誌) — Google review
Really nice spot. We don't have lakes where we live and so found this to be really nice, the style of buildings in this area set a really lovely scene when looking out across the lake and bird life was abundant.
We stopped to see at a few different points around the lake, the adventure playground, and some of the boat houses were great. This is also a great spot to go for a jog or just stroll along the walking tracks.
Tash Mohring — Google review
Beautiful and can easily spend a few hours with the kids in the playground and go across to the Botanical garden.
Dakshika Nawaratne — Google review
A beautiful spot for a walk, lots a great views to be had of the local bird life and historic buildings. There is a walking track right around the lake, which you can also ride a bike along to. Lots of places to stop and take in the views and capture some great moments. There are several playground around the lake with the main one on the west side near the Botanical Gardens. There are also old tram rides and paddle boat rides at certain time of the year.
Small boats and fishing are also allowed on the lake. A great place to visit for the day.
Glenn Bachelor — Google review
The place where you can get connected with the nature sounds and enjoy with your love ones. I really like this lake. The wildlife and surrounding is fantastic. And yeah, Don't Forget the Dawn and Sunset its amazing.
Anis Chhetri — Google review
What a wonderful place to sit & enjoy the sunshine! 😊✨😍
It's so peaceful & beautiful! 😌
Great location for picnics! ✨
Yeshaya Dank — Google review
A really beautiful walk around Lake Wendouree. Plenty of wildlife, viewpoints and a few points of interest around the lake.
The walk itself is not far at all and the pathways are quite clear and suitable for pushchairs / wheelchairs.
Dogs are allowed around the lake (on-leash) and there's a few cafes / restaurants for a coffee and snacks.
Kerbray — Google review
There was so much dog poo around the picnic tables near the playground. It was absolutely disgusting. There was sooo much that it's a bio biohazard. Ballarat people are gronks, pick up after your dog's!!!!
X — Google review
4.8
(189)
•
4.5
(1152)
VIC 3350, Australia
10
Taltarni Vineyard
Wine cellar
Food & Drink
Vineyard
Wine club
Wineries & Vineyards
Lovely wines, great service, busy place but it was all good. Delicious charcuterie board with the wine tastings, we will be back! Live music too.... and cute dogs. Great range of wines, something for everyone. Perfect day out.
John K — Google review
It took far too long for us start our pre booked wine tasting. Once things started they were going well before we were once again forgotten and it seemed people who just walked in were served ahead of us. They were under staffed and lacked any personal service. The wines were generally good but we had much better experiences in more personable & picturesque wineries nearby
Michael Taylor — Google review
Thanks to Jo who attended our tour group on Saturday 12th March. Great service, friendly staff and lovely wines.
Julie
Hops n Grapes Tours
Julie Stephens — Google review
Had a magnificent afternoon tasting their wines on the veranda on a sunny afternoon with a great cheese platter and Bo’s excellent music selection. Can’t rate it highly enough.
Geoff Halprin — Google review
What an unexpected fun afternoon we had at Taltarni Vineyard on Wednesday. We were planning on popping in for a bottle of Champagne, 2 hours later we left having enjoyed a very funny afternoon. It could have been used for a pilot for a comedy show! What made it special was Lilly their Sommelier. Can't thank you enough for the entertainment and your expertise. By the way did I mention the fantastic Wines Taltarni have! the Sparking Shiraz is to die for along with there red and white ! Can't wait to come back for a picnic on a Sunday and listen to your bands. Thanks again Lilly an absolute please meeting you! A great find Taltarni!
michelle vale — Google review
Fabulous winery, great atmosphere and lovely wine. The staff member who was working had been left short staffed but was incredible- she kept smiling throughout even though she was run off her feet. She was very knowledgeable and engaging and did an amazing job keeping everyone happy, pretty much by herself.
Sandy Bevan — Google review
Awesomeness personified top cellar door with scrumptious platters and great range of wines from whites to reds and bubbles as well Jo was a super host who knew her wines well done Taltarni
Stephen Hartley — Google review
Have never been to the swine area although I would love to go if I'm ever in Australia New Zealand and Tasmania. Bernard Porte makes exceptional lives whether it be in the US California French Southern profiles and as in your Winery
Paul Toepp — Google review
Came through a couple of months ago, without a booking, and was looked after beautifully. Was reminded to write a review after I opened a Mourvedre tonight. Service was great, and I regret I can't remember the name of the lady who served us, but she was a great representative for the region. Cheers!
Tyson Smith — Google review
Beautiful native setting for the tasting room.
Lovely use of timber throughout.
Very helpful new customer service girl, friendly but not pushy!
Wide choice of wine to taste!
Jen Abreu — Google review
Had such a wonderful afternoon, awesome wines. Great facilities. Host Lily was insightful and a pleasure.
The Art Gallery of Ballarat is a regional museum in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia that houses a wide range of art from colonial to contemporary periods. The museum organizes its collection by era, with examples including the work of local and regional artists during growth in Ballarat.
Great experience for adults and children. The gallery is child friendly and my 6 and 9 yo had lots of fun walking around and appreciating the displays. Staff is simply lovely ❤
Melissa Dominguez — Google review
Such a lovely place to enjoy a few hours. The venue is a wonderful mix of heritage architecture and modern renovation. I came for the opening of the Trevor Smith exhibition and Light + Dark by Max Meldrum and his followers. Right in the middle of town and well worth a visit!
Susan Lengyel — Google review
I went to the Art Gallery of Ballarat today on a Friday. It was not busy. Entry was free which is great. Only a few minutes walk from Ballarat railway station. The Gallery is very interesting with a lot of interesting arts. It's very clean and nice like a 5-star hotel. I loved and enjoyed all the arts that they displayed, really appreciate all the staff for taking care of the place so well and highly appreciate all the artists that provided their artwork there.
BeachLover 11 — Google review
The McCartney photo exhibition was excellent, and a great reason to return to Ballarat and visit the gallery for the first time in around a decade. I've always enjoyed every time I've ever come here, seeing new sides to existing exhibits and enjoying what special events are hosted here. The modernisation of this incredible asset over the past couple of decades has been sensational, and a real sense of pride for the wider Ballarat area.
Tony Titheridge — Google review
Beautiful old building right in the town centre. Entry is free and they have a lovely collection of paintings. Only a small number are on display at any one time, so I wouldn’t spend more than an hour there. Worth the visit.
Rachel Baker — Google review
Fun-filled day at Ballarat Art Gallery! 🚶♀️✨ The incredible artworks and vibrant exhibits had me mesmerized. 🎭💕 Such a fantastic experience, definitely a must-visit for art enthusiasts.
Deepti Garg — Google review
The gallery resides in a beautiful building that dates back to the town's gold rush boom years.
Free entry to see a great collection of Australian and European art with some dating back to 1800 or earlier. There were also temporary exhibitions and modern art installations.
Apparently only 2% of their art is able to be displayed there at any one time so it may be worth a follow up visit later on.
Nathan f — Google review
Beautiful experience inside The origin section, a room surrounded by antique paintings. The contrast of the between modern and old style is really interesting.
It's quite small and far from other Ballart atractions (in publictransport) but it's worth it.
daniela rodriguez — Google review
Very impressive. Great selection of art. Found it relaxing to wander throughout the gallery. Well maintained.
Camille Rowan — Google review
Some really amazing pieces of art. We also got to hear a talented woman play the piano!! Highly recommend coming here if you're in Ballarat.
Marisa Lobo — Google review
The oldest and largest regional art gallery in Australia. A lot of modern art {and sone controversial pieces) but some fantastic pieces from the mid 1800s that really show the age of the gallery. Well worth a visit, even if its a quick walk through to fill in half hour.
Aaron Bulbert — Google review
I took part in a resin workshop with one of the exhibiting artists, which was really great. Then went round the Pre-Raphaelite exhibition...also great. Now inspired, stimulated and very happy with my day at the Gallery.
Bernadette Aitken — Google review
Great gallery with a variety of works on display, well placed in the city centre for a quick visit that’s quite satisfying even within 60 minutes
Byu S — Google review
Went on a field trip with year 9 students. A guided tour given to cover topic of artists impressions of Climate Change. A very interesting capture by various artists. Also a quick look at how the history of the Gallery came about and stories behind some of the fantastic pictures and framework.
The photo does not do justice to this wall piece.
A must see for visitors.
Nara Peterson — Google review
Fantastic gallery. Staff friendly and knowledgeable. They have a general permanent gallery upstairs. Several individual exhibitions downstairs. Wheelchair accessible with lift and gentle ramps. Ellen is lovely, helpful, and very knowledgeable. Can't wait to visit Ballarat and see the gallery again.
Kerry Ho — Google review
During a day trip to Ballarat, I stopped by the Art Gallery of Ballarat and was delighted to find free entry. The gallery boasts a fantastic collection with a mix of permanent and temporary art pieces, offering a diverse and enriching experience. The availability of onsite facilities, including bathrooms and a popup cafe, added convenience to the visit. The staff were friendly and accommodating, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere. Additionally, the presence of a gift shop provided an opportunity to take a piece of the experience home. Overall, a wonderful visit to the Art Gallery of Ballarat with a wealth of artistic treasures to explore.
Amy Elizabeth — Google review
I love all art here, each one express different feelings, it's free 👏 the organisation and cleaning is so good 👍 as well the shop is incredible, creative and wonderful, thanks
Laura Melo — Google review
Wonderful experience walking through this gallery. Came to view The Three Gums oil on canvas by Hans Heysen as it is such a beautiful painting, perfectly capturing the Australian landscape.
Elizabeth Gao — Google review
Perfect place to get a break from the outdoors. We enjoyed multiple exhibitions which are routinely updated and changed throughout the year. The young ones were able to make some art of their own and also interact with some of the interesting exhibitions. Recommend for a quick stop and also those looking to enjoy the artwork .
