Home to Sovereign Hill and Kryal Castle, Ballarat is a short drive to the iconic towns of Clunes, Smythesdale and Daylesford. Victoria's largest inland city, Ballarat is a thriving hub of contemporary arts, events and food and wine, with a fascinating heritage backdrop. Located on the Yarrowee River and lower western plains of the Great Dividing Range in the state of Victoria, Australia, Ballarat is approximately 105 kilometres west-north-west of the state capital, Melbourne.
It is the third most populous urban area in the state, with a population just shy of 100,000 and is the state's most populated inland settlement. Ballarat is the third most populated inland settlement in Australia. Ballarat is a 90 minunte drive from Bendigo and conveniently located to the wine regions of the Central Goldfields. Whether you seek to relax around Lake Wendouree or explore the architecture of the early Australian gold rush, Ballarat is an emerging cultural city, a short drive from Melbourne that has everything you need.