Tag: Ballarat

21st October 2019–Sovereign Hill

Distance: 17 km
Fuel: 19 L

Woke to a cold, foggy morning…

Shady Acres Caravan Park

…which turned into a beautiful sunny day.

Shady Acres Caravan Park

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.

Sovereign Hill BallaratSovereign Hill Ballarat

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We also took a mine tour where we descended 90m on a rail cable car to view sections of the old workings.

Sovereign Hill Gold Mine TourSovereign Hill Gold Mine TourSovereign Hill Gold Mine TourSovereign Hill Gold Mine TourSovereign Hill Gold Mine TourSovereign Hill Gold Mine TourSovereign Hill Gold Mine TourSovereign Hill Gold Mine Tour

From the top of the mine gantry was a great view over Ballarat.

Ballarat

Finally a ride in the carriage pulled by four carthorses (three Clydesdales and a Percheron).

Sovereign Hill BallaratSovereign Hill Ballarat Carriage RideSovereign Hill Ballarat Carriage RideSovereign Hill Ballarat Carriage Ride

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.

Gold Museum BallaratGold Museum Ballarat

Outside the museum was a statue of Henry Bolte who I thought was the Victorian equivalent of Bob Askin and corrupt as hell.

Gold Museum Ballarat

20th October 2019–To Ballarat

Distance: 461 km
Fuel: 38 L

Packing up was easy this morning – took a quick trip to the local shops for milk but once the TV aerial had been dismantled and breakfast eaten there was not much to do apart from stowing the chairs, cleaning the mats and preparing some food for the journey. We were on the road just after 9am.

According to the weather forecast warmer weather will arrive for South East Victoria by the middle of the week so instead of  heading north to a very warm, dry Broken Hill we were driving south along the Calder and Sunraysia Highways to Ballarat.

Not a lot to report today as there was a long distance to cover so we only made brief stops to stretch our legs or for toilet breaks – rest stops were pretty inhospitable being generally bare dirt without even a table or rubbish bin. What started off as a cloudless, sunny day in Red Cliffs became an overcast, cold day in Ballarat – I think it was 12’C when we arrived but the forecast is for warmer days to come and that gusty wind has been left behind.

Between Red Cliffs and BallaratBetween Red Cliffs and Ballarat

Arrived at a caravan park mid afternoon, paid for two nights and settled in. The park is a bit run down but quite adequate There is a covered BBQ area behind our site so no need for the gazebo, not that there is any sun anyway.

Ballarat Shady Acres Caravan Park

Dinner tonight was the rice, potato, tomato and bacon prepared before setting out this morning. Too cold for an evening shower!