B. D. — Google review
We love going back to Ballarat because there is always something fun to do and great spots to eat and drink 😍
This time, we had a beautiful day visiting:
🎨 @artgalleryofballarat for exhibitions at the oldest regional art gallery in Australia
2 Good Forks — Google review
4.7
(1332)
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4.5
(702)
40 Lydiard St N, Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia
Lydiard Street North is a bustling thoroughfare characterized by its vibrant atmosphere and diverse range of establishments. This bustling street offers a plethora of amenities, including shops, restaurants, and cafes that cater to various tastes and preferences. It serves as a hub for social gatherings and leisure activities, attracting locals and visitors alike. With its lively ambiance, Lydiard Street North presents an array of opportunities for individuals seeking entertainment or simply looking to immerse themselves in the vibrant local culture.
4.5
(224)
Ballarat VIC 3350, Australia
13
Blue Pyrenees Estate
Winery
Food & Drink
Wineries & Vineyards
Well this is not your usual winery where they only serve wine and pizza.
I was blown away that it was different. Pity it’s so far away but if whoever is reading this, it’s a great place to have lunch and try the local produce. But, YOU MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE.
Marie Gabri?lle — Google review
I am most impressed by Blue Pyrenees Estate. Recently, as a wine club member, I was hand-delivered a pack of old vintage wines in recognition of my birthday. This was a wonderful surprise. Highly recommended for its quality wines and personable service.
Peter Morison — Google review
We visit at least once a year for the wonderful platters and wine. They cater to all our dietaries (gluten free, pescatarian) with ease and their kids menu is small but really well done.
Anna BK — Google review
Great winery, lovely hosts! The tasting platters were fantastic and the wine was superb 👌😋
Amanda — Google review
Just had the most enjoyable lunch today at Blue Pyrenees Winery .
Linda the cellar door manager is friendly, knowledgeable and makes the best platters.
Sitting outside , under the verandah, listening to the cicadas, looking at the gum trees and blue sky together with the the delicious, generous platter and lovely wines , great desserts and coffee made for a great day. It’s your choice to dine outside, or inside in air conditioned comfort.
From bubbles, reds, rose’, and whites Blue Pyrenees Wines and Cellar Door Platters are the best.
Definitely worth a visit if you haven’t been.
Debra Adele — Google review
OMG Linda and her Staff were 5 🌟 Friendly and knowledgeable of the wines and history of winery
Very accommodating to us and our two girls ( fur babies ).
Such a relaxing atmosphere we will return ❤️ and of course the wines were 🤤.
Barbara White — Google review
Lovely winery to visit in the Victorian goldfields. Fabulous grazing plate that's generous meal for $38, accompanied by delicious wines.
Andrew Ogbourne — Google review
I was really looking forward to coming out here today. I had heard really great things from a friend. The venue is pretty and the set menu local food platter was nice and we paired it with a lovely Chardonnay. Unfortunately, the overall experience was not great though. We asked for a wine tasting and it was the worst one I have had. We were asked to move inside, which is fine, but the server promptly forgot about us. Our food sat outside in the sun with the flies while he reused our glasses for whites, reds and sparkling and could not recommend even one to have with our meal.
We then asked for more bread, which I had to ask for three times, it was over 20 mins before it came. We also asked for another bottle of wine but the server never came back.. they then cleared our glasses .. so had clearly forgotten us again. It was not that busy considering it was a set menu! Ended up leaving without buying anything to take away although we wanted to. Disappointed.
Courtney Underwood — Google review
The wine and the food are exceptional. Whether you are a red, white or sparkling fan. It's all very very good.
The share platter for two is always great and changes with the season.
The staff are friendly and welcoming.
Enjoy a day out in the Avoca area.
Sue Mcguinness — Google review
Awful experience at the winery today, the male attendant running the wine tastings offered ZERO explanation of any of the wines, no order or method to the tasting and had an unfriendly poor attitude in general. Despite many tables and plentiful space they were only capable of doing three tastings at a time! There was an hour wait on food and despite advertising a cheese or food platter to accompany a wine tasting they were unable to offer this service! Wont be recommending or coming back!
Emily Neville — Google review
A lovely setting. Dog friendly. The platters were very tasty. The wine we bought was reasonably priced. An enjoyable time 😊
Nancy De George — Google review
Very generous wine tasting and staff are friendly. Their Shiraz is reasonable price and food is good. Their outdoor setting is very pretty. I really enjoy this winery and highly recommend. :)
Sam — Google review
The wine is great, the setting is great, and the platter is the best I can remember ever eating
Sue McIndoe — Google review
As part of our Victorian regional escape we called into Blue Pyrenees Estate, our hosts Linda and Phil helped us enjoy a fantastic afternoon, we shared a wonderful platter with a hot and cold selection (bring your appetite!) then some lovely wine tastings, the sparkling Rose and Shiraz were just delicious, the staff here are very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable who absolutely enjoy and take pride in their environment, thanks again for making Blue Pyrenees a "must" visit. We joined the wine club as well offering great discounts and will look forward to receiving our regular deliveries, Merry Christmas all, best wishes, Therese and Mick.
Michael Fisher — Google review
This place has the best value platter I have come across, absolutely amazing & a general all round excellent experience with a very nice assortment of wine to compliment.
Kelvin Stead — Google review
Thanks to table server, Leonie, our day for adventure paid off handsomely! First, an exotic and filling platter for two, teamed with crisp white wines, barista coffees AND a personalized mudmap for the scenic route home! WHAT A GREAT DAY......in the atmospheric Pyrenees!
Flossie Peitsch — Google review
A lovely place for lunch and amazing sparkling shiraz.
Talbot Farmers Market EVERY 3rd SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
Farmers' market
Shopping
Farmers Markets
I drove to Talbot 'cause l'd heard it was a great Market . I thought it might be foreshortened 'cause of Covid BUT no ... a wonderfully eccentric mix of stalls . What added to the Buzz was the friendliness . I chatted with a great mix of humans ... My Dog loved it too ❤ l took home Sausage , Honey + Books .
JamesHarry Ward — Google review
Wow, what a fantastic market! And SOOO much bigger than I expected. Plus, the layout means you get a lovely meander through Talbot. Bring cash, the mobile reception for tap and go isn't fantastic.
Alissa Holder — Google review
Rain was still falling when we arrived at the Farmers Market around Sunday mid-day last week. Many stallholders invited us into their shelters extolling their wares, we gladly spent up big time! It was a joy to be out in the country fresh air and relatively free of Covid restrictions.
alex passmore — Google review
Good sized market. Good location as it is in the main street in town. Jad a wide range of good from some fruit and veges, home made goods and some trash and treasure (brick and brack). Parking available around in the side streets. Well worth a visit.
Christine Brandt — Google review
Next market day 17th September 2023
//Excellent market. Good array of stalls from veggies, food, pies, community BBQ with sausages, hamburgers so reasonably priced, to the most delicious tomato sauce, preserves, jams and bric a brac to raise money for the community. You'll find this store outside the local post office and down another street.
Then there's the best flaxseed oil from Stony Creek organics, the olives are delicious at very fair prices for certified organic, excellent honey and the best healing balms from a stall in the 'yard sale area'. It's a bit hidden but we'll worth looking. There was only one veggie store the day I went so I was a bit disappointed. I was also hoping to find a butcher there or supplier of local grassfed or organic meats. Loved the eggs from navigator region and the yummy pea shoots they sell. There's heaps to explore
Museum is also open to have a look. The architecture is beautiful and the town is quaint. There are amenities of toilets, drinking fountain, playground and BBQs and seating area available.
Lovely day out and after stop off at Clunes historic town to purchase handmade woolen socks and products.
Will definitely be back again. Thank you♥️
Please give a thumbs up if you got value from my review 👍
Christy J — Google review
Being Easter it was a bit quieter than other times I've been there which was good as it was easy to walk around with the grandson in the pusher. Not all the usual vendors were there. Understanding it was Easter I don't blame them for not being there. The egg and bacon roll was beautiful though. Al good Jim.
dodge and plymouth parts australia — Google review
A fantastic market. Great fresh produce, vegetables, fruit, beautiful crummed mushrooms, bread, honey etc. Great variety of market stalls. A lot of different fresh cooked food to buy for lunch or a snacks. If your looking for a nice weekend away this would make a perfect stop on the Sunday. Or if your in the area do yourself a favor & drop in. On every 3rd Sunday of each month. Check out their wed sight for updates or changes. The photos are a very very small offering of what is truly there. Sorry didn't get more.
Matt Hutch — Google review
What an amazing market to go too. Lots of stalls with a lot of them having fresh produce. It's a credit to all who make this market happen
Rodney Brown — Google review
What a beautiful village 14 k's out of Maryborough Vic. Gardens maintained by Volunteers. A nice place for an overnight stop in a B&B. You'd have to drive to Maryborough for dinner.
Dorothy Harris — Google review
☀️ Absolutely adore the Talbot market! The charming little town captivates with its quaint streets closed off for a stroll through homemade treasures and lovely people. The abundance of plants, delicious food, and handmade goodies make it a delightful experience. Plus, the scenic drive from Ballarat adds to the overall charm. Undoubtedly one of the best markets near Ballarat! (Also, the stroop waffle lady is my absolute favorite. Her stroop waffles are the best!)
This place is really worth a look. Aside from the well reviewed food (which we didn't have) the station has been beautifully restored - hard to believe it only cost $1.6 million - probably would cost that much for a feasibility study in Melbourne and the detail is fantastic.
Grant Campbell — Google review
After receiving state funding from Heritage Victoria the magnificent Maryborough Station underwent a 4‐year three-stage restoration of the façade, the slate roof and clock tower and glazed lantern covering the main carriageway platform completed in 2012. It is a tribute to the Victorian Railways, Architectural Works Department completed in 1890 as an outstanding example to the school of Victorian railway architecture developing a regional rather than national or international modern style. It is one of the finest examples in the country of Queen-Anne architecture which displays many hallmarks of the Anglo‐Dutch style which is enlivened at the roofline with gables and an asymmetrically placed clock tower.
During the 1970’s much of the original facade ornamentation, the orbs, pedestals and ball-caps and rendered octagonal chimney crowns were sadly removed. These were carefully re-cast and reinstated as part of the restoration programme. The exterior was re-rendered using Adelaide ‘Brightonlite’ yellow-ocher oxide cement render. The residents of Maryborough were delighted with the result and applauded its face-lift and remarked “this is how it was meant to be” and how they could remember the way the station looked originally.
