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Heritage sites
and historic buildings like Captain Melville's hangout will be of interest
to history buffs. Visitors seeking activities will find hot air balloons,
hang gliding, hot mineral springs, fishing, water skiing and underground
mine tours.
 Central
Victoria
Holidays - Places of
Interest
Ballarat
- one of the major towns of the region and gateway to the Victorian
goldfields. Visit the Ballarat Wildlife and Reptile Park and the Southern
Woolshed, the world's largest working shearing shed. The popular
Sovereign Hill
has a historic town recreation. Take a tour through the sites of the civil
uprising in Eureka Street and the Stockade Precinct.
Take a paddle steamer
cruise on Lake Wendouree and ride a Cobb & Co coach. Visit the period
architecture in Lydiard Street, explore the water wheel at
Andersons Mill and the relics at Lal Lal. The local wineries
produce some well known labels and cellar door sales are available. The
annual Gold King Festival in February is held in nearby Buninyong and arts,
crafts, galleries and antiques are on display all year round.
Bendigo - the Talking
Tram will help you get your bearings in this charming town and introduce you
the architecture of Australia's best preserved Victorian streetscape. Take
an underground tour of the
Central Deborah
Gold Mine and follow up with a visit to the Discovery Science and
Technology Centre.
The acclaimed Bendigo Art
Gallery has excellent art from the gold rush period and the
Bendigo Pottery
is Australia's oldest, and a popular place to visit. To better understand
the role played by the Chinese in the history of Bendigo, visit the Golden
Dragon museum and follow up with the Chinese Joss House.
The Bendigo Mohair Farm
explains the mysteries of the mohair production cycle. For something
different, take a a camel into the bush. Perhaps bushwalking and cycling the
tracks through the local state parks is more to your liking.
Maryborough
- a town of the same name exists on the Queensland coast. Visit the
tourist complex that has been developed around the restored railway station.
Visit the gold prospecting townships of Carisbrook or Majorca, or others in
the area, with a stop in Talbot for some country cooking.
Stawell - follow the Western Highway from Ballarat. A site
of National Trust classified historic buildings and the Chiming Clock
with its animated figures of gold miners. The town is best known for the
annual running of the Stawell Gift, a professional foot race that traces is
history back to the gold rush era. There is hang gliding from Mt Cole Forest
Range and water sports and fishing at Lake Fryans.
Castlemaine
- this is the home of the Victorian State Arts festival. Visit the
Buda Historic Home and Garden and take a walking tour of the Mostyn St
Market, Court House and Theatre Royal. The Forest Creek Historic Gold Mine
is where you can try out your panning skills. For lodgings with a
difference, try out the renovated
Castlemaine Gaol budget accommodation.
Nearby Maldon
still displays much of its period charm, evident with a stroll
through the town centre. Visit an underground gold mine at Carman's Tunnel
and take a ride on a working steam train. The award winning
Porcupine Village has original slab buildings of the early settlers.
Central Victoria Holidays
Ballarat Introduction
Melbourne Hotels |
Central Victoria
Holidays