Guidebook for Ballarat
Food Scene
Coffee is good!
Breakfast walk from Dowling via Lake 20 min.
14 locals recommend
Eclectic Tastes cafe & pantry
2 Burnbank StCoffee is good!
Breakfast walk from Dowling via Lake 20 min.
Pub meal by the Lake - Family friendly. Walk from Dowling 25 minutes. Large tables available. I prefer the casual outside dinning area or bar area.
24 locals recommend
The Lake View Hotel
22 Wendouree ParadePub meal by the Lake - Family friendly. Walk from Dowling 25 minutes. Large tables available. I prefer the casual outside dinning area or bar area.
Excellent coffee, food and ambience. Iconic Ballarat Cafe. Buy a record while your there!
42 locals recommend
L'espresso
417 Sturt StExcellent coffee, food and ambience. Iconic Ballarat Cafe. Buy a record while your there!
Coffe, breakfast, lunch.
Some outdoor sunny seating.
25min walk around the lake from Dowling. Small playground across the road.
15 locals recommend
Racers Bar & Cafe
2 Wendouree ParadeCoffe, breakfast, lunch.
Some outdoor sunny seating.
25min walk around the lake from Dowling. Small playground across the road.
5 min walk to fish n chips from Dowling. Also Indian (across road) and Pizza/pasta on this strip. Convenient food, nothing flash.
Sea Blue Fish & Chips
905 Howitt Street5 min walk to fish n chips from Dowling. Also Indian (across road) and Pizza/pasta on this strip. Convenient food, nothing flash.
The Forge Pizzeria
14 Armstrong St NPizza that adults can enjoy too.
The Burger Company
1301 Sturt StBurgers, Fries, Souva, Salads, Beer
Family Friendly, casual dinning.
Yellow Espresso
13 Sturt StDecent Coffee
Hip Chinese!
Great Dumplings to share
Make a booking.
Take out available.
(03) 5331-5268
Email booking via web site
fumanlou.com.au
6 locals recommend
Fu Man Lou Dumpling Bar
10 Camp StHip Chinese!
Great Dumplings to share
Make a booking.
Take out available.
(03) 5331-5268
Email booking via web site
fumanlou.com.au
Fika Coffee Brewers
36A Doveton St NGreat Coffee
Webster's Market And Cafe
61 Webster StCoffee, breakfast, lunch, free on street parking
Cheapest and best profitoroles, vanilla slice and vegetable pasties. Really - SO cheap. Locals love it. Tourists are unaware.
King's Hot Bread And Bakery
5 Sturt StCheapest and best profitoroles, vanilla slice and vegetable pasties. Really - SO cheap. Locals love it. Tourists are unaware.
Moon & Mountain
220 Mair StDinner - cocktail. You will need a reservation.
Ragazzone
Delicious! Quality dining and cocktails.
MR JONES: Award winning chef. Mr Jones is offering European style, local produce, weekly set menu. Reservation required.
12 locals recommend
Mr Jones Dining
42-44 Main RdMR JONES: Award winning chef. Mr Jones is offering European style, local produce, weekly set menu. Reservation required.
Entertainment & Activities
Indigenous Playground
Windmill DriveWonderful Playground
30 min walk around Lake Wendouree from Dowling
Fun for a range of ages.
Tire the kids out!
3 min drive from Dowling
http://www.inflatableworldoz.com.au/stadiums/ballarat/
Inflatable World Ballarat
502-506 Howitt StreetFun for a range of ages.
Tire the kids out!
3 min drive from Dowling
http://www.inflatableworldoz.com.au/stadiums/ballarat/
Great cafe for a family with kids. Bean bags on the lawn, outside tables for parents to watch kids, variety of food and kids menu. Breakfast/lunch. Playground at the Centre
Located at MADE Eureka
Saltbush Kitchen
200 Navigator-Dunnstown RdGreat cafe for a family with kids. Bean bags on the lawn, outside tables for parents to watch kids, variety of food and kids menu. Breakfast/lunch. Playground at the Centre
Located at MADE Eureka
The re-creation of 1850's Ballarat. Try Gold Panning, mine tours, old crafts and trades. Remember RACV members receive 10% off admission.
