Backpack Victoria

GOLDFIELDS

The Goldfields is a region rich in Australian history. Prospectors from all over the world descended on the region after the discovery of gold in the 1850s, leaving behind a legacy of vibrant culture, boom time architecture and all manner of gold-themed attractions.

Grand nineteenth-century buildings grace the main provincial cities of Ballarat and Bendigo, while towns like Maldon, featuring quaint shopfronts and cute miners’ cottages, still wear their gold rush heritage on their sleeves.

Go for gold:

• Visit Sovereign Hill, which recreates all the noise and dirt of a goldmining town in the 1850s
• Explore gold museums and the lasting heritage of a fascinating Chinese culture
• Take an underground mine tour at the Central Deborah Gold Mine
• Head to the Eureka Stockade, close to the original site of the bloody Eureka Rebellion - the only uprising to occur in Australia.

When you’ve had your fill of gold, you can:

• Trawl through some of the region’s excellent art galleries
• Kick a ball or have a picnic in parks and gardens built on the legacy of the gold rush
• Walk or cycle a scenic path around the edge of one of Victoria’s best known lakes, Ballarat’s picturesque Lake Wendouree
• Follow a trail through an historic city, view the elegant architecture and don't forget to sample a famed local traditional pie.

How to get there:

By car
The Goldfields region is within easy reach of Melbourne. The Western Freeway leads through the townships of Bacchus Marsh and Ballan to Ballarat. The Calder Highway runs through the Macedon Ranges and Spa Country past Kyneton to Castlemaine, then further north to Bendigo. You can also get to Bendigo from Melbourne by driving north on the Hume Freeway past Beveridge, then veering onto the Northern Highway until it joins McIvor Highway.

By public transport
V/Line offers train services from Southern Cross Station direct to Bendigo, Castlemaine and Ballarat. Travel time by train from Melbourne to Bendigo is approximately 2 hours, and 1.5 hours from Melbourne to Ballarat. Connecting coach services operate from Bendigo and Ballarat to other Goldfields towns. For detailed information on timetables and costs please contact V/Line on 136 196 or visit www.vline.com.au.

On a tour
Tours to the Goldfields and its attractions run frequently - check out the links below or enquire at your hostel.