Hey ho everyone,
so Mum's coming over for a week in July, and suddenly announces she really wants to go and visit Ballarat. Some old family connections, and the history of the place has her hooked. OK, then off we go, three of us in total. I did see another brief thread on Grampians, but wanted more info if you guys and gals have it to offer?
While still on the possible list, I don't think we can stretch to Royal Mail, although lunch could be an economy option given that Mum doesn't 'get' the $150 p/p dego concept, and we will just have gotten back from NYC, so my c/c probably won't either!
So a brief visit only (Fly into Melbourne Sat AM, fly back to Syd from Melbourne Mon evening) and will have a hire car, so could I please get your valued advice on...
A nice meal or three in a pretty setting
Scenic/unmissable places to see/visit in the area (will likely be staying in Ballarat for the two nights)
One or two of the best wineries to visit, both for quality and variety.
Any options/points of interest to/from Melbourne/suggested travel routes...
Need some travel agent advice peoples! Best brief Victoria experience without breaking the bank! Much appreciated!
Cheers
Tim
Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
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cuttlefish
- Posts: 1017
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 1:46 pm
- Location: Sunbury
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
Hi Tigger,
Ballarat is a nice town with a (very) few nice restaurants.
You might want to do the walk around Lake Wendouree, which is nice, and there are one or two lakeside restaurants worth checking out.
I think the better restaurants are a little further afield, so look at places like Daylesford, as there are good eateries there.
One closer to Melbourne at Myrniong is "The Plough", which we had lunch at last year. I think you'd like that. Good food, and a decent enough wine list. (Nothing like Royal Mail, however).
There is a nice little Japanese called Kambei very close to Sovereign Hill that serves good food.
Sovereign Hill is the major tourist attraction of Ballarat, and might be worth a few hours if you're into that sort of thing.
Sturt Street is the main street of Ballarat, and has some quite striking buildings. Between there and Lake Wendouree is a nice leafy part of town with some pleasant houses to look at.
There's a pub on the eastern edge of Lake Wendouree that's a bit of a hub and could be fun.
Ballarat is a nice town with a (very) few nice restaurants.
You might want to do the walk around Lake Wendouree, which is nice, and there are one or two lakeside restaurants worth checking out.
I think the better restaurants are a little further afield, so look at places like Daylesford, as there are good eateries there.
One closer to Melbourne at Myrniong is "The Plough", which we had lunch at last year. I think you'd like that. Good food, and a decent enough wine list. (Nothing like Royal Mail, however).
There is a nice little Japanese called Kambei very close to Sovereign Hill that serves good food.
Sovereign Hill is the major tourist attraction of Ballarat, and might be worth a few hours if you're into that sort of thing.
Sturt Street is the main street of Ballarat, and has some quite striking buildings. Between there and Lake Wendouree is a nice leafy part of town with some pleasant houses to look at.
There's a pub on the eastern edge of Lake Wendouree that's a bit of a hub and could be fun.
Smack my [insert grape type here] up !
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wifekidsmortgage
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:20 am
- Location: Country Vic
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
Hi Tigger
As Cuttlefish has rightly pointed out, Ballarat is not the gourmet centre of Central Victoria. It continues to baffle me how a place the size of Ballarat doesn't have a restaurant that locals instantly go, oh you need to eat at [insert name]!
Sturt Street, Lake Wendouree and Sovereign Hill are all good. The two restaurants around the lake are called "The Boathshed" and "Pipers by the Lake". Both are good options for either a meal or coffee (& cake). Pipers is not usually open on Saturday evenings which is a pity as their food is quite good. The Boatshed is opposite the Lake View Hotel, another good place by the lake to have a coffee and take in the scenery. What Ballarat does have is a great pizza place called "The Forge". Traditional wood fired pizza's that are a bit different.
Sturt Street has a number of good cafes, that do food and really good coffee. L'espresso Ballarat (416 Sturt St - no webpage) would be the pick of them but Yummy Patisserie and Café Europa are all in the same block and are all good. Down closer to Sovereign Hill there is Cake at 30 Main Road. In the same block as the cafe's on Sturt is a grand old pub called GC's, which is ok as well.
If you want a really good food experience, Daylesford is the place to go (about 40 mins away). The Lake House has the reputation but Kazuki's, Sault and Mercato are all good, just a bit out of the way from Ballarat. Wineries wise, Avoca is about an hour away. Best options would be Taltani, Redbank and Dalwhinnie. Ballarat's best known wine would be Tomboy Hill but there is no cellar door.
Best way to get to Ballarat is straight up the Western Highway. Are you picking up a car at Tullamarine? You can PM me for more detailed travel info.
Some websites of the above mentioned Ballarat eateries. Hope this helps.
http://www.pipersbythelake.com.au/
http://www.boatshed-restaurant.com/
http://www.thelakeview.com.au/
http://www.europacafe.com.au/
http://cakebakeshop.com.au/
http://www.theforgepizzeria.com.au/
As Cuttlefish has rightly pointed out, Ballarat is not the gourmet centre of Central Victoria. It continues to baffle me how a place the size of Ballarat doesn't have a restaurant that locals instantly go, oh you need to eat at [insert name]!
