Money might be a bit tighter right now but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a well-earned break.

So read on to find out how you can get more bang for your buck in Ballarat…

Getting around

• You can now travel to Ballarat by train from anywhere in Victoria for just $9.20 on weekdays ($4.60 concession and children) and $6.70 on weekends ($3.35 concession and children)
• Once you’re here, catch a bus from the Ballarat Train Station to Sovereign Hill (bus 21), the Ballarat Wildlife Park (bus 20), Eureka Centre (bus 15), and the Ballarat Botanical Gardens (bus 10 or 11)

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Things to do

Specials and deals

• Buy discounted tickets online for the Ballarat Wildlife Park at wildlifepark.com.au and Kryal Castle at kryalcastle.com.au
• Get $12.50 movie tickets every Tuesday at Regent Cinemas
• RACV members get discounted entry to Ballarat Ten Pin Bowling and Eerie Tours Ballarat
• Discounted weekday sessions at Xtreme Bounce for toddlers (9.30am-12.30pm) and uni students (12pm-3pm)

Affordable adventures

• Free entry every day at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, with free guided tours at 11am daily
• Entry is also free at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, including the Robert Clark Conservatory
• Visit the Ballarat Tramway Museum and go for a ride on a vintage tram for $10 adult, $8 concession, $5 children or $30 family
• On Sundays from October-April, sail on Lake Wendouree onboard the Golden City Paddle Steamer for $15 adult, $8 children or $40 family
• Hit the streets on one of Ballarat’s free self-guided walking tours
• Visit the Eureka Centre for $6 adult, $4 children and concession or $18 family. Entry is free for Ballarat residents on provision of photo ID
• Sign up for a free tour of the Ballarat Town Hall every Wednesday and Friday at 2pm. Or take a tour of the historic Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute every Tuesday at 2pm for $10 a person
• Discover some of Ballarat’s quirky cafes, antique shops, history tales, beautiful scenery and buildings on Hidden Lanes’ slow travel interactive walking tour. The digital guidebook can be purchased online for $14.99
• Explore Ballarat on two wheels with Ride Ballarat – the city’s best cycling trails

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Food & drink

Specials and deals

• Set menu Friday lunch at Asian hot spot Mr Jones for $39.50 per person or Thursday School Night Banquet for $65 per person
• Piccola Festa on Tuesday nights at Ragazzone – $59 per person for two pastas, salad and dessert
• Wine O’Clock at Mitchell Harris every Tuesday-Friday between 4pm-6pm, with some of the bar’s favourite wines at $10 a glass, beers at $8 and snack plates at $12
• Every Wednesday at Aunty Jacks, you can get pizza or pasta along with a pint of beer or glass of house wine for $25. Plus on Thursdays between 4pm and 8pm, buy a pint of your favourite tap beer and Aunty Jacks will shout that same beer for your mate.
• On weekdays between 3.30pm-5pm, head to The Lake View Hotel for School’s Out happy hour and get half price milkshakes, soft drinks, hot drinks, chips, wedges, pizza, house wine, tap beer and more
• Head to The Forge Pizzeria on weekdays between 4pm-6pm for a kids’-size spaghetti and meatballs plus a drink for $18
• At The North Star Hotel, take your pick from $5 Sunday night kids’ meals between 4.30pm-6.30pm, $20 Wednesday parma night, $18 Thursday pasta night, and Friday Happy Hour from 3pm-6pm
• Drop into the Golden City Hotel for a range of $20 meals on Tuesday nights, $10 coffee/milkshake and cake on weekdays from 8am-5pm, $25 Thursday steak nights, plus $15 express lunch on weekdays from 11am-1pm
• Kids under 9 years eat free every Monday and Tuesday at The Sporting Globe Ballarat with every full price adult main meal purchase

Cheap eats

Here’s some of our favourite places to fill our belly for under $20 a person:

• 1816 Bakehouse (16-18 Armstrong Street North, Ballarat)
• Earls Deli (11 Davey Street, Ballarat)
• Shep St Sandos (8 Shepperd St, Ballarat)
• Saigon Noodle House (10 Armstrong Street North, Ballarat)
• Kosaten (30 Sturt St, Ballarat)
• For a sweet treat, Il Piccolo Gelato (217 Sturt Street, Ballarat) or The Little Cupcake (223 Eureka Street, Ballarat)

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Accommodation

• RACV members can stay for less at Creswick’s RACV Goldfields Resort
• Join the Quest Online Advantage program to get 10% off your stay at Quest Ballarat Station and Quest Ballarat
• Stay at BIG4 Kryal Castle Holiday Park and get discounted entry to Kryal Castle
• Become a BIG4 Holiday Perks+ member to get 10% off your stay at (up to $50) at BIG4 Ballarat Windmill Holiday Park, NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park and BIG4 Kryal Castle Holiday Park
• Freedom camping at Lake Burrumbeet, Creswick’s Slaty Creek, Haddon Lions Park, Smythesdale Gardens Reserve, Happy Valley Crossing Reserve, and Enfield’s Surface Point
• Sign up to Hotel Canberra’s mailing list for your chance to win a $1000 luxury weekend away every month

Note: These offers are accurate as of April 2023. Please check with individual businesses to ensure each offer is still valid.