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Goldfields Tourist Route

Post Office and Court House in Bendigo

Recommended duration:  4 days
Total distance:  Melbourne–Ballarat 116.2 kilometres, Ballarat–Daylesford 45 kilometres, Daylesford–Bendigo 75.4 kilometres, Bendigo–Stawell 180 kilometres, Stawell–Ballarat 123.8 kilometres
Driving time:  Melbourne–Ballarat 1hr 15 minutes, Ballarat–Daylesford 35 minutes, Daylesford–Bendigo 1 hour, Bendigo–Stawell 2 hours 20 minutes, Stawell–Ballarat 90 minutes.
Highlights:  Ballarat, Sovereign Hill, Ararat wineries, Bendigo Art Gallery, Daylesford spas, Pyrenees vineyards.

Explore the Victorian Goldfields via the Goldfields Tourist Route. Look for the distinctive golden ‘G’ signs along on this ‘nugget-shaped’ trail, which takes in important heritage sites, cities, villages and wineries.

The towns, villages and cities along the Goldfields Tourist Route are all prominent in the history of the Victorian Goldfields, and include Ballarat, Creswick, Castlemaine, Maldon, Bendigo, Dunolly, Avoca, Stawell Ararat.

In Ballarat book a seat at ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’, Sovereign Hill’s re-enactment of events leading up to the Eureka Stockade in 1854. Visit the nearby Gold Museum and inspect its large collection of nuggets, alluvial gold and coins.

Continue along the route to neighbouring Creswick, notable for its part in the reform of the miners’ union, famous citizens and stately main street. Make a stop for a relaxing spa in Daylesford before continuing to the galleries of Castlemaine and the legendary antique stores of Maldon.

Marvel at the wonderfully preserved nineteenth century buildings of Bendigo and ride its vintage tram down graceful Pall Mall. Wander through the quiet streets of Dunolly, whose goldfields have yielded nearly 130 large nuggets.

Take a walk through the old streets of Pleasant Creek, known today as Stawell and Victoria’s largest producer of gold. Take a short drive to Ararat, famous for the riches of gold, fine wool and wine.

Navigating your way around the Goldfields Touring Route is easy. Signs along the route indicate the location of visitor information centres and the shorter drives that interlace the region.