Free Things to Do in Ballarat: Heritage, Parks and Gold Rush History

Ballarat has a solid collection of free activities centred on its extraordinary heritage streetscapes and public open space. Lydiard Street in the CBD is one of the best-preserved Victorian-era commercial streetscapes in Australia and is free to walk and admire, with the Town Hall, Her Majesty's Theatre and Craig's Royal Hotel as landmarks. The Ballarat Botanical Gardens at Lake Wendouree are free, as is the lake circumference walk. The Art Gallery of Ballarat permanent collection (including the Eureka Flag) is free to enter. The Stockade Site Memorial at Eureka is free. Ballarat Wildlife Park carries an entry fee, but the surrounding natural areas are free. Sturt Street, the main boulevard with gold rush-era buildings, is best explored on foot.