I have been to the place and it was very good--also went to the night show there--very good don't miss it--google caravan parks in that area--we stayed at a few there--

Here is a site that will tell you how far and how to get where ever you wish to go--



http://www.goseeaustralia.com.au/plantrip.asp



Also Big4 van parks are very good---do you have your own van--if not you will have to take your own linen

Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park at 108 Clayton st is within walking distance of Sovereign Hill (300 metres) It is a Big 4 park. (1800 632 2370)

You can also stay on site at the park . There is motel type accommodation and also more school camp style. Enquire "Sovereign Hill Lodge" 03 53371159

No you don't need to bring any equipment for gold panning, it is all supplied on site. Take the whole day. Then definately go back for Blood on the Southern Cross at night. It can still get rather fresh at night time even in summer so take some warm clothes just in case.



Then next day visit the Gold museum which is just across the road. An excellent interesting venue and not only about Gold. You can also walk down the road to Poverty Point to see a small memorial where gold was first found.



You can catch a taxi from the station to S.H. However I think that there might be a bus service that goes from a stop close by the station that will drop you off nearbye. (I don't use public transport) I think that the service is possibly

linked to the train time table. Ring Davis Buslines and enquire.(03 53317777)



Before you leave, visit the wonderful Art Gallery which is very close to The station and see what the public minded citizens of Ballarat gold fields bequeathed to us all.



Proud "Ballaratian"

PlanB - thanks for your reply. No, I don't have a caravan and not even a bicycle. LOL. I will be travelling by train (hopefully).

Hi Cazza,



Thanks sooooooooooo much for your detailed and very informative reply with all the phone numbers etc. I will start making some phone calls this week.



I haven't decided when I will go but my son's not keen on the idea of me going alone. Hahahaha. He said I should join a Caravan Club and maybe catch a lift with someone and pay my share of the fuel. Anyway, I'll probably be throwing a lot of questions at you if I get stuck, so hope you don't mind.



I really appreciate your wonderful information.



Regards

Shazzie

dear shazzie, I recently relocated from Ballarat to the gold coast and I know

you can catch the Bunninyong bus from outside the station and get off at the street where sovereign hill is you will see it from the highway, after you get off the train go immediately to the street

and you will soon catch the bus, use your seniors discount concession card it will cost about $3.00 for all day bus trips arround Ballarat, there are several caravan parks one up in eureka street which is not far from sovereign hill and you can catch a bus from Victoria st, all the way into the bus terminal in Little bridge st, and then another bunninyong bus to soverign hill, I used to work at sovereign hill twenty years ago, it is a great place to see, also catch another bus the wendouree bus at the same terminal and go see the beautiful gardens, and the begonia festival if you go in March, the art gallery is wonderful with many Norman Lyndsay paintings and wonderful works of art, just a short walk from the train station in Lydiard St. and the gorgeous George hotel opposite where you will get a lovely lunch quite reasonably priced, the lovely Iron verhanders surrounding the hotel and the mining exchange building just across the road from the hotel is another beautiful building. there is so much more, if you ask me why I have relocated from beautiful Ballarat it,s because the winters are so cold my old bones couldn,t take it any more, this message is a bit late as you may have allready taken your trip if not ,do go you will love it regards ,Helen.