Day Trips from Ballarat: Goldfields Country and the Western District

Ballarat's position at the heart of Victoria's Goldfields region makes it an excellent base for day trips through some of Victoria's most historically significant and scenically varied countryside. Castlemaine, 40 minutes north on the Calder Highway, has a thriving arts scene and one of regional Victoria's finest collections of heritage architecture in its streetscape. Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, 45 minutes northeast, are the spa and wellness destination of the Victorian Goldfields, with mineral springs, boutique accommodation and an outstanding weekend food scene. Ararat to the west hosts the Grampians' eastern gateway and the J-Ward (former criminal lunatic asylum) historic site. Skipton, at the end of the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail, is a peaceful pastoral town in the Western District. The Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) can be reached in approximately 90 minutes from Ballarat, making it viable as a long day trip or overnight.