
Things To Do in The Goldfields Region
The Goldfields Region covers a wide extent of North-Central Victoria, encompassing numerous historical villages. During the gold-rush of the 19th Century, small towns developed to accommodate all the workers who had scurried over to find their fortune. They are now relics of the days-gone-by which are ready for you to eat, drink and hike your way through. A bountiful list of picturesque places placed in the green Aussie countryside. The main spots to check-out include the large cities of Ballarat and Bendigo, the towns of Harcourt and Castlemaine, plus the many smaller villages like Maldon and Creswick.
The Goldfields Track is the famous path that was formed by gold seekers back in the 1850s. The 210 kilometre walkway takes you through the forests and towns of central Victoria and is easily bushwalked or biked. You can even hire equipment and have a go at ‘fossicking’ for gold out in the wild… you never know, you might be the lucky one to find a bit of bling.
As a natural bush track, it can feel pretty remote when between the pockets of civilisation although it is clearly sign posted with gold-topped markers. But if you’ve got a terrible sense of direction that means a walk to the local shops is sometimes a gamble, play it safe and have a guided bushwalk with The Great Dividing Trail Association. They’ll ensure minimal “Where the hell am I?” moments.
Maldon is the best preserved town of the mining era (says The National Trust) due to its authenticity and preservation – it looks straight out of the Wild West! Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill celebrates the gold rush history by recreating the 1850’s hustle and bustle. It’s like walking through a time machine on Main Street where you’ll find costumed characters and horse drawn carriages.
Ballarat is the place to go if you fancy a bit of a party in order to counter act all the wholesome sightseeing. The best live music can be found at Karova Lounge where home grown Victoria bands play. Other party places include The Bluestone and Babushka Lounge (fancy a “Dracula’s Blood” cocktail?). Or if you just fancy some chilled pints head to The Lake View Hotel or the good old Irish Murphy’s Ballarat. Old man pubs are pretty abundant in the Goldfields, but make perfect places to sip a beer and enjoy the sunset after a busy day.
The centrally located Ballarat Backpackers Hostel is in The Eastern Station Hotel where you can bag a bed for $40 a night. Prices for beds out in these small regional towns are steeper than in Melbourne, but plenty of motels are around, such as Maldon’s Maldon Hotel where it’ $50 for a room. Or splash out and stay somewhere authentic like a Miners Cottage (roughly $179 a night for a cottage for two) or in one of the grand dame hotels, like Craig’s Royal Hotel in Ballarat.
You can use the V/Line trains from Melbourne to get directly to some of the main destinations such as Bendigo and Ballarat, connecting coach services are also available to whisk you to other parts of the Goldfields. To really explore the area, take a car. Driving the entire Goldfields route would take several days while making multiple stops at your leisure – a great way to take it all in.