Goldfields - Victoria

Steeped in the history of colonial gold-rush days, the Goldfields region is as grand and opulent as it was when gold was first discovered in Clunes in 1851.

In a few hectic years, gold changed the course of the region’s social and economic history as prospectors from all over the world arrived and fortunes were made overnight. The towns of Ballarat, Bendigo, St Arnaud, Ararat and Stawell are full of grand Victorian-era architecture and ornate botanical gardens, a testament to the dreams and wealth of those who created them.

While the gold rush has now passed, you can still capture the spirit of its pioneers. In Ballarat visit Australia`s best open-air museum, Sovereign Hill, where visitors can try their luck panning for gold, dress up in 1850s clothing, tour an underground mine, ride in a horsedrawn coach and buy traditional boiled sweets and breads.

There is an entertaining evening Sound and Light pageant, `Blood on the Southern Cross`, which tells the story of the famous Eureka Stockade, a battle between gold miners and the government which happened in 1854 Near Ballarat is the picturesque Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region, renowned for its therapeutic spa waters, health retreats and wineries.

Highlights

	Sovereign Hill, Ballarat
	Pan for gold or chat with the storekeepers and miners at Sovereign Hill, where the lives and times of a typical gold mining settlement has been re-created

	Hepburn Springs
	Hepburn Springs is a resort town located in the middle of the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia and is increasingly known for its resident masseurs and holistic therapists.

	Macedon Ranges
	Indulge in a spa and massage whilst in the Macedon Ranges - the rolling hills and farmland of Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges are dotted with charming towns offering an array of health and beauty treatments, scenic surrounds and gardens, a thriving arts and crafts community and award winning food and wine.

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