An outstanding feature of Maryborough Station is its long platform covered by a continuous glazed lantern at the apex. This is said to be the longest single platform outside the Melbourne region and measures 1010 meters including the rail motor sidings. Today, Maryborough Station operates an art gallery emporium, a fully licensed restaurant in the grand dining hall (thanks Lloyd) and VLine post and freight services for passenger and goods trains. Maryborough Station is an exceptional country Victorian attraction and well worth the visit. Thank you and all the best, Chris Wilmar
Chris Wilmar Architect — Google review
On our way home to Mount Gambier today we stopped in to Marlborough station hoping for coffee and early feed....OMG we were not disappointed...
The best cooked breakfast I have ever experienced....every mouthful delicious and well presented...chai late..prefect...
What lovely friendly staff.....amazing atmosphere....do your self a favour if travelling and looking for a good feed...worth the stop....
Garth Davis — Google review
Friendly service.
Great coffee.
Sandra Haebich — Google review
4.8
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4.5
(72)
Maryborough VIC 3465, Australia
I'll never travel to Echuca without this trip planner again
Casual cottages with fireplaces in a low-key farmstay featuring trout fishing & dining.
We had an amazing experience. The kids and our dog loved exploring the property and getting to know the resident team of dogs, horses and chickens. Kids will never forget their first fishing experience. Robert is font of knowledge who provided us with a behind the scenes insight into trout farming and the many foods that Tuki makes. Lunch and dinner is delicious. We definitely plan on returning.
Minh Trinh — Google review
Been there many times over decades.
Better developed facilities and management each time when visiting.
Easy to catch fish from there which good news to young kids.
“the host is super nice”
Clean washroom.
Weak mobile signal, not their fault.
Lenny Cheng — Google review
Great relaxing setting, great produce to platter experience but trout from a river tastes much better. A salad with the fish was missing. Nice wines and craft beers. Lamb pie was minced meat, bakery style not home made, chunky meat pie. Definitely recommend it for the experience and setting, not as much the food.
Els Tielemans — Google review
Absolutely 10/10 perfect if you’re looking for a relaxing, quiet, off the grid, & charming place to stay in amongst some of Victoria’s greatest food and wine offerings. Don’t expect 5 star hotel, expect breathtaking views from your cabin where sunrise & sunset blow you away. Expect a comfortable cottage with character. The restaurant views are no different. The food is quality living off the land type home cooking that fills the belly nicely. Put your phone away and relax as you walk around the farm taking in the magic of rural beauty. It is located an easy drive away from an array of quality dining in the region. The owners Robert and Jan are very friendly and welcoming. Bring snacks and whatever you need to get properly immersed in the surroundings. The perfect place to base yourself to reset.
Matt Johns — Google review
The venue is beautiful, stunning view from the seating area and ponds very close walk to fish in. Had a great time fishing with our children. Food was very nice too.
Older staff were unfortunately very unwelcoming and rude. It felt like we had intruded by been there. Younger staff were lovely and helpful. Shame as it is such a beautiful venue.
Allison Volke — Google review
Finally our family was able to get our first experience in trout fishing. Overall was a good experience. Receptionist had a bit of a problem in giving us a table for lunch, as we hadn't booked it. But it was not mentioned at the time we called them. Any way with a little bit of a grim face, she allowed us to have lunch there. (She even said we can write a bad review for that)
Fishing experience was awesome. Food was also quite nice. I t was one such place, where you enter thinking, I will write a bad review tomorrow. But the place was awesome , so eventually not able to do that .
Aravind Kurup — Google review
Enjoyed a mini break in one of the beautiful stone cottages.
Perfect views, warm open fire, great food and exactly what I needed - peaceful surroundings.. Thanks Jan and Robert
dee james — Google review
Beware the elderly, male Karen, and probably senile waiter will verbally abuse you while ordering, serve differently to what you ordered and charge for more than you were served! Honestly never had such a bad experience in my life. Oh and you won't catch any fish in the winter. The view was nice, that's why it still gets 1 star.
Eleanor Joan — Google review
Awesome morning out at the trout farm. Nice scenery. Wonderful trout catching experience. Topped by the very awesome Rib Eye cooked to perfection 👌🤝
Jarrod Turner — Google review
The fishing is fun, easy for the kids. The food beyond amazing, hand made sausage rolls were a delight. The venue very unique and worth the drive. We booked for 14 people and were well catered for.
The male owner was unusually upset that my 14 month old had scrunched a single paper printed menu sheet, I apologized and offered to pay, however he went on about it for so long and loud that others noticed and turned to look at me. He stood over us at the dim lit table, then snatched it from my childs hand, continued on about how terrible it was until I started crying.
Until that point it had been a wonderful experience.
Kerry K — Google review
The older lady( I believe the owner) very unwelcoming and rude!!!
Felt as we were not meant to be there!!
Food overpriced and bland, potatoes dry, sauce hardly there, fish had no seasoning.
Steak full of fat, hardly any meat!!
Menu is priced as a main meal, but served as shared meal, uneven serving sizes.
Waited on meal for over an hour.
Best part of the meal was the chips, which we can get them at Maccas, on every corner.
Rest rooms very dirty !!!
This was my first and definitely last time visit!!
Don’t waste your time going !!!
Jayjay Peterson — Google review
I love this place. So typically Aussie, friendly and inviting. We caught our trout and had a bang up lunch. Robert the owner looked after us like gold and was the perfect farmhouse host. I would recommend anyone to visit, explore, fish and feast. All ages welcome.
James Cameron — Google review
A wonderful place. Very friendly staffs and helpful. Fishing was fun for the kids and the eat your own catch were yummy. Homely meal by the fire in winter. Can’t get any better than that!
User — Google review
A gorgeous warm homely place for lunch in all 4 seasons. I love thé fish and lamb dishes, warm wood fire place and friendly honest hospitality.
Coming here every year for 20 years. And hope to return many more.
Watching the lambs gambol is part of the joy.
Stephen Borger — Google review
Loved my day here! We caught a lot of trout and had them for dinner! Staff was friendly and very helpful. And the dog there was the cutest!
(also one staff member complimented my shirt, made my day :D)
Upmarket brekkie and lunch, plus dinner on Fridays, in a relaxed space with rustic wooden tables.
An ABSOLUTE MUST SEE if visiting Castlemaine - or a sufficient reason on its own to visit the town. David Bromley's collection is AMAZING. It is even more stunning in this truly unique space. Just GO!
Jennifer Barron — Google review
Loved this goal. Can access most parts. $10 per person. Can get guided tours & ghost tours. Plenty of information inside.
Michaela Co — Google review
Sensational, surreal, sexy, spooky and surprising, the Bromley Collection Museum at the Old Castlemaine Gaol is a must visit for all art aficionados. Kudos to David and Yuge for creating this whimsical wonderland. I had an amazing experience and can’t wait to return for more!
Z L — Google review
Good place nice views...an amazing to be on a sunny day...staff is very friendly, it's built in a prison castle so can go for prison tour as well.
I would like to see more food options there
Maninder Singh — Google review
We visited a couple of weeks ago after being told about David Bromley's collection at the Daylesford Gallery. This is definitely a must do if you are in the area, such an amazing use of this historic site combined with such wonderful art work. If only the walls could talk, the work gone into restoring this building and grounds is a credit to all involved.
Jacqui Rawlings — Google review
37 years since I visited the Old Castlemaine Gaol and upon walking inside I was surprised by the transformation and the warmth it has created. The art works and sculptures are a visual delight. The outdoor areas and gardens are calm and peaceful adorned with fabulous bronze sculptures and planter pots. Amazed by what Bromley & Co have created and the time, thought and effort that has gone into creating each space within the building and the outside areas. Thank you for sharing your collection and for breathing new life into the house on the hill.
Debra Maclean — Google review
Dreadful signage. Didn't know where to enter or buy tickets from! Just happened to be someone who looked like a cook from the cafe' wandering passed us & saw that we looked a little lost & told us to buy our tickets from the girls in the cafe'. Seems to be more aimed at patronage for the cafe' & evening entertainment or functions. A bit sad really, as it has amazing heritage & should still be run as a regular tourist attraction. Inside was mostly amazing, but sad to see so much either locked up, the jail cells were being used as storage rooms, blocked off or set up for something else. Very disappointing in many ways, it has so much potentionalin the gaol itself. It wasn't always obvious where & where not you could go. You get an eery sense of what it would have been like as a prisoner (to a degree) back then (mid 1800's etc.). The prisoners main exercise yard was lovely, considering (with fruit trees planted there). Took lots of photo's. I am always amazed at the architecture of these gorgeous buildings. Still worth a look.
Claire Birchall — Google review
Didn't enjoy it at all, advertised as castlemaine old gaol but all you get to see is art in all the cells and outdoor areas. Should have signs that it is an art gallery inside of a gaol. If you are expecting to see cells set up and any other gaol rooms set up don't bother going. You are unable to go up stairs either as they are blocked off. Before people buy tickets you should be telling them it is an art gallery not what the goal was like. The way it is now is how they make their money by not telling people what is inside.
Very very dissappointed and would not recommend visiting
Joy Murcott — Google review
Was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this- the combination of eclectic art and prison building is amazing! Worth the $20 entry and sure to become a regional attraction
Sandy Parker — Google review
Love what Bromley has done to the place. Having visited the gaol on school camps in the 2000’s, was sad to see the site closed for such a long time. But now - wow, easily one of the most unique art galleries in the world.
Donald Yip — Google review
The art, sculptures, garden were incredible and the old Gaol amazing. I’ll remember this place forever.
Denise Staverman — Google review
Impressive collection and sympathetic use of the Old Castlemaine Gaol. According to Google David Bromley (famous artist) purchased the building in 2018. He and his wife have transformed it into a great visitor attraction which I recommend visiting.