Sturt Street, Lake Wendouree and Sovereign Hill are all good. The two restaurants around the lake are called "The Boathshed" and "Pipers by the Lake". Both are good options for either a meal or coffee (& cake). Pipers is not usually open on Saturday evenings which is a pity as their food is quite good. The Boatshed is opposite the Lake View Hotel, another good place by the lake to have a coffee and take in the scenery. What Ballarat does have is a great pizza place called "The Forge". Traditional wood fired pizza's that are a bit different.
Sturt Street has a number of good cafes, that do food and really good coffee. L'espresso Ballarat (416 Sturt St - no webpage) would be the pick of them but Yummy Patisserie and Café Europa are all in the same block and are all good. Down closer to Sovereign Hill there is Cake at 30 Main Road. In the same block as the cafe's on Sturt is a grand old pub called GC's, which is ok as well.
If you want a really good food experience, Daylesford is the place to go (about 40 mins away). The Lake House has the reputation but Kazuki's, Sault and Mercato are all good, just a bit out of the way from Ballarat. Wineries wise, Avoca is about an hour away. Best options would be Taltani, Redbank and Dalwhinnie. Ballarat's best known wine would be Tomboy Hill but there is no cellar door.
Best way to get to Ballarat is straight up the Western Highway. Are you picking up a car at Tullamarine? You can PM me for more detailed travel info.
Some websites of the above mentioned Ballarat eateries. Hope this helps.
http://www.pipersbythelake.com.au/
http://www.boatshed-restaurant.com/
http://www.thelakeview.com.au/
http://www.europacafe.com.au/
http://cakebakeshop.com.au/
http://www.theforgepizzeria.com.au/
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cuttlefish
- Posts: 1017
- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 1:46 pm
- Location: Sunbury
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
It might be worth driving down to Lethbridge, and having a look at their wines. Looks like about a 40 minute drive south from Ballarat. Excellent wines, and Ray is often around running the tastings.
Clyde Park are just south of Lethbridge, and have a great view, decent coffee, and pizzas !
Captains Creek are a little known Ballarat organic producer. They have a cafe, but I've not eaten there.
Sinclair of Scotsburn make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and used to supply fruit to Tomboy Hill. These can be very good value, and he had back vintages last time we were there. Very simple operation, and you may want to call ahead. You might need your satnav to find it. They had a wine barrel as their letterbox last time I went, so look for that.
Pyrenees region is reasonably close by, so yeah, Dalwhinnie, but it was just a cellar door last time I visited (albeit a beautiful one). Taltarni have snacks, I think, and they are right next door to Dalwhinnie.
Warrenmang can be interesting, with some curio wines at cellar door. They appear to make a lot more than they're widely known for. Looks to be about an hour and fifteen minutes drive from Ballarat. There's a restaurant there, and if you can get in Luigi's ear, he'll probably be more than happy to give you the royal tour of the winery.
Clyde Park are just south of Lethbridge, and have a great view, decent coffee, and pizzas !
Captains Creek are a little known Ballarat organic producer. They have a cafe, but I've not eaten there.
Sinclair of Scotsburn make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and used to supply fruit to Tomboy Hill. These can be very good value, and he had back vintages last time we were there. Very simple operation, and you may want to call ahead. You might need your satnav to find it. They had a wine barrel as their letterbox last time I went, so look for that.
Pyrenees region is reasonably close by, so yeah, Dalwhinnie, but it was just a cellar door last time I visited (albeit a beautiful one). Taltarni have snacks, I think, and they are right next door to Dalwhinnie.
Warrenmang can be interesting, with some curio wines at cellar door. They appear to make a lot more than they're widely known for. Looks to be about an hour and fifteen minutes drive from Ballarat. There's a restaurant there, and if you can get in Luigi's ear, he'll probably be more than happy to give you the royal tour of the winery.
Smack my [insert grape type here] up !
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
Awesome info guys, many thanks for taking the time to give so much info. Planning is progressing!!
I see Dan has a new restaurant now, called Brae.... how am I going to convince Mum that's it's worth it!! I will try, just think like a polly spin doctor...
I see Dan has a new restaurant now, called Brae.... how am I going to convince Mum that's it's worth it!! I will try, just think like a polly spin doctor...
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via collins
- Posts: 727
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:16 pm
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
Brae is indeed the new Hunter home, but geographically it's not going to work at all.
I've not been to Royal Mail since he's left, but I would not write it off at all. You can eat there for a fair price, the wine list is astonishing, the locality is truly lovely.
I'll have a look around travel notes tomorrow.
Cheers,
Via Collins.
I've not been to Royal Mail since he's left, but I would not write it off at all. You can eat there for a fair price, the wine list is astonishing, the locality is truly lovely.
I'll have a look around travel notes tomorrow.
Cheers,
Via Collins.
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conformistpete
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:19 pm
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
Try eastern peake for wine
http://www.easternpeake.com.au/
and daylesford is 30-40 mins away depending how you drive... lots of options there.
http://www.easternpeake.com.au/
and daylesford is 30-40 mins away depending how you drive... lots of options there.
