• Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Museum closes: 5:00 PM
• Last entry: 4:20 PM (final demo at 4:30 PM)
• Mine tours last tour: 3:30 PM – 3:40 PM
• Tour duration: 50 minutes
• Closed on Christmas day and every Monday.

• Address: Sovereign Hill, Bradshaw Street, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
• No hotel pickup included. Please arrive at the main entrance.
• Parking is available on-site for self-driving guests.

• Please note that customers will only need to collect a Candle Dipping voucher at the entry on arrival if the option is purchased.
• Pets are not allowed, except for registered assistance animals.
• Daily live demonstrations and shows are scheduled on-site; check the program upon arrival.
• Workshops at the Gold Rush Centre and Rare Trades Centre are available by advance booking only.
• Mine Tours are subject to availability and may sell out during peak periods. Guests are strongly encouraged to arrive before 1pm to secure a time slot. Please book your Mine Tour upon arrival to avoid disappointment.

• Available to visitors of all nationalities.
• Mine tour has limited availability and must be confirmed by Pelago within 24 hours.

• Children aged 0–4 years enter free of charge.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the visit.
• Family-friendly attractions are available, including 9-pin bowling and gold panning.

• Comfortable walking shoes (gravel roads and uneven surfaces)
• Weather-appropriate clothing (outdoor experience)
• Sunscreen and hats for sun protection
• Reusable water bottle
• Optional: Bottle for gold panning (available to purchase at Waterloo store)

• Wheelchair accessible, but the surfaces are gravel and uneven.
• Main Street is gently sloped, but some other areas may be difficult to navigate for visitors with limited mobility.
• Assistance animals are permitted on site.

Make the most of your visit with these immersive and interactive experiences that bring gold rush history to life:

• The Diggings Tour: Explore life on the early goldfields with a guided walk hosted by a costumed interpreter who shares stories from the 1850s.
• The Red Hill Mine Tour: Venture underground into the dark and dangerous world of deep lead mining, and witness the dramatic recreation of the discovery of the famous Welcome Nugget.
• Gold Panning: Try your luck at panning for real gold in The Diggings. Any gold you find is yours to keep! Don’t forget to purchase a gold bottle at the Waterloo Store to store your treasure.
• Musket Firing: Learn about law and order on the goldfields from our Troopers, who demonstrate how to safely load and fire an authentic musket.
• Sweet Making: Discover the art of making traditional boiled lollies and enjoy a sweet sample at the end of the demonstration.
• Gold Pour: Watch molten gold heated to over 1,000°C being poured into a mould to form a solid gold ingot—an awe-inspiring display of craftsmanship.
• Candle Making: Step inside a 19th-century candle factory and see how candles were made using time-honoured techniques and natural aromas.
• 9-Pin Bowling: Set up wooden skittles and try your hand at this old-fashioned game—great fun for all ages.
• Wheelwrighting: Observe skilled tradesmen handcrafting coach wheels using traditional 1850s methods, from shaping spokes to assembling hubs.

• Instant confirmation for all tickets except the Mine Tour, which is manually confirmed within 24 hours.
• Present your mobile or printed voucher at the entrance.

• Free cancellation is allowed anytime before your visit, for all ticket types.

• Present your mobile e-voucher or printed ticket at the main entrance.
• Admission is valid only for the date booked.
• Separate confirmation will be sent if the mine tour option is selected.