Lisa — Google review
A very colorful place, caused a lot of emotions, but I will say that I was impressed. Incredible amount of sculptures and art objects. The pictures were quite depressing, which created an atmosphere of isolation. In general, the museum is very interesting and large with patios. I think this is one of the most impressive places in the city.
The only thing was that there was not enough information about the place and history, I would like that they would give out a brochure or there was a website with history.
Sena Lane — Google review
As we are ex prison officers my wife and I had a bit of a walk around out side knowing that the gaol was closed. Turns out we were in the right place at the right time and we happened to be at the main door when it was opened. We mentioned that we use to do and we were from WA and the young lads let us have a walk around inside. We felt very privileged to get the opportunity to have a walk around such a historic landmark. Many thanks, this will be a huge memory for us.
Cheers guys.
Graham Allen — Google review
The Old Gaol has brilliant views over Castlemaine.
Unfortunately, the exhibit was closed and we only saw the outside artwork.
Geoffrey Johnstone — Google review
A must see!!! From the outside the gaol looks to be an interesting place to check out. Once you go inside… it is amazing!!!! The art works collected inside from numerous well known artists is incredible. The art is displayed within the old gaol, which for me, lightened the atmosphere. The art provided a layer of inspiration, over the history of the gaol and it was interesting to learn about different artists on display. Well done for preserving the space and allowing the history to come through, definitely lightening the mood of the dire conditions of the historic gaol.
A beautiful botanic Gardens for this lovely country town. Great playground for the kids. Bridges over a little creek, lots of flowers and beautiful big trees. Large areas under shade with also big open areas. Nice location too, though next to the train line... Kids love it, but it is slightly loud (think you'd get used to it though) - and fur next to The Mill precinct. Would definitely spend more time at the gardens next time we visit!
Kara Robinson — Google review
Nice garden. Great for picnic or just for a walk or being chill.
Having free car park in the front and along the side of the garden.
Having a lake, small playground and benches.
Can visit the Mill Castlemaine also - just opposite across the road.
If you are in the area and have some time to spare, can come and chill around!
Trang Nguyen — Google review
With the reduction in size from original - it looks more like a park than Botanical Gardens. The elms & oaks are impressive as you walk clockwise but the Shire should pump more into maintenance. Lake Johanna (who is she?) is mottled with green algae & on the other side - some of Oaks are showing signs of stress. Weedy tufts of dry grass everywhere. Nevertheless - couple of garden beds are fringed with parsley & add a nice floral touch as does the wisteria covered arbour. Playground will keep kids happy & the duckies are a delight to watch.
Melb Traveller — Google review
Very nice botanical garden with all sorts of flowers,trees,shrubs etc
Lake in the area,streams and small bridges crossings.
Great for walking,running,bringing dogs for a walk.
leaw pang kiat — Google review
Beautiful gardens. Nice place for a walk or a picnic.
The Caravan of courage — Google review
Awesome and quiet place. Good for a morning walk and run. You would feel the energy and fresh air. Lot of ducks in the water. If you wish to enjoy nature, this is the place for you. Had a nice cold breeze morning walk. Parking is not a problem. Available from 3 sides of the garden. Finding the place on the maps can be tricky. The gps location is not correct on the map. Just google The Mill and its right opposite The Mill.
Ash Wardhan — Google review
Absolutely beautiful place.
Could spend the day there, will definitely be going back
Kat Reid — Google review
Great place you can tell the people working here put in alot of effort and knowledge looking after these gardens.good place for people to walk if they need flat ground
Se Ren — Google review
The gardens surrounding Lake Joanna offer an opportunity to forget about life for a little while and surround yourself with nature. It was also good weather when I went so it was a lovely experience.
A lap around the lake is nice for a short walk, though you could spend hours doing laps for exercise, or enjoying a picnic in the gardens. The flowers were beautiful and blooming when I visited in mid-september.
Nathan f — Google review
Awesome place for a picnic or BBQ. Nice walks ,beautiful Roses
Gypsyjohn Panda — Google review
Beautiful Botanical Gardens that has the most gorgeous variety of Trees, definitely one for the day trip
Robyn Carey — Google review
Over 800 beautiful trees with walking paths winding through. Very peaceful surroundings.
Milton Brownrigg — Google review
Beautifully maintained gardens perfect for a morning or weekend stroll, picnic or barbecue. Plenty of birdlife to observe, plus the occasional kangaroo over in the reserve. Contact the local council to book the rotunda or tea rooms for a function.
Joel Pearson — Google review
Google maps sent me to the hospital and no way through to the gardens. Back-tracked and made the turn before.
Pleasant walk round, late autumn, with fallen leaves. Beautiful.
joomeng quek — Google review
Great place to spend time with kids and family.
Hakki Turupcu — Google review
4.7
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4.5
(273)
Botanical Gardens, 2 Walker St, Castlemaine VIC 3450, Australia
I'll never travel to Echuca without this trip planner again
The Central Deborah Gold Mine is a historical tourist attraction in Bendigo, Victoria, offering a subterranean tour of the mine and gold panning activity. The mine operated between 1939 and 1954, making it one of the last commercial mines to cease operation on the Bendigo goldfields. Over 700,000kg of gold was discovered in the area during this time making it the 7th largest gold producer in the world.
Its an amazing tour to see and understand about mining in the early 1800s. The guide is very knowledgeable and the tour is very interesting. We went 61m underground and walked through the area. Best thing is that they encouraged everyone yo take as many photos as we want and post them! Absolutely worth it!
Christopher Chua — Google review
I dropped in when I saw the sign. Parking was easy. The ticket lady let me know that there was two types of tours. One was the below ground tour of the actual mine. And the other was a self tour of everything at ground level. There was a charge for the below tour but the self tour was free. It took me about 1 hour 30 minutes for free tour. I just loved it. I will be back for the below tour when I have more time…
steve Nelson — Google review
Did the Deborah Central Goldmine tour on 28/11/23. Mainly because of my name. Lol.
Maddy did a fantastic job as tour guide answering all questions, making it entertaining and very real.
I learned so much. Felt quite emotional seeing the miner’s change area with all the jackets and cardigans still on the hooks above ground.
Was surprisingly wet underground but nice and cool. I could see my breath 😳
Women in the gift shop/café were exceptionally kind and helpful. 10/10 to all.
Deborah Goodwin (Silasozzie) — Google review
Excellent underground gold mine tour with fantastic guide who was truly knowledgeable. Exciting ride down in the lift. You get to wear helmets with lamps to light the way provided. Be sure to wear flat enclosed footwear and dress relatively warmly. No toilets down there, so go before you go. Tram goes right to the front door. This was my second time, having done the tour 6 years ago. This time was just as much fun, and my kids got to enjoy it this time. Plenty to explore and activities like gold panning above ground included. Allow 2 to 3 hours to do everything. Well worth the money spent.
Dean — Google review
We went on the mine tour and went underground. Never been in a mine before and loved it. Our guide was informative. We roamed on the surface in the old buildings and machinery. Well worth a visit into Bendigo’s history.
Missy Leigh Schofield — Google review
My mates and I had a good experience here, you can enter for free and have a look around and enter the museum.
There is a fun activity, you can swift the sand to find small semiprecious stones in it, it's a fun activity for kids and adults.
If you want to have the mine tour with a tour guide, you need to purchase a ticket which is approx $30-40 pp,
There are lots of parking spaces.
Ravindra Ranjit — Google review
Well worth the reasonable entry fee. Interesting above ground display and museum.
The underground tour is something to really enjoy. Our guide , Bazz, was friendly helpful and informative.
The tour is about 75 minutes. Accessibility for those with a mobility issue is quite good, although naturally the path is a little uneven in parts with small puddles and old rail tracks which have been covered reasonably well. Highly recommend this as a different experience.
David ?Riddo? Ridley — Google review
This place was just an awesome experience, one of my top places to visit of all time !
Above ground having a huge display with so much to see and learn about the working and process of ore to extract gold. There is a huge amount of old hysterical machinery on display.
We then ventured underground on a mine tour ..an experience I will never forget . The guys that took us down were so informative, and explaining so much in detail.
Although we went so deep underground I felt safe at all times.
I have never experienced being so deep underground, let alone an actual gold mine ...this is just something you have to experience for yourself.
Bridgette Johnson — Google review
We did the 1h tour and it was extremely interesting and enjoyable. Zoe was really knowledgeable and explained how was working in the mine back in the days. She also showed us how to spot gold among other minerals. Highly recommended. I wish we did the 3.5h tour!
Silvia — Google review
What an absolute fascinating part of Australian history.
Highly recommend both walking around the surface and doing the underground tour.
Knowledgeable tour guides and lots to learn and see on your own.
I would recommend it and I would go back if I was in town again
Lots of photo opportunities as well
Josh Sutto — Google review
Amazing tour! There are two tours: above surface and underground tour. Both were fun and informative. Make sure you book tickets in advance for underground tours, and put on enclosed shoes for your tour. The underground tour is 75 minutes long and its definitely worth your time. Also, you can host parties underground--what an interesting fact!
The hop on-hop off tram takes you right at the entranceof the mine, there is also a bus stop 2 minutes away, and this place is a 18-minute walk from the Bendigo station. There is a variety of souvenirs you can buy such as cool fridge magnets, beanie, gold nuggets, gold jewellery, hoodie, gems, postcard, coin purse, and so on. You can also buy hot food, ice-cream cones, cold drinks here.
The staff is extremely helpful, friendly, and welcoming. Loved the overall experience here. Awesome and one-of-a-kind it is!
Samina Munshi — Google review
Central Deborah Gold Mine was a very fun experience, and the staff were super friendly! There is plenty to see and lots of souvenirs, like real gold! The history behind it was quite interesting, and was explained very well.
Elina — Google review
Taken 75 minutes Tour.
Ticket : $35 per Adult.
Expensive, price should be less.
It’s just 10-15 minutes under ground walk , but they took 75 min to explain the history of Gold Mine.
We booked in Advance.
Prashant Goel — Google review
Excellent. The above ground is free to view and had a lot of things to see. The gold mine underground tour was excellent and the tour guide was very good and talked abut interesting things. The tour is $35 for an adult ticket but well worth it, is lasted over an hour.