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wifekidsmortgage
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:20 am
- Location: Country Vic
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
Neither Brae or the Royal Mail will work time wise, unless you plan to spend the bulk of your day getting there and back. The Daylesford options food wise would be both very good and considerably closer.
Pyrenees option was more based on the wine as opposed to food options and that there were at least a number of options close by. Another option depending on what you were looking for would be to head up to highway to Great Western and visit Seppelt's, Bests and Mt Langi Ghiran. I think Seppelt's still do tours of their underground caves? Mt Langi doesn't usually have its flagship Shiraz available for tasting though.
The Botanical gardens in Ballarat, by the lake, would be a good option as well.
Pyrenees option was more based on the wine as opposed to food options and that there were at least a number of options close by. Another option depending on what you were looking for would be to head up to highway to Great Western and visit Seppelt's, Bests and Mt Langi Ghiran. I think Seppelt's still do tours of their underground caves? Mt Langi doesn't usually have its flagship Shiraz available for tasting though.
The Botanical gardens in Ballarat, by the lake, would be a good option as well.
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conformistpete
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:19 pm
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
To give you some ideas in and around Daylesford
The lake house
Mercato
In Hepburn Springs
The argus room
And there is a place that did $1 oysters of an evening! completely forgot the name but knew how to find it when staying there. Google street view was no help as it looked different from the front...sorry.
The lake house
Mercato
In Hepburn Springs
The argus room
And there is a place that did $1 oysters of an evening! completely forgot the name but knew how to find it when staying there. Google street view was no help as it looked different from the front...sorry.
Re: Flying visit to Ballarat... advice please??
Dont want to offend anyone from Ballarat but dont really think there is anything in or around the town that are must see......unless kids are involved in which case Sovereign Hill is an option.
There is also not much to offer on the way up if you take the Western highway either and is not the most scenic of trips.
You could take an alternate more scenic route via the Calder Highway to Woodend,then head to Daylesford via Trentham and then to Ballarat via the Midland highway...total travel time around 2 hours from the CBD.
Things to do on the way include a trip up Mt Macedon to the lookout......only if you can see the mountain, a quick look through Tretham and/or Daylesford and pick up a few of the wineries on the way, Passing Clouds is in Musk a few K's before Daylesford and Guildford Estate which would require a short detour once out of Daylesford.
There are a few good dining options in Trentham ...Du Fermier (Annie Smithers restaurant), The Cosmopoitan (just came 2nd in the 3AW pub of the year awards) or the Coliban food store which is more cafe style however has the best wine list in the region.
Agree with the Daylesford recommendations but would throw in The Perfect Drop which is more of a Tapas place, Kazuki and Mecato are both excellent. Not a big fan of the Lakehouse myself but then dego's are not really my thing anymore.
A much more scenic route but beware you will rise up to 750m above sea level out of Trentham and gets bloody cold in winter.
If you are looking for something a bit left field you could try the Radio Springs Hotel which is in Lyonville just past Trentham, is a very cosy and slightly quirky place with slightly eccentric owners with the service patchy at times but the fires are warm, the food good and always have live music weekends over lunch and dinner. (this is my local so may be a bit biased).
If you get time try to pass throgh Clunes just North East of Ballarat.....is a lovely old town, very original early Victorian streetscape, some interesting shops including a few good 2nd hand book stores, Clunes is one of the few recognised Book Towns in the World and has an annual book festival which is massive.
There is also not much to offer on the way up if you take the Western highway either and is not the most scenic of trips.
You could take an alternate more scenic route via the Calder Highway to Woodend,then head to Daylesford via Trentham and then to Ballarat via the Midland highway...total travel time around 2 hours from the CBD.
Things to do on the way include a trip up Mt Macedon to the lookout......only if you can see the mountain, a quick look through Tretham and/or Daylesford and pick up a few of the wineries on the way, Passing Clouds is in Musk a few K's before Daylesford and Guildford Estate which would require a short detour once out of Daylesford.
There are a few good dining options in Trentham ...Du Fermier (Annie Smithers restaurant), The Cosmopoitan (just came 2nd in the 3AW pub of the year awards) or the Coliban food store which is more cafe style however has the best wine list in the region.
Agree with the Daylesford recommendations but would throw in The Perfect Drop which is more of a Tapas place, Kazuki and Mecato are both excellent. Not a big fan of the Lakehouse myself but then dego's are not really my thing anymore.
A much more scenic route but beware you will rise up to 750m above sea level out of Trentham and gets bloody cold in winter.
If you are looking for something a bit left field you could try the Radio Springs Hotel which is in Lyonville just past Trentham, is a very cosy and slightly quirky place with slightly eccentric owners with the service patchy at times but the fires are warm, the food good and always have live music weekends over lunch and dinner. (this is my local so may be a bit biased).
If you get time try to pass throgh Clunes just North East of Ballarat.....is a lovely old town, very original early Victorian streetscape, some interesting shops including a few good 2nd hand book stores, Clunes is one of the few recognised Book Towns in the World and has an annual book festival which is massive.