Kia Ora! 👋

I’m taking you along on my recent day trip to the historic city of Ballarat. Ever since moving to Australia, I’ve been itching to explore more of regional Victoria, and on the 6th of April, I finally made it happen.

Believe me when I say this: Ballarat is absolutely awesome! 🌟 As soon as I arrived, I was struck by the stunning architecture—it honestly reminded me so much of the charming, historic towns in New Zealand’s South Island. There is something so nostalgic and comforting about those well-preserved heritage buildings.

The best part? It is super accessible. We hopped on a train from Footscray station and arrived in just about an hour and a half, thanks to Victoria’s fantastic free transportation initiative. It makes day-tripping so much more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about the commute! 🚆

Once we arrived, we spent the morning roaming around the city centre to soak in the atmosphere. We made a special stop at the beautiful St Patrick’s Cathedral, which is truly a sight to behold. After that, we wandered over to Lake Wendouree. It was the perfect spot to grab a coffee, sit by the water, and just enjoy the calm for a bit. ☕️

If you’re looking for a quick escape that packs in a lot of character and history, I cannot recommend Ballarat enough. It was such a refreshing day trip, and I’m already planning my next wander!