Paul R — Google review
Central Deborah Gold Mine tour was quite interesting. The tour guide, Sarah Jane (SJ), gave a very good explanation about the process of gold mining, how 929kg gold was extracted, and how the widow maker got its name.
Wearing helmets and going down 183ft below ground and walking in the mining cave was a thrilled experience.
Would recommend this to anyone who is new to Australia.
Swetha Shanka Sreenivasan — Google review
Fantastic place to absorb some information about gold mining. Work and life in the days of mining.
The toor was great and Nat our guy was truly a well of knowledge about the process and history. If you in town for a holiday or just passing by it’s worth the stop.
LocalPro Plumb — Google review
Good place to update your knowldge about how Gold mines operated in Bendigo. Very friendly staff behind the counter. $5 self guided surface tour with the purchase of a Tram ticket. Allowed to take your dog inside this venue.
fernando m — Google review
Great experience. Definitely worth visiting. 61 meter underground. Our tour guide was fantastic, he was knowledgeable and funny.
Great place to go with your kids. Very educational. Highly recommended.
Benno W — Google review
Wow! My tour around the gold mine was indeed the landmark of my trip to Bendigo! Colorful, interesting, informative, knowledgeable, with a good sense or humor, staff extreme friendliness - all at once.
V K — Google review
A very unique, educational and special experience everyone would love to try!
We had an extremely passionate guide name Nathan, which was not only knowledgeable about an impressive number of things but also very emotionally intelligent.
He shared a lot of fun facts as much as personal life lessons that will stick with me for a long time.
Wonderful to see such tender people loving their job !
Definitely recommend!
The Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendijk is a large and majestic Catholic cathedral, built mainly thanks to the wealth of Henry Backhaus, the first Catholic priest in Bendigo. The cathedral features beautiful Gothic architecture, and is a major site of worship for Catholics in central and north-west Bendigo.
Beautiful Catholic Cathedral in Bendigo, the tallest spire is visible from almost anywhere in the city. It was closed when I visited but even to look from outside it was a true architectural masterpiece and an icon of Bendigo. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Bendigo.
Nakul pisolkar — Google review
I took a tour through the cathedrals main area. There a really helpful and friendly volunteer who handed out a leaflet with important historical and religious information. The accessible areas inside were clearly marked in a helpful way however there no were external signs of the same nature. Only a back side door was open and I wouldn't have even known the Cathedral was open if not walking past the long way around.
Snorlax cuddles — Google review
Magnificent cathedral in Bendigo CBD.
Located in the Bendigo's heart, this beautiful cathedral is a great stop for a quick visit or some nice photos. We went on Australia day so it was closed so we just walked around and visit outside which was so worth the visit already. Im sure its wonderful inside too.
Having plenty of street parking just in front of the cathedral. Very easy to access.
Highly recommended! Definitely a must if you are in Bendigo!
Trang Nguyen — Google review
Not a church person, but this was so impressive. We had a look inside and meet the guide/info man. So informative and told us about this beautiful building.
A must do if you love old architecture.
Alex Draper — Google review
Magnificent cathedral rich in history.
Well worth a visit if exploring the historical buildings and architecture around Bendigo.
Matt M — Google review
Impressive architecture. Apparently second largest cathedral in Australia. Great place to visit when you can't be in Rome...
A A — Google review
This cathedral is absolutely stunning. We were unable to visit inside as we missed the opening hours but the outside is spectacular. A walk around the premises was peaceful and the architecture is calming. We will make it a point to visit inside and try to attend a service next time.
Adele L — Google review
so peaceful and wonderful statues, scriptures and monuments. perfect surrounding environment!
Dinh Hong Thom — Google review
On a purely artistic and architectural basis , it is an absolutely stunning building.
Built on a hill on the drive into town, it demands your attention as it dominates the nearby landscape.
Beautiful woodwork in the ceilings, and gorgeous stonework, stained glass, and statues. Similar in grandeur to cathedrals seen in Australia's capitals or even in European cities.
There was a local inside, unsure if she worked for or volunteered for the church , who was happy to offer knowledge regarding its history and development.
Nathan f — Google review
It's a good place for your instagram pictures. Many people come to take photos here. I visited here yesterday and you can park your car in front of the cathedral and take photos if you want.
Ravindi Kavmini — Google review
Stunning piece of architecture and key to Bendigos heart in the centre of town. Yet to venture inside!
I'm sure it is just as stunning within as it is without.
TINA — Google review
Magnificent cathedral sitting on top of a small hill. You can see it from anywhere in town, hard to miss and hard to resist dropping by for a visit! The interiors do not disappoint at all... simply stunning! A must visit if you love old buildings and architecture. Bonus: very lovely and friendly staff!
Hui Min Chong — Google review
Very nice view, great architecture.
Wage Peace — Google review
Walked around cathedral then went in side and was given a history of the church by a very knowledgeable volunteer. Beautiful Gothic cathedral
merilyn lorraine — Google review
Sacred Heart church is a lovely place to visit. The architecture is impressive inside it will wow in so many ways, and the atmosphere is peaceful with very less people visiting.
Inside, there are beautiful wooden pillar,colourful windows and comfortable seating. The church offers a sense of community and a place for reflection and worship. It's a welcoming and serene space for all."
Like the way we were welcomed 😇😇
Siddhartha Maharjan — Google review
A magnificent structure that cannot be missed for newcomers to Bendigo. A Gothic Revival style Catholic Cathedral (Sandhusrt Diocese) built in 1897 and consecrated in 1901, one of the 3 largest cathedrals in Australia with a spire height of 87 meters. It houses one of the largest Pipe Organs which is an experience during the Mass Choir. Mass times 8 Am Wednesday and 8.30 & 11AM Sundays. Reconciliation on Saturday 10:30~11:30.
Attended 150th anniversary of the diocese on 24/3/24 and it was a wonderful experience.
Cyril Francis — Google review
Absolutely beautiful cathedral! Was really nice to have a browse around and see all the monuments, statues and scriptures. Would have been quiet but unluckily I was there when a school trip was there too but that was fine. Would recommend for a relaxing town exploration point!
The Bendigo Art Gallery is a regional art museum that has exhibits from all over the world, with an events calendar year-round. It was founded in 1853 and is one of the oldest museums in Australia.
Loved the Elvis exhibition. Well presented. Very organised on arrival, very busy. Parking a bit busy as a football match was on at Queen Elizabeth oval. Allow time to find a park.
Can't wait to see what they have next. We drove from Melbourne and stayed local, would definitely recommend.
Elizabeth Ivancic — Google review
This was an amazing small gallery! It was so spacious and well planned. Above all of that it was free too. There was a Chinese exhibition that was stunning and 2 rooms full of first place local artists paintings to view. It's always lovely being able to see art so up close and seeing the way art is heading is very interesting.
If your travelling through just like myself I would totally recommend a stop here!
Annouchka Blood — Google review
What a great depiction of “La Belle Epoque” that the gallery has created. Many fascinating art works, posters, clothing and music. Lots to see in pleasant surroundings.
Eliot Jarman — Google review
look at this, definitely the piece of art standing right in front of me.
somehow they look minimalist but not at the same time. this visit just for a day, so we sort of run out of time. don’t get a chance to pay a visit. next time, next time we will give it a go. wanna see how’s the inside look like. also the garden next to it are so cute and pretty.
Lee Yu Xuan — Google review
Wonderful gallery. We spent a morning perusing Australian landscapes, a collection of Chinese art, and impressive artifacts from the Golden Dragon Museum, which had a bit more room to breathe here in several dedicated halls vs their normal home. No need to buy tickets in advance because entry is also free!
Kate — Google review
LOVELY ART GALLERY WITH GREAT GIFT SHOP!
I took the free tour and the art is varied and the visiting exhibitions were good. I loved the zoetrope!
The gift shop was worth the visit, with an amazing array of goodies.
aishwarya dongre — Google review
One of the best art galleries we have ever visited. Smallish, compact, not overwhelming for anyone you may take who is not into art as much as you! Very very beautiful inside. Gorgeous. Top cafe, garden area and gift shop. A must stop in Bendigo. We loved this town very much. Can also climb up the viewing tower outside from the cafe (charming staff, yum food, we had salmon bagels) and get views right around Bendigo. We both felt happiness after our visit. P. S. Easy to get around, for prams and wheelchairs, flat and very spacious rooms. Excellent.
Devon Port — Google review
Awesome, totally loved the Elvis display. Was able to walk around the exhibits with ease, not rushed through. Well done Bendigo Art Gallery and also the Bendigo businesses for supporting the exhibition
Nancy McRae — Google review
I love coming here for the exhibitions. It’s incredible what they bring to our state. Elvis was great. Immaculate building, staff, gift shop and facilities. It’s impressive given how many people stomp through there a day! Great cafe out the back too.
Victoria Strong — Google review
Bendigo Art Gallery never disappoints me. Enjoyed Australiana Designing a Nation. Very interesting, beautiful pieces. Australian Women's Weekly exhibition was also on, which was extensive with very interesting reading.
Janeene Du Bois — Google review
Wonderful free art gallery that is highly worth while making time for when visiting Bendigo.
They currently have an exhibition to celebrate 90 Years of Women's Weekly. Don't dismiss it as I did at first! It contains some stunning photographs, outfits and inspired staging.
The rest of the galleries don't disappoint either.
Staff were very welcoming and helpful. Clean and tidy throughout.
Melanie Duncalf — Google review
Visited there today to see the Australian Women's Weekly 90 yr exhibition. It was a free exhibition. I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. It wasn't a great exhibition. Apart from magazine covers through the years and 6 dresses and a couple of videos, there is not much more I can say. Surely the Women's Weekly could have exhibited much more than what was on display. It was a bit boring.
Mary Mezzee — Google review
Great experience in the gallery and cafe.
The gallery was great with a real mix of contemporary and historical art which we loved.
For free entry we couldn't complain! Great way to spend an hour or two on a rainy day. Really interesting display. Everyone got something out of it, even the kids. There could perhaps be some colouring-in stations/art appreciation worksheets or something for kids.