148 locals recommend
Sovereign Hill
The re-creation of 1850's Ballarat. Try Gold Panning, mine tours, old crafts and trades. Remember RACV members receive 10% off admission.
Enjoy indoor Swimming facilities, Gym and Special Sporting Events
10 locals recommend
Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre
Gillies Street NorthEnjoy indoor Swimming facilities, Gym and Special Sporting Events
Feed the Kangaroos, wallabies and visit our native animals and exotic reptiles in the 15 hectares of natural bushland.
(RACV members receive 20% off admission)
63 locals recommend
Ballarat Wildlife Park
Feed the Kangaroos, wallabies and visit our native animals and exotic reptiles in the 15 hectares of natural bushland.
(RACV members receive 20% off admission)
Regent Cinemas
49 Lydiard St NEverything Else
Ballarat Agricultural & Pastoral Society
Howitt StreetSunday Morning Market 10 min walk from Dowling
Mats Cellarbrations Wendouree
918-920 Howitt StreetPick up an alcoholic beverage here.
5 min walk from Dowling
Essentials
Closest Supermarket to Dowling. Banks, Pharmacy, Take Away Foods are all located here.
7 locals recommend
Woolworths Wendouree (Ballarat)
1205 Howitt StreetClosest Supermarket to Dowling. Banks, Pharmacy, Take Away Foods are all located here.
Pharmacy, banks, bakery, take away foods, produce.
Shopping strip just beyond Woolworths.
Howitt Street
Howitt StreetPharmacy, banks, bakery, take away foods, produce.
Shopping strip just beyond Woolworths.
Shopping
Sweet Fern
27 Armstrong St SPerfume Store for everything fragrant! Personal or home.
All your basic shops are here. Typical Shopping centre/Mall, parking is easy. Kmart, groceries, chemist....etc A few blocks from the cottage.
21 locals recommend
Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre
Gillies Street NorthAll your basic shops are here. Typical Shopping centre/Mall, parking is easy. Kmart, groceries, chemist....etc A few blocks from the cottage.
Parks & Nature
6km walking, cycling or jogging trail. Lots of birdlife and scenic views. Numerous cafes and restaurants adorn the foreshore
123 locals recommend
Lake Wendouree
6km walking, cycling or jogging trail. Lots of birdlife and scenic views. Numerous cafes and restaurants adorn the foreshore
The gardens were established in 1858 on 40hectares near Lake Wendouree. Attractions include the Prime Ministers Avenue and the Robert Clark Conservatory. Don't miss the Begonia display in March/April. (Festival in March).
45 locals recommend
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Gillies Street NorthThe gardens were established in 1858 on 40hectares near Lake Wendouree. Attractions include the Prime Ministers Avenue and the Robert Clark Conservatory. Don't miss the Begonia display in March/April. (Festival in March).
Arts & Culture
Enjoy a winters day in Ballarat perusing the art works and special exhibitions
113 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ballarat
40 Lydiard St NEnjoy a winters day in Ballarat perusing the art works and special exhibitions
The Museum is dedicated to the 1854 Eureka Stockade where miners took their stand against unfair laws and policing. Learn the stories of ordinary people who fought for our democratic freedoms. Also home to SALTBUSH kitchen a family friendly cafe dedicated to local produce.
24 locals recommend
Eureka Centre
102 Stawell St SThe Museum is dedicated to the 1854 Eureka Stockade where miners took their stand against unfair laws and policing. Learn the stories of ordinary people who fought for our democratic freedoms. Also home to SALTBUSH kitchen a family friendly cafe dedicated to local produce.