Minibus Hire Across Australia

Ballarat Minibus Hire for Goldfields Days Out

Ballarat wears its gold-rush wealth along its main streets, and Sovereign Hill brings the gold-rush years back to life. It's also a good base for Daylesford, the Grampians and Bendigo, all within easy reach by minibus.

Sovereign Hill with a group

Day visitors come in through the main entrance on Bradshaw Street, and buses park in the car park directly opposite, so there's no long walk at either end. Staying at the Sovereign Hill Hotel? Groups there use separate drop-off and pickup zones on Magpie Street in Golden Point.

Give it a good half-day at least. Families with children often find the day disappears.

Minibus interior with individual seats
Minibus interior with individual seats

Flying into Ballarat

Places your group will want to see

  • Lydiard Street and Sturt Street heritage streetscape — Gold-boom architecture in the city centre, near Ballarat station
  • Art Gallery of Ballarat — Lydiard Street North
  • Lake Wendouree and Ballarat Botanical Gardens — Lakeside gardens west of the city centre
  • Sovereign Hill — Gold-rush outdoor living museum, Bradshaw Street; excursion buses park in the car park on Bradshaw Street opposite the main entrance

Where groups usually stay

  • Western Freeway / Wendouree
  • Lake Wendouree
  • Sovereign Hill / Golden Point
  • Central Ballarat (Sturt Street / Lydiard Street)

In the city centre

Lydiard Street and Sturt Street are lined with gold-boom buildings, and the Art Gallery of Ballarat is right there on Lydiard Street North. Lake Wendouree and the Botanical Gardens are just to the west, perfect for a stroll before lunch.

The council doesn't list dedicated tourist-coach parking in the centre, so set-down is agreed with each venue in advance. That's usually simpler with a minibus or people mover than with a full-size coach.

Spa towns, Bendigo and the Grampians

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are about 45 minutes away, a favourite for a birthday or hens day of bathhouses and long lunches. Bendigo is an hour and a half north, and Halls Gap, gateway to the Grampians, takes about an hour and three-quarters heading west: a big but beautiful day.

Geelong is about an hour south, and central Melbourne, about 115 km east, is somewhere between 75 and 90 minutes away.

Getting to Ballarat

Most visitors land at Tullamarine and head out along the Western Freeway: about 110 km, or 75 minutes or so. Avalon, via Geelong, is a similar distance. If the route crosses Melbourne's toll roads, remember they're cashless and that buses with 13 or more seats are charged as heavy vehicles.

Your questions

How far is Sovereign Hill from Melbourne?

It's about 110 km out along the Western Freeway, a drive of roughly 75 minutes. It works well as a day trip, or as the highlight of a night in Ballarat.

Can the driver wait while we're in Daylesford?

That's the usual plan. You're dropped in town, spend the day at your own pace and are collected at an agreed time. Tell us when you book how long you'd like to stay.

Is the Grampians too far for a day trip?

It's about 145 km to Halls Gap, so allow close to two hours each way. It's doable, but many groups prefer to stay a night.

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