The cafe was great and the grounds were lovely, even in the rain. Perhaps put puppachino in a seperate category for pets so people don't order it for their kids, or put some explanation so people know what it is, as we had a mix-up there.
Highly recommend for a visit.
Rebecca — Google review
Bendigo Art Gallery has been an all time favourite from Elvis, Marimekko, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, The Windsor’s, Mary Quant, Women’s Weekly and Edith Head. Their exhibitions are always fun, a little left if centre for Bendigo and never ever disappoint. If you get the chance just go go go ☝️👏
Yvonne Amos — Google review
Great small gallery wide variety of works and artists for such a small space. Some pieces are amazingly realistic photo like, great indigenous and local artists. Free entry.
Ricky Wilson — Google review
Awesome space. Saw the Paris art exhibition which was well worth the trip and cost of ticket. Friendly staff.
Sallie Davies — Google review
The gallery was a Lovely experience. Free, in a pretty central location near the heart of Bendigo , and they had a pretty diverse collection, especially considering it is a regional gallery and not a state or Commonwealth facility.
I saw it all in under an hour, though I rushed myself somewhat. You could comfortably see everything in around two hours.
Nathan f — Google review
If you are looking for some great Australian art, you will find it here at the Bendigo Art Gallery.
This would have to be one of regional Victoria's best galleries!
We came here for the Australian Women's Weekly exhibition. While somewhat interesting, that exhibition was very much underwhelming. Just not enough content to satisfy.
However, the gallery remained worth the visit as the area housing traditional Australian art has recently been refurbished.
These rooms are absolutely stunning! The curators have done a very good job of presenting the art works in traditional gallery style.
So, while the Women's Weekly exhibition was not quite the 'blockbuster' I had hoped for, we will visit this gallery once again when next in Bendigo.
Here are some photos of the Australian Women's Weekly exhibition and the wonderful rooms of more traditional art at the gallery.
The Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo is a living history museum of the Chinese people of Bendigo from the goldrush period to present day. It features displays of historic Chinese artifacts, as well as educational experiences for all ages.
it was totally a shame we have not visit on the right time, they close on monday, and there is some section are in upgrades. but definitely gonna come again to visit the garden probably.
the stone lion on the outside are look amazing, the door as well.
bamboo garden are my favourite, give them sometime to grow bigger, i sure everyone will be impressed
Lee Yu Xuan — Google review
Very nice to visit the lovely gardens, the goldfish are enormous. Some areas of the garden are fenced off possibly for repair or upgrade. We turned up while they were setting up for the harvest moon festival. Kids enjoyed sitting and watching the goldfish swim up to them. Will have to come back once fully opened up. Good place to bring a young family.
Daniel Soccio — Google review
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Atmosphere:
The place is definitely worth to visit; It educates people about Chinese/Asian occupation early years in Victoria.
The Chinese garden was captivating.
Accessibility:
Easy to navigate. I didn’t worry about finding a car park.
The place is just a walking distance from Rosalind Park.
Price: $16 entry for adults and I think kids below certain age are free.
Nicole M — Google review
This was a pleasant place to visit on a day we hadn't planned to! The history and toes Bendigo has with Chinese people was lovely to learn about. And the Dragons with their historical photos were amazing to see. My son also loved the drawers of ancient coins.
There isn't anything interactive, and certainly some fragile pieces on display so probably wouldn't recommend young kids if you want to avoid stressing out! The gardens are undergoing restoration which will be good for an upgrade.
Kristy Hounslow — Google review
Wonderfully informative museum full of loads of artifacts and memorabilia. Very well presented and spacious. Covers the story of Chinese in Bendigo very well. Definitely worth visiting
Elliot Peters — Google review
I was blown away by the find. Who would have thought there's a Chinese museum in a regional town. It was really an interesting experience and I was amazed by the collections. No wait on a Sunday. The restaurant next door is worth a try.
Anna Ho — Google review
We visited the place as a family on a weekday. The family ticket was about $40. During school holidays, a guide will provide a free 5-10 min introduction. It was interesting to learn about Chinese history in Bendigo and their contribution to the local community. The museum collection is also unique. There is a small pond with fishes in the museum garden, which is just outside the museum. The garden area was being renovated when we visited. Car parking is a challenge as the museum is in Bendigo city centre. Free parking may be available in nearby streets and some paid parking options are also available. Thanks.
VN — Google review
Amazing afternoon, lots of action and colour.
More big screens for the size of the crowds would be food.
Also the seats for the important people LOL, took up way to much space.
We are all one community, there shouldn't be segregated spaces
Kat Reid — Google review
Small area but great if you want to know more about the history of Chinese diggers and migrants. As much as I find it interesting, young children may find it boring. The small Chinese garden outside is beautiful too. Note: due to shortage of stuff, the museum may close early, so it's better to be there early than late!
Yen Swee Lim — Google review
Loved this place more than I thought!! I don’t know what the reviewers are saying about this place being small when it’s quite a decent size but also JAM PACKED full of really interesting items that had great displays and descriptions so you could follow along well. Now it does say no photos are to be taken in the museum but you can in the gardens. My advice would be to really take your time in looking at the pieces, read a few descriptions, check out the Loong gallery area that’s part of the building and you’ll have a great time. I’d say the $16 ticket was just worth it as it exceeded my expectations
Kim B. — Google review
A fascinating extremely well displayed museum. The mixture of 18th century to modern day history was really cool. The staff was excellent, incredibly friendly and helpful. Price was exceptional for everything included. The walk through the gardens was especially enjoyable just to watch the koi swimming around. The gift shop as well was reasonably priced.
Snorlax cuddles — Google review
Very colorful and picturesque yet informative and knowledgeable museum of Chinese cultural ancestry to Bendigo, Victoria and Australia in general.
V K — Google review
The place is good and beautiful.
In my opinion this place is a bit expensive 16$ per adult is a lot based on what it offers.
Overall the place is good and shares lots of history.
Recommended
ishwor koirala — Google review
Wonderful museum with so much information about the Chinese people who came looking for gold and eventually settled in the Bendigo area.
The exhibits are well done, and seeing the different dragons and paraphernalia used in the parades up close is a bonus.
Pam Connell — Google review
Interesting to visit. Loved the gardens.
There is a cafe attached but it was closed the day we visited. Very dark in places inside. Interesting history though
Laura A — Google review
If you like to go inside, fees apply. Make sure you have at least one hour spare to appreciate the rare collections. I got there too late, less than half an hour before closing time. Fortunately the outside garden worth a visit too and it's free.
helen liu — Google review
The Golden Dragon Museum offers an immersive journey into Chinese culture and history, making it a must-visit destination.
During the Mid-Autumn Lunar Festival, their spectacular lion and dragon dance performances bring the museum to life, captivating visitors with vibrant colors and rhythmic movements. It's a cultural experience that truly celebrates the spirit of the festival.
Was fortunate to join in and spend a meaninful day enjoying the art form.
Vin — Google review
September 2012 We drove for about 2 hrs and spent about 2hrs. The place is so chanting and magical every statute, artefacts, art tells the story how the people live in olden days. The front lotus flower is so cool. We loved taking the photos. My dad is no longer alive would love his pictures to be shown to the world. Hope you be able to see how passionate my father was towards history and nature. If you in Victoria this is the must place to go.
Located in Bendigo, the tourist attraction of Bendigo Tramways offers a self-guided tram tour that takes visitors on a journey through the city's colourful history. The depot and workshop tour is conveniently located next door to the attraction, and features tours of the tram fleet that travel along some of Bendigo's most iconic streets.
Tickets $10
Runs 10am to 4:30pm daily.
I recommend buying tickets in advance, on the website. But you can also by them on the tram. This is a fun, family friendly way to travel across Bendigo. They provide lots of interesting facts about the history of the town.
Jacqueline Brown — Google review
Whilst we were in Bendigo with my Mum for the Elvis exhibition we were able to score tickets to the Shake Rattle and Roll Tram. Talk about a great way to spend an hour and a half in Bendigo as the sun went down!!!
The ticket included an Elvis themed cocktail on arrival and a tram ride around Bendigo with Elvis’ music creating the soundtrack. We had so much fun we did not want it to end!
The staff were fun, attentive and made the experience well worth it.
Would recommend this even if you are not an Elvis fan but note that it’s only running during the exhibition and most nights are selling out fast!!
Sharyn — Google review
A fantastic activity for the whole family. You buy an all day ticket for a very reasonable price. You can hop on and off the tram at the 5-6 different stops throughout Bendigo CBD.
The first stop was a little challenging to find at first, but there's plenty of free parking at the starting stops (stop 1 & 6).
There is an audio that plays throughout the ride about the history of Bendigo that is very informative.
My children (aged 2-10) all loved the trip and so did my husband and I.
We had a pram and nappy bag with us and were able to fold it away and store is neatly next to us on the tram.
There is also a tram timetable online so you can plan your arrival at the first stop (tram was very punctual). You can either pre-order tickets online, QR code/pay at each stop or directly pay the tram conductor.
A very enjoyable family adventure!
Claire Connell — Google review
We boarded the Vintage Talking Tram on our day trip to Bendigo. Tickets are $10 per person and you can board at any stop as it loops around. It was very informative with plenty of seats. The team is dog friendly and our little shitzu poodle loved the open tram breeze
Definitely recommend you board this tram if you’re in Bendigo, was a great way to sight see
MM — Google review
The tram ride was a great way to get around town for us as we have a motorhome and could park right next to the tram starting point and get on and off with a day pass.
Christine Wiggins — Google review
A great fun experience riding on the beautifully restored old tram through the streets of Bendigo. Informative commentary along the way about the history and old buildings.
Keith — Google review
This was the great experience we had in Bendigo not only to see the Tram Driver (who looks like Capt America) I mean the beautiful scenery in Town, this vintage tram ride is a hell of fun. We feel like from the old days. Thanks for the ride!
Crissy NOT CRAZY — Google review
It is absolutely worth the money. The tram driver adds to the charm of this transport method of years gone by. He is the longest serving tram driver in Victoria.
Fascinating facts and interesting tidbits on Bendigo's history provided by the Talking Tram.
