BBQ
The school holidays are upon us again! We've collected so many great places for camping, exploring, self guided tours, swimming, day trips, gold prospecting, and more, so we've put some of the best ideas together into this ultimate guide for your holidays in the Victorian Goldfields!
Take the kids exploring
There are so many amazing places for kids to explore throughout the Victorian Goldfields! My own kids have had so much fun on their adventures through this beautiful region that it was hard to choose just fifty of our favourites for this list. If you're after a new outdoor adventure for your family, look no further - these locations are absolutely unmissable and are always a big hit with the kids. Discover them all here!
HEAD OUT ON A CAMPING TRIP
With many fantastic campgrounds located close to historical sites, natural treasures and scenic walks, camping is a great way to explore the Victorian Goldfields. Take a look through these lists to discover some of the best campgrounds throughout the region, as well as campgrounds where you can swim!
Take a self guided tour
Self-guided tours are a fantastic way to explore the history and features of Victoria's significant Goldfields region! Explore the discovery site of the world-famous Welcome Stranger, the largest alluvial gold nugget ever found. Wander through abandoned mine sites and learn about the features and operations of their prosperous past. Take a signposted stroll among the region's beautiful buildings, gardens and bushland reserves. Have a look through this great collection of local self-guided tours and start planning your next adventure in the Victorian Goldfields.
Take a day trip from Victoria's Central Goldfields
Do you live in Victoria's Central Goldfields, or staying here for the holidays? Check out this collection of 21 amazing day trips and start planning your next adventure! Discover nearby waterfalls, caves, swimming spots, historical sites, gorgeous gold rush towns, beautiful scenery and more.
Head out for a family barbecue!
Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve, Taradale VIC
Picnics and playgrounds are a great way to spend the afternoon with the family! There are many places throughout the Victorian Goldfields which feature excellent play spaces and barbecue facilities. Take a look through the following list to find fifteen of the region's top spots for family barbecues.
Explore the region's educational locations
There is so much opportunity for learning while exploring the Victorian Goldfields. This list compiles some of the region's best educational treasures, ranging from signed bushwalks to guided underground adventures - and everything in between!
Try your luck searching for gold
The Victorian Goldfields are a popular destination for gold prospectors, with many of the world's largest alluvial gold nuggets found in the area (including the famous Welcome Stranger gold nugget discovery in 1869). Modern day prospectors continue to make significant gold discoveries in the region! Check out our guide to gold prospecting in the Victorian Goldfields, as well as lots more helpful gold prospecting resources.
- Ballarat gold prospecting guide
- Castlemaine gold prospecting guide
- Maryborough gold prospecting guide
- Dunolly and Moliagul gold prospecting guide
- Inglewood and Wedderburn gold prospecting guide
GO FOR A SWIM
Looking for your new favourite place to take a dip? There are plenty of fantastic swimming spots throughout the Victorian Goldfields! We have so many scenic creeks, rivers and reservoirs which are great for swimming, fishing, picnics and more. Check out some of Goldfields Guide's top picks for swimming in the area...
Go on a ghost tour
Ghost tours are a great way to learn about the sometimes dark and gruesome history of the Victorian Goldfields. You can learn about the terrifying conditions at the Aradale Lunatic Asylum, take a guided stroll through Ballarat's Old Cemetery and the town's forgotten underground, walk the halls of 19th century gaols and learn about some of the particularly terrible inmates and incidents. You can even become a paranormal investigator for the evening using state of the art technology and techniques. The following list of ghost tours will give you a night you'll never forget, so grab a friend and head out for an evening of gruesome history, tales and terrors!
Explore local waterfalls
There are so many beautiful waterfalls to explore throughout the Victorian Goldfields! Explore the stunning basalt gorge at Loddon Falls, relax in the shady rockpools beneath Sailors Falls, discover gold mining history at the Hepburn Blowhole, and more. Check out this huge list of local waterfalls and start planning your next adventure in the Victorian Goldfields.
Explore local mining history
The Victorian Goldfields is filled with fascinating ruins and relics, where abandoned mines, diggings, boilers, machinery foundations and gold puddlers are scattered in abundance throughout the region. We've gathered together this list of abandoned mine sites where you can safely explore and learn a bit about this remarkable aspect of our local heritage.
Head out on a bushwalk
The beautiful, varied landscape of the Victorian Goldfields provides countless fantastic settings for bushwalkers to enjoy. Along with the epic 210 km Goldfields Track, you can take many scenic walks throughout the region which showcase our rich history and stunning natural treasures. Take a look through this huge collection of local bushwalks and start planning your next day out exploring in the Victorian Goldfields.
Discover the region's most beautiful views
From iconic poppet head lookout towers to panoramic hillside views, there are so many stunning lookouts across the Victorian Goldfields. Discover new places where you can look down over waterfalls, mine sites and beautiful gold rush towns, as well as appreciate the gorgeous surrounding mountain ranges, forests and fields. We've gathered this huge collection of our favourite lookouts throughout the region! Check them out and get some fresh inspiration for your next day out.
What's your favourite thing to do over the school holidays? Let us know in the comments below!