Overview
Encounter spellbinding surrounds cultivated, landscaped or natural by design in the Goldfields region, right in the heart of Victoria.
Picture-perfect
Stroll through one of the local botanical gardens in Bendigo, Ballarat, Buninyong or Castlemaine. If you're visiting the area in March, be sure to explore the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and see the renowned annual begonia display. In spring, see Rosalind Park's tens of thousands of blooming tulips lining Bendigo's Pall Mall.
Wild encounters
Head to Ballarat Wildlife Park on the outskirts of Ballarat to hang with Tasmanian devils, crocodiles and free-roaming kangaroos and koalas. Meanwhile, budding birders should make tracks to Ballarat Bird World to meet some of Australia's colourful avian friends. For encounters in the wild, lace up your hiking shoes at Terrick Terrick National Park.
Walk or ride your own path
Head out of town to discover national and state parks with dazzling wildflowers, abundant wildlife and stunning scenery. A centrepiece of the region's cultural landscape is the Goldfields Track. Kooryoora State Park offers a range of outdoor adventures. Don't miss the Melville Caves at Kooryoora State Park, granite boulders thought have been used as a hideout for bushranger 'Captain Melville'.
Outdoor living
Spend an afternoon on the shore of Ballarat's Lake Wendouree, or Bendigo's Lake Weroona or Lake Eppalock – a big part of each city's popular outdoor lifestyle. Trek the 3.7 kilometre trail around Little Lake Boort by foot or bike, or head to Bridgewater on Loddon for an aquatic adventure on the Loddon River. Seasoned kayakers and paddlers can go their own way at any of the Loddon Valley's waterways, or skill up with the help of a local guide.
Tracks and trails
Mountain bike or bushwalk across a series of landscapes including ironbark and stringybark forests. The most iconic trails include the Goldfields Track, O'Keefe Rail Trail, Skipton Rail Trail, Castlemaine to Maldon Rail Trail and the Maryborough to Ballarat Trail. The state of the art La Larr Ba Gauwa Mountain Bike Park in Harcourt is a must visit for mountain bike enthusiasts.