Forking Off — Google review
A good way to learn about the history of the town and see the main attractions :)
An original concept, highly recommend
Rahil Agrawal — Google review
Learned a lot of history about Bendigo. Visit will not be complete without trying the tram. Great way to roam around the city as well. Bought a fridge magnet as memorabilia 😁
Ronald Zaide — Google review
Informative tram ride around all the important places in Bendigo city. $15 for a ride and you can take your fury friend for free! Hop on, hop off to explore all the interesting places, landmarks, monuments that you pass by. Ticket even includes access to Explore the Surface of Central Deborah Gold Mine which is one of the stops.
One-day Vintage Talking Tram ticket
Adult: $15
Concession: $12.50
Child (3-15 years*): $10
Infant (0-2 years*): Free
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children): $40.00
fernando m — Google review
Extremely handy to navigate the inner parts of town.
The conductors/drivers are passionate about what they do. I regularly visit Bendigo and use the Trams every time. Out of all my visits I haven't been disappointed.
Big ups to Steve. He is an awesome asset to the tramway. Always brings a smile to my face. As a Melbournian I wish our tram staff were like this.
William Grenier — Google review
Great tram rides reminded me of the old Melbourne trams. Only complaint is they were not the open sided ones from the early days of melb but I supposed ohs ruled them out. All great though.
Peter Light — Google review
Visiting from NZ and we really enjoyed our Tram ride - such a great way to see some awesome sights of Bendigo.
Staff were friendly and amazing.
Highly recommend for individuals or family groups. We also enjoyed the mining experience.
Bonnie Pert — Google review
We picked a beautiful day to try out the Tram Depot Cafe. It is set out with lots of options for seating. Our coffee was served hot how we requested and the savoury scone we shared was beautiful. My only comment would be that the coffees need to be a priority getting out. I saw one gent ask for refund after waiting too long.
kaye lane — Google review
Had a fantastic time hopping on and off the tram and seeing the beautiful Bendigo. Well worth the trip. Thanks to wonderful staff and volunteers because without them we would not have been able to have this wonderful experience
brenda steinki — Google review
Informative historical tram service that took us into the city and back from the Joss House. Wandered arround the Deborah Mine at the city end was included.
John Mallon — Google review
Wonderful experience. Great learning the history while travelling around. Very enjoyable and worthwhile. Took me to some interesting places.
Elmore Miniature Railway is an amusement park ride that is great for families. It is a fun and relaxing day out with friendly staff. The train driver (Pete) is incredibly friendly and makes it an enjoyable experience for all.
So much fun for all ages! Great prices and friendly staff. Kids loved spying for the toys.
Tash — Google review
Don’t miss this if you drive past Elmore !! Kids and us really enjoyed the ride. Crew member was fantastic!! Highly recommend
Nathaniel Varkey — Google review
A fun and relaxed day out. The train driver (Pete) is incredibly friendly and makes it an enjoyable experience for all. We had a 2 year old party - kids from 1yr to 11yrs old had fun. Bakery and public toilets closeby
J&A C — Google review
Don’t miss this 10 minutes ride if u drive past elmore … kids and adults gonna enjoy a lot. Cheerful staff and friendly atmosphere.worth the money u pay .. and also another way to support local community.
Blesson Sojan — Google review
Excellent. Great for families. Nothing better and fun than a miniature train ride.
Terence Rogers — Google review
We absolutely enjoyed the ride today.
All staff members were very professional and kind.
The price is very reasonable and the ride is the prefect distance and time for kids
Highly recommend
Eccentric collection of motoring, brewing & domestic items, including thousands of global beer cans.
Absolutely amazing and extensive collections of not just great Australian beers (signage, cans, schooners, etc.) but also showcases historic farm equipment, telephones and cool vintage cars. So much passion and history in this place. The not-your- ordinary tour by the owner himself, Neil, is a bonus not to be missed. Neil made it concisely informative and delivered in an interactive and fun manner. You’ll surely leave with a pound of knowledge and a ton of smile. Bonus: you can order a beer or wine to drink whilst enjoying your walk/viewing/tour. There are footy memorabilia which you can buy which proceeds goes to a children foundation. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO VISIT. You’ll surely not gonna regret it.
Jaye — Google review
The Great Aussie Beer Shed is a must do when you visit Echuca. It is absolutely brilliant. Neil is a wonderful host who gave an entertaining tour. He is a quintessential Aussie who has an infectious passion for the past. He is so engaging that he had patrons singing a song from 1966! Our kids were fascinated with the memorabilia and it was wonderful to visit Jack's Shed, which is a tribute to his father. I highly recommend visiting this attraction. It is well priced and an enjoyable couple of hours for the entire family. Thank you Neil for capturing moments from Australia's past.
Alison Prince — Google review
We went to see the museum, knowing there will be a lot of old beer cans which would be interesting! But we were surprised by the tour guided by Mr Neil. Felt authentic, a life time dedication and his very interesting view point of Austrlian history, society, war and perfect show involving kids to pass the information about all these was just awesome! I admire the collection and would love to see this place and similar to stay operational and informative as it is now having Neil there.
Ladan Masoumi — Google review
What a fantastic place!!! I cannot recommend this place enough. Neil's enthusiasm is infectious what an absolute legend and amazing place to explore. This place is a must see and to boot Neil donates the profits to the local children's hospital! True blue Aussie wish I had found it sooner and had more time there. Will definitely be back.
Thanks again Neil
Matthew Costello — Google review
An impressive collection of rare and unusual pieces from Aussie history. Very interesting and entertaining presentation by Neil at the end. We enjoyed the visit to The Great Aussie Beer Shed and Heritage Farm.
Thilini Jayasooriya — Google review
Highly recommended. I read many reviews and saw the ratings before going there. But still surprised me. Neil is passionate about his life long collection and Australian history. He is a great story teller and showman that presents his passion and history in very interesting way. He could be good stand up comedian. Having him telling you the story add great touch to his amazing collection. Don’t miss it if you are in the area. I hope someone could catalogue all his collection and would add more note to each items. Government should give him some grants to expand this amazing work. This need to be deserved for future generations.
Rojand Noroozi — Google review
I had a chill out on my way to my Murray River campsite from the Violet Town Market Saturday week ago. Pleased to find this interesting tourist attraction an excellent bar plus so much more (museums to devote a an hour or two too!) enjoyed a beer and interacting with a group nearby in the bar area. Very friendly staff with a warm welcoming vibe & smile. Be back to devote some hours to the museums etc!
Thanks to the team!
David Wischer — Google review
Loved looking at everything in the museum & still not seeing it all as there is so much on display! Like that Neil came out to greet us on arrival & his personal tour. We managed to visit before Neil & Andrea have a well deserved annual break
Janine Spiers — Google review
This place is amazing. The host has collected such a wonderful variety of rare and unusual objects that tell the history of our country. This isn't just a beer collection. My husband and I collect Coca Cola items, but this collection is WOW. There are rare pieces and unusual pieces both inside and outside. The host is a real character, so full of enthusiasm for his collection and so knowledgeable about the history of the items. We could have spent all day here.
Kym Wilson — Google review
The Great Aussie beer shed is amazing, and Neil and Andrea are spectacular hosts they are easygoing, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. Tours are run. Give them a call. This is a must if you are visiting Eucha. There are plenty of things to look at: car museum, petrol bowsers, farm equipment, Anzac memorabilia, and most importantly beer products by the 1000s. This will keep you entertained for hours and free drink with your entry ticket.
Lisa Allen — Google review
If you're in Echuca and don't visit the Great Aussie Beer Shed, then you're just not an Aussie! All I can say is WOW! What a collection! It truly is overwhelming! We spent just over a couple of hours there but could have easily spent a full day there. The hosts, Neil & Andrea are absolutely wonderful people - very welcoming and happy to help you in any way they can as they're deservedly proud of their incredible museum. Even our dogs were welcome! It wasn't just the huge collection of over 20,000 beer cans than was mindblowing but it was all the Australiana, the carriages, the cars, the farm equipment and so many other items of interest from the past that kept us on our toes and watching in wonderment! Highly recommend and if you only have time to visit one place in Echuca, make sure this is it! Loved it!
Nina — Google review
Neil & the team were very knowledgeable & friendly making the experience 5 stars! Such an impressive collection to see, well worth the visit. Allow at least 1.5 hours to take in all this venue has to offer.
Katie Wright — Google review
Great place to visit, more then I expected, Neil is a great bloke who owns the place and is good for a yarn,
Great collection even the kids enjoyed it all, 👍👍👍👍👍🍻
Mick Anderson — Google review
We had an amazing experience here, the whole family had an amazing time. Neil was great with the kids, involving them in tour/information session. There are so many things to look at, we could have easily spent the whole day exploring his collections. Will definitely be back.
Crystle-Lee Morrison — Google review
Today we were greeted by Neil in the car park, he came out to say hello and introduce himself which was such a lovely, personal touch. We were then given a tour by Ray, who was just as wonderful and full of information. We had our dogs with us, and they so kindly accommodated them and welcomed them to join in, which was such a delight for us being devoted pet parents. The museum itself is amazing. There is so much Australian history here as well as an incredible family history, which I feel privileged to have learnt about. It's inspiring to think of how many incredible, everyday people there are that have made such a difference in this world silently, and we need more places like this to shed light on these everyday heroes. Thank you!
Rebecca N — Google review
Great place,had no idea upon arrival what to expect.owner was super friendly and knowledgable.lots of antiques and collectables.gives a prize to the kids for helping him during his talk which was interesting and funny.
Showroom with 40+ classic, old-school vehicles on display, plus a spacious gift shop.
If you love Holden's this is a must see.
I really love the cars, the engines. A great place to celebrate a fantastic model vehicle!
Kerry Ladiges — Google review
A great museum with a range of classic and modern Holden’s that are swapped out every couple of months. With an affordable $10 entry to the museum itself, it grants access for either a 10 minute walk-in-walk-out or more than hour of in-depth reading into the history and information of Holden. The staff are super friendly and approachable and appreciate a good conversation. Overall the National Holden Motor Museum is a must visit for car enthusiasts keen on looking into the discontinued Holden name or rather, just to kill a bit of time while visiting Echuca.
