Start your day with a visit to the colourful characters at Ballarat Wildlife Park. Meet friendly free-roaming kangaroos and see koalas, wombats, dingoes, emus, and 'Crunch' the five-metre crocodile.
Next, head to award-winning Sovereign Hill. The much-loved outdoor museum offers a detailed glimpse into nineteenth century life. Try your luck panning for gold, stroll down the faithfully recreated Main Street, take a tour of the underground mines and catch a live performance. Make sure you indulge in a bag of iconic raspberry drops from the ye olde sweet shop. You'll find plenty of lunch options at Sovereign Hill, but it's hard to go past the delectable pastries from the New York Bakery. Looking for more gold? Head to the Gold Museum nextdoor. Alternatively, head into the nearby Pyrenees Ranges and blend your own gin at the iconic Mrs Baker's Still House.
This evening, settle in at one of the city's fine restaurants or romantic wine bars. Cosy up by the fire at Mitchell Harris Wines for a pre-dinner drink, then head to Lola at The Provincial Hotel, or Underbar for modern fine dining. For something a bit more casual, head to Hop Temple where you can tuck into some warming ales and hearty eats.
