Ballarat
Sovereign Hill, the Eureka story and the goldfields streetscapes — about ninety minutes west of Melbourne, door to door.
Discover Ballarat
Ballarat was built on the 1850s gold rush, and unusually for an Australian city it still looks it. The wide streets, the banks and the theatres are all gold money, and Sovereign Hill on the edge of town reconstructs the diggings as a working town rather than a display case.
Sovereign Hill takes most of a day on its own if you let it — underground mine tours, gold panning in the creek, the confectionery works. Families usually plan around it and fit the rest of the city in afterwards.
The Eureka Centre holds the original Eureka Flag. The Art Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest regional gallery in Australia. Lake Wendouree and the botanical gardens are the easy part of the afternoon. Tell us how the day should be weighted and we plan it that way.
Tour Highlights
- ✓Sovereign Hill — underground mine tours and gold panning
- ✓The Eureka Centre and the original Eureka Flag
- ✓Victorian-era streetscapes through the city centre
- ✓Art Gallery of Ballarat
- ✓Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree
- ✓A lunch stop in town, your choice
- ✓Door-to-door chauffeur service from your Melbourne address
What's Included
- ✓Private vehicle and professional chauffeur for the full day
- ✓An itinerary planned with you before you travel
- ✓Attraction and restaurant bookings arranged in advance
- ✓Child seats fitted on request, free of charge
- ✓Tolls and GST in one fixed price, quoted before you book
- ✓Entry tickets, attraction fees and meals are not included — you pay those on the day
Reserve Your Ballarat Tour
Every MPJ Australia tour is private — your group only. Tell us the date, who is travelling and how much of the day should go to Sovereign Hill, and we will come back with a fixed price.
Get a QuoteOther days out from Melbourne
The other great goldfields city, and a full day in itself.
Mineral springs and spa country, on the way back toward Melbourne.
Further west again, and a longer day in the vehicle.
An evening in the city — laneway bars, rooftop views and dinner, with nobody driving home.
Tour Essentials
- Duration
- 10–12 hours, door to door. Ballarat is about ninety minutes out, which leaves a long day on the ground if Sovereign Hill is the main event. If your day runs longer, the additional time is charged at your vehicle's hourly rate.
- Departure Time
- Agreed with you when you book. Daylight hours change through the year, so we set the pick-up time to suit the season and your itinerary rather than fix it in advance.
- Vehicle & Capacity
- Matched to your group: Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 for couples; Toyota Alphard, Alphard 40, Mercedes-Benz V-Class or Kia Carnival for families and small groups; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for larger parties. Tell us the group size and roughly what luggage you have, and the vehicle is confirmed with your quote.
- Included
- Private vehicle and chauffeur for the full day, tolls and GST. One fixed price, quoted before you book — no surge pricing and no per-kilometre extras.
- Not Included
- Entry tickets, tastings and activity fees are not included. Meals and drinks are not included. On this route that includes Sovereign Hill, the Eureka Centre and gallery admission. You pay these directly on the day, so you decide where you eat and what you spend.
- Child Seats
- Baby capsules and booster seats are supplied free of charge on request. Tell us your children's ages when you book so the right seats are fitted before pick-up.
- Payment
- Payment in full confirms the booking. Major credit cards and bank transfer accepted.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation more than 24 hours before pick-up. Within 24 hours, 50% of the fare is charged. Tours run in all weather. If a tour cannot go ahead on the day because of an official closure, we reschedule it at no cost.
Full terms, luggage guidance and payment detail: Booking Information. Common questions are answered in our FAQs.
The Goldfields, Door to Door.
Ninety minutes each way on the Western Freeway, and a car that waits outside Sovereign Hill rather than a return train time to make.