Daggerman12 — Google review
No es que sea un fanático del motor pero sí que disfruto viendo exposiciones sobre los vehículos.
Este museo no es especialmente grande pero te llevará por la historia de esta marca australiana que se remonta más de 100 años atrás.
El estado de conservación y el cuidado de la exposición me parece increíble y que hace que no me parezca cara la entrada de 10 dólares (6 euros) para un museo tan pequeño.
Hay vehículos de lo más curiosos e incluso podrás ver motores y prototipos y vehículos de todas las épocas lo que lo hace interesante.
Me gusta especialmente un pequeño lugar que basa la exposición en donaciones de la gente que simula una cocina de los años 40 o 50.
Interesante visita aunque creo que es más recomendables para los amantes del motor.
(Translated by Google)
It's not that I'm a motor fanatic but I do enjoy seeing exhibitions about vehicles.
This museum is not particularly large but it will take you through the history of this Australian brand that goes back more than 100 years.
The state of conservation and the care of the exhibition seems incredible to me and that makes the entry of 10 dollars (6 euros) not seem expensive for such a small museum.
There are the most curious vehicles and you will even be able to see engines and prototypes and vehicles from all eras which makes it interesting.
I especially like a small place that bases the exhibition on donations from people that simulates a kitchen from the 40s or 50s.
Interesting visit although I think it is more recommended for motor lovers.
El mundo de Pity — Google review
Our family is a long time supporter of Holdens, and museums like this one are a treat!
We visited last weekend. Entry fee is cheap at only $10 per adult.
The weather was super hot that day but inside it was comfortable.
Great range of vehicles and memorabilia, and it was great to hear all the visitors reminiscing about their Holden adventures.
Please visit soon as the museum is closing down in April 2024!
Effie B — Google review
Brought back some memories for. Was an amazing place... heard some great stories from the guy there and loved looking at the cars... some real beauties amongst them
Anne Hamilton — Google review
If you’re a car fan or even interested in history the Holden Museum is a must when you’re in Echuca! There’s so much to see and you can get really close to some great and rare examples of Australian motor engineering. Ticket prices are very reasonable and you won’t be disappointed!
Anthony Sferruzzi — Google review
Loved our visit to the National Holden Motor Museum.
As a mechanic it was great to see all the different models of Holdens from the past decades. There are also some prototype models as well as models used in the product development process.
Super interesting place to visit even if you're not a car fanatic.
Definitely recommend it if you're in the area or just passing through.
There's also a great giftshop which has something for any car nut. Not just Holden fans.
Stuart A — Google review
Loved it. Plenty info plenty to look at and read, cars were great, childhood memorys. $10 entry fee.
robert bewley — Google review
As lovers of cars and all things old and nostalgic, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. It was a little muggy inside (hot day outside) but it was only a minor inconvenience. Great collection of Holdens and Holden memorabilia. Dog friendly too.
Nina — Google review
Great collection oh Been cars and Memorabilia in one place. Price is very cheap for all to enjoy the collection and history of Australian manufacturing.
peter hudson — Google review
Perhaps buy tickets if you come on a busy weekend. Holden is part of our National heritage, there's not much left of Australian pioneering history left. Echuca is a great place to visit
Dan Jessen — Google review
Wasn't bad, I'm not a big Holden fan, some others would love it more. That said it was interesting to see the history of Holden from before my time all in one spot. Entry price was fair and plenty of parking available.
Mathew Barber — Google review
Very enjoyable and interesting to learn about Holden's history. A trip down memory lane.
Glenn Eaton — Google review
Just wish there was a buyer as closing up, the owners have done there bit for Holden, well done,
Guy Treeby — Google review
Loved the museum. Good range of cars on show, but by no means is it a complete collection of all models over the years
Stephen Marchant — Google review
Shame this place is closing down for good. Amazing Holden history gone for good
John Sim — Google review
So sad to see this place close. Good luck with the auction. A great display of an integral history of Australian motoring
Kerrie Damen — Google review
The museum was great - awesome to see the history of Holden and the many different vehicles and motors on display but what really made this place was the service. The guys here are awesome- they made our experience smooth and fun by accommodating us and our dogs. Greatly appreciate the service. Thank you!
Rebecca N — Google review
We loved the museum saw my granddads car and my fathers car too and wonderful experience I advise motor enthusiasts who have Holdens in their blood to go visit . Bought a souvenir too
Open-air museum tracing the history of Echuca's 19th-century river wharf, shipbuilders & sawmills.
What a lovely place to visit with the kids! The street walk to the Discovery Centre from where we parked our car was beautiful. It reminded me of Sovereign Hill. When you get inside there is a lot to see and do. Make sure you walk around and see all of it as some parts can easily be missed. There is an indoor museum, and very large outdoor section. Entry is free. If you want to ride on the paddle boats there is a charge, however there is one on display on the river you can walk on as shown in the photos.
RCC RT — Google review
The steam boat 1 + half hour tour was well worth doing. It's good to see the accommodation along the river bank.
Lots of motor boats and jetskis along the way. It's holiday time Now in January.
In February it's to hot to visit.
Kylie Harrison — Google review
Great place to spend your day. Our family (2 adults and 2 kids) availed the Heritage Package (costs $171) which includes 1 hour paddle steamboat ride, guided port tour, entry to historical museum, Great Australian beer shed and holden museum. We have hesitation to avail the guided tour at first. Were glad we decided to go for it. It was fun, informative and refreshing. Our guide tour, Jenny, is a legend! It’s our honour to have met her. We suggest to do the paddle steamboat ride. It’s wonderful to explore the length of Murray river while drinking beer/wine/coffee/soda (there’s a kiosk in the steamboat). The kiosk doesn’t sell hot foods only crisps and cookies. Kids will have opportunity as well to drive the steamboat. If you’re in a budget, the entry to the port is free. There is so much to do and explore. There’s an indoor play area at the top of the wooden dock. Kids can enjoy playing life size janga, bowling and playing music instruments while parents can recollect whilst savouring the scenic view. So, be sure to pack lunch and enjoy.
Jaye — Google review
Port of Echuca is a must visit place in Australia. It offers lots of history and is action packed for fun, for all ages. Whether you wish to indulge in local history and stroll through the nearby port of Echuca museum or hop in to a stagecoach ride, or take a paddlesteamer ride... there's plenty of action for everyone over here. We visit Echuca few times a year and have enjoyed all these fun activities many times. Parking can be tight though during long weekends, public holidays etc. Highly recommended.
Malay Adhikari — Google review
Great museum. Plenty to see. Enjoyed the one hour informative tour. The guide was excellent with an engaging manner and plenty of understanding of the history that answered the question 'Why Echuca?' Book for 11.30 or 1.30. The afternoon tour appears the quieter of the two. Plenty of souvenirs available. The museum has three entry. You can also book Paddle steamer rides here. Staff are friendly and helpful. Also enjoyed the Port After Dark lantern tour. Well led by the guide.
Rainer Winkler — Google review
Large building. Has a museum. Very informative. Staff very friendly. Has a gift shop. Can buy tickets for the paddle steamer. You can have a walk around outside til you can board the paddle steamer.
Effie H — Google review
Over the years we have visited the Port of Echuca many times & always enjoyed our trip back in history. Today we visited mainly for a cruise on a paddle steamer. The river around the Port was busy & we really enjoyed our one hour cruise on the PS Alexander Arbuthnot just watching the world & scenery pass by.
Margaret Aveling — Google review
A must do if your in Echuca. Plenty of things to see and do for the family to look at and the museum also is interactive so it was great with the kids. You dont need to pay to look around which makes it even better. You may want to book your steamboat cruise in advance as they can be sold out very quickly.
Peter Lowden — Google review
Great look into Australia's
early past.. Paddle boat steamer rides, coach rides. Nice town on the banks of the Murray River with lots of cafes, restaurants, bars & shopping. Easy walking on flat pavements
SAM M — Google review
Beautiful place to visit, paddle streamers and horse and coach rides lots of food and drink and speciality shops.
Jenny Franks — Google review
Beautiful place to visit. The staff were so nice and friendly! It was great to have such friendly people to greet you, we even had a good laugh together. Jenny and the gentlemen with the well groomed beard , sorry cant remember his name were so helpful and we had a good laugh you dont see that kind of interaction anymore . Well done to u both you made our day....
GEIKMGOD 123 — Google review
The Port of Echuca Discovery Centre has staff that are welcoming, friendly and informative.
The Steam engine display is a must for Steam Rally enthusiasts. Well informed staff with a friendly attitude. You can ask anything about the steam engines and they will tell you in an interesting and educational way, about the history of the Steam engines on display, how they run and the history behind them.
I highly recommend this location for tourists to learn about the Port of Echuca and it's history. The displays of the equipment on display is interactive and fun to learn about the Port of Echuca.
Numbat Echuca — Google review
I need to see and do, here especially for the school holidays. Just check out the old paddle steamers and the big Billabong ranch. Have some farm animals for the school holidays too.
Daryl Raverty — Google review
Nice. Fascinating history and information. Really helpful staff and nice gift shop. They have cool interactive displays and good toilets, very important whilst travelling 😁. Would reccomend. You can also go outside and look at old machinery and see the paddle steamers in steam moving around taking people on trips. Overall a really nice place.
Aidan Darlow — Google review
The port has an impressive and very interesting history and the museum does a great job making it accessible with modern displays and entry is free! They also offer river cruises on the paddle steamers.
Linus Metzler — Google review
Great local tourist attraction in Echuca with alot of things to look at and learn about how things were done back in the river boat days a must see if your staying in town is to go for a ride on one of the paddle steamer's in the Port.
Mark Osborne — Google review
It's always interesting visiting the Port of Echuca. We were lucky enough to see several steam boats moving up and down the Murray. The wharf itself and the Discovery Center were very interesting.
Helen Thomson — Google review
small old town, Museum is free entry, nice view of The River Murray. The horse cart ride took 10$ for each adult. The city is famous for ice cream and winery. Free testing is available in few shops.