Distance: 17 km
Fuel: 19 L
Woke to a cold, foggy morning…
…which turned into a beautiful sunny day.
After breakfasting, showering etc we set off for a visit to Sovereign Hill. We have been to Ballarat before and seen the lavish city buildings, the Remembrance Arch, Lake Windermere and the 1956 Olympics site but we missed Sovereign Hill.
It was not cheap – $99 for the two of us just to get in. The reality is that we had a really good time, think Old Sydney Town with a gold rush. It was very well done, we ate in a bakery advertising 3d pies (ha ha) $27 for fish and chips, $23 for salt and pepper squid, $7.50 for a bottle of Tooheys Dry but it was very nicely cooked and presented with all the staff young, cheery and in costume.
We also took a mine tour where we descended 90m on a rail cable car to view sections of the old workings.
From the top of the mine gantry was a great view over Ballarat.
Finally a ride in the carriage pulled by four carthorses (three Clydesdales and a Percheron).
Also included in the ticket was entry to the nearby Gold Museum which we visited. Personally I was not that interested in it which might have been because I was tired after walking about for 5 hours.
Outside the museum was a statue of Henry Bolte who I thought was the Victorian equivalent of Bob Askin and corrupt as hell.
OZ Camper Travels 