Start in Ballarat, trek to the Grampians, enjoy the silo trail at Rupanyup on the way back
Pack the car and head west for the ultimate weekend away in western Victoria, stopping off in Ballarat and the Grampians.
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Whether you choose to tackle western Victoria in one weekend or focus on one regional town at a time, there’s plenty of food, wine, outdoor and family activities to make the most of your getaway.
BALLARAT
115km or 90 minutes from Melbourne.
PLACES TO EAT, DRINK
Leave Melbourne on Friday afternoon to make it to Ballarat in time for dinner.
There’s now plenty of choice for food in the city — be it mod-Asian at Moon and Mountain, Vietnamese street food at Saigon Alleeor a nice wine and snacks at Mitchell Harris.
Newbie to Ballarat’s food scene, Ragazzone, specialises in pasta and great vino.
If you’re after a beer, try new brew-pub Aunty Jacks Brewing which opened in October. Hop Temple is another local favourite for a beer and parma, while Lola at The Provincial will add a little luxury to your weekend.The Highlanderreplaces the former Bromley and Co owned The Pub With Two Names, while 18th Amendment Bar is the perfect bar for a nightcap. The next morning, try some of the city’s best coffee at FIKAor at sister venue Johnny Alloo.
PLACES TO STAY
Stay in the heart of Ballarat’s CBD in Lascelles Terraces. The revamped Provincial Hotel, opposite the train station, is another great spot to stay. Fail-safe family options include Ballarat Windmill , located just outside of town, and Ballarat Goldfields holiday parks, each with cabins and villas.
THINGS TO DO
If you choose to spend your entire weekend in town, you won’t be short of things to do.
Step back in time at Kryal Castle, feed a kangaroo atBallarat Wildlife Park or relive childhood excursion fun by revisiting open-air museum Sovereign Hill. Free activities include a walk around Lake Wendoureeor picnic at theBotanical Gardens. Unwind atBallarat Sanctuary Day Spa for a massage or treatment or go for a spot of shopping at boutiques includingAustralian native food cafe and store Saltbush Kitchen, plant store When Polly Met Murphy, furniture store Pieces of Joy, Three Times Blestin Buninyong or new women’s fashion outlet Teddy and Fletch .
GRAMPIANS
258km or 3 hours from Melbourne.
THINGS TO DO
Pack your hiking boots, as there’s plenty of walking tracks to tackle in the Grampians. The most-popular is The Pinnacle walk and lookout, delivering breathtaking views of Halls Gap and the Grampians at the summit. There’s three tracks, suited to different fitness levels. The region is also known for cycling. The 11km Grampians Rail Trail or the 33km Arapiles Big Sky Trail are just some of the sought-after tracks. Take a break from the outdoors with a spot of retail therapy at boutiques such as jeweller Russ Studios, fashion store Dot and Frankie, The Hamilton Hamper and the Grampians Wine Cellar.
PLACES TO EAT, DRINK
If you’re staying in Halls Gap, Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co and Halls Gap Hotel are some local places to eat out. Newcomer Raccolto Pizzeria will open on November 19, replacing Harvest. In Great Western, the Great Western Hotel is great for a pub meal, and for coffee Salingers Cafe is a top spot. In Dunkeld, The Royal Mail Hotel is an unmissable, fine dining experience, but more for special occasions. For coffee and bakery treats, there’s Dunkeld Old Bakery or Koopmans.
PLACES TO STAY
Halls Gap Tourist Park is a nice all-rounder for accommodation. Stay in cabins, take the caravan or enjoy a glamorous Glamping experience under the stars. On-site facilities have recently reopened, subject to density quotas, which include a heated swimming pool and campfires. Big4 NRMA Halls Gap Holiday Park is another one for the family, as is Lake Fyans Holiday Park which overlooks Lake Fynes. Bed and breakfast Boroka Downs is a secluded property perched on a hillside outside of Halls Gap. There’s five cabins, each housing one couple. Best to keep this in mind for a kid-free weekend away, as the property is not suitable for children.
ON THE WAY BACK
Before you head home, take a chance to detour to some other parts of western Victoria. Explore Silo Art Trail, starting at Rupanyup — an hour and 40 minutes from the Grampians and about 3 hours from Melbourne — and travel along the 200km path in search of the silos painted by street artists in country towns.
If you’re after a quick winery pit-stop, there’s many along the Western Hwy including Seppelt and Best’s in Great Western and Michael Unwin at Beaufort.
The state government and Visit Vic have launched a multimillion-dollar Stay Close, Go Further campaign encouraging Victorians to take a break in their home state to support local tourism and jobs.
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