Ballarat Vic 14/15 April 2019

Ballarat Vic 14 April 2019

We stopped near Glenrowan for lunch and then pushed on to Seymour, where the plan was to cut across country to Ballarat. When will we learn? The only way to travel through Victoria is to go via Melbourne. As it was it took us 4 hours to travel the 200km along the back roads, development roads, dirt roads, horse trails, even Bourke & Wills’ old track. We stopped at Kyneton for a refuel, get our bearings and an ice-cream and pushed on. I thought the GPS was going to blow a fuse, but between Judy’s immaculate directions and the ever-changing map we finally made it into Daylesford.

The Daylesford district has a lot of vineyards around it and I think every drunken fool decided to weave their way home just as we steamed over the horizon. Finally we made it into Ballarat and our park, and not one damn minute too soon!

The kids had a play on the jumping pillow, went to the kid’s club for an hour and then back to watch the movies on the big screen, snuggled down in bean bags and chomping away on popcorn.

Ballarat means Sovereign Hill of course, and off we went for our day's outing. I don't think it's changed much over the years except maybe busier. The kids had a fabulous time poking into every shop and store and barn. We learnt how to make a metal poker thing at the blacksmith, how to make a wooden spoked wheel for our carriage and the kids even learnt how to use a pen and ink to make proper running-writing. We did a mine tour, rode on horse and carriage and went bowling, 1850s style. No visit to Sovereign hill is complete without trying your hand at gold panning, but like moist of the diggers, we went away empty handed. 

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Scholars. Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic

Sovereign Hill. Ballarat Vic