Tour Introduction
Australia's gold-rush history, historic fashion collections and regional produceHighlights
Craig's Royal Hotel accommodation
Restaurant Lola at the Provincial Hotel lunch
Brilliantly Ballarat Walking Tour 90 minutes
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Evening AURA Sound and Light Show
The Eureka Centre
Sovereign Hill
Back-of-House Fashion Collection Tour
Inclusions
Craig's Royal Hotel accommodation including cooked breakfast
Two course lunch at Lola in the Provincial Hotel
Brilliantly Ballarat Walking Tour
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Evening AURA Sound and Light Show
The Eureka Centre
Sovereign Hill
Back-of-House Fashion Collection Tour
Notice
*Luggage - Due to limited luggage space, please ensure you bring a small suitcase / cabin bag. Think standard carry-on aircraft dimensions.
*Basic Fitness Rating - A basic level of fitness is necessary for these tours. Typically, a day of walking entails approximately 10,000 steps and you should be capable of boarding and disembarking coaches, trains and boats unaided as well as managing steps and uneven terrain including cobblestones and unsurfaced roads and paths.
Itinerary
Saturday 12 September 2026
Melbourne - Ballarat (L)
Discover a weekend of heritage, elegance, and beautiful stories. Leave Melbourne (9.00 am approximately) behind for the grand gold-rush romance of Ballarat. This itinerary balances historic charm with genuine local discovery, making it the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded companions while enjoying the finest regional experiences.
Our historic adventure begins with a privately guided walk through Ballarat’s hidden lanes, followed by an exquisite seasonal lunch at the acclaimed Restaurant Lola. We’ll spend a gentle afternoon wandering through the vibrant spring blooms of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Check into the iconic Craig’s Royal Hotel, where we can unwind amidst legendary 19th-century luxury. In the evening, witness history come alive in a breathtaking, open-air sound and light night show, Aura.
Sunday 13th September 2026
Ballarat - Melbourne (B)
The next day, we explore Australia’s gold rush history. We will view the original Eureka Flag, then visit the historic streets and sweet shops of Sovereign Hill.
Afterwards, our group gets back-of-house access to the Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections, where a textile curator will show us rare 19th-century garments inside the preservation vaults.
We take care of all the details, including our boutique accommodation, guided tours, and dining reservations, so you can simply relax and enjoy the weekend. It is a wonderful opportunity to explore Ballarat's history and style at an easy pace.
Our approximate arrival time back to Melbourne will be 5.00 pm.
Spaces are limited to a small group of ten on Rosa 11.