The Full Story
LIFESTYLE
Ballarat offers the best of regional Victoria. Located just over an hour from Melbourne and easily accessible by train, Ballarat has everything you need from exceptional schools, a rich heritage, outstanding parks and endless activities for families to enjoy.
Markets
With more than 15 markets each month in the Ballarat region, you can spend your weekends discovering fresh food and produce, art and craft, contemporary designers and makers, collectables and secondhand treasures.
Food and Drink
Ballarat is home to some of the world's highest quality produce, fostered by passionate farmers, growers and foodies. Delicious food is lovingly handcrafted in award-winning restaurants and wineries. Spend your afternoons exploring the city's streets and laneways and discovering our burgeoning craft-beer scene.
Adventure
Ballarat has countless walking, cycling and running options, including being conventiently located at the start of the Goldfields Track, a point-to-point 210km track for trail-runners, mountain bikers and bushwalkers that ends in Bendigo.
Ballarat is also fast becoming known as Australia's home of cycling thanks to the annual Cycling Australia Road National Championships at the many tracks for road and race cycling, mountain biking and cyclocross. From family-friendly cycling to the serious road-cyclists, Ballarat has options all abilities.
Family Friendly
Ballarat is renowned for its unique visitor experiences and award-winning attractions. Visit the Ballarat Wildlife Park and meet meerkats, kangaroos, koalas, penguins and Sumatran Tigers: Maneki and Satu. Check out Kryal Castle, a replica medieval castle, pan for gold at the iconic Sovereign Hill or simply enjoy a picnic at one of the many incredible parks.
Education
Bonshaw Run is located just moments from Bonshaw Early Learning Centre, Delacbome Primary chool, Sebastopol Primary School and Phoenix P-12 Community College.
It is also located just 10 minutes away from some of Ballarat's best schools, including Clarendon College which had the highest median VCE scores in all of Victoria in 2022.