BALLARAT CITY TALES WALKING TOUR

Discover rebellion, grand Victorian boulevards, hidden laneways and the splendour of the 1890s on our signature small-group walking tour with exclusive access to hidden places.

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ballarat

city tales tour

  • Ballarat’s story from early beginnings to Eureka and the late Victorian city

  • Small-group, carefully hosted walking tour

  • Historic sites, hidden laneways and grand interiors

  • Hot drink at Craig’s Royal Hotel + keepsake Ballarat art print

Perfect for couples, friends, families and curious travellers who want more than a quick look around town. Approx. 2–2.5 hours, 1.5km, relaxed pace.

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THE STORY OF BALLARAT

City Tales is our signature Ballarat walking tour: a relaxed 2.5 hour small-group experience following the city’s story through gold rush ambition, Eureka, grand Victorian streets, hidden laneways and the splendour of the 1890s.

Your local guide leads you through the people, places and turning points that shaped Ballarat, with careful research, strange details, larger-than-life characters and a touch of theatre along the way.

Your City Tales tour includes:

• A hosted small-group Ballarat walking tour
• A local guide in period-inspired attire
• Gold rush stories, Eureka history, hidden laneways and grand Victorian streets
• Historic buildings and interiors where available
• A coffee, hot chocolate or chai at Craig’s Royal Hotel
• A keepsake Ballarat art print to take home
• An easy 1.5km walking route with time to look, listen and ask questions

Close-up of a bookshelf with various old, colorful books tightly packed together. Titles include "Burns Poetical Works," "The Story of Doctor," and "The Postmaster."

“Do yourselves a favour and try a Hidden Lanes Ballarat city tour. Very witty and informative... We explored places not readily accessible to tourists, fascinating and very interesting.” - Karen

JOIN A CITY TALES WALKING TOUR

Meeting point: St Paul’s Anglican Church, Bakery Hill
Duration: approx. 2.5 hours
Price: $99 adult, $75 senior/child
Tours run: scheduled 5 days per week, with private tours available on request
Group size: small groups, usually 2–15 guests
Includes: hot drink at Craig’s Royal Hotel + keepsake Ballarat art print
Walking distance: approx. 1.5km at a relaxed pace
Accessibility: mostly flat city route; contact us if you have mobility needs

Need more info? Email hello@hiddenlanes.com.au or call/SMS 0455 528 741.

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BOOK A PRIVATE TOUR
Ballarat streetscape featuring historic buildings in sunset light, with parked cars in front, displaying ornate architectural details and intricate ironwork.

BOOK A PRIVATE
CITY TALES WALKING TOUR

Enjoy City Tales as a private Hidden Lanes experience for your own group. It’s ideal for couples, families, visiting friends and relatives, workplaces, conference guests, schools, social groups and special occasions.

We’ll keep the rich storytelling, hidden details and relaxed pace of our signature Ballarat walking tour, while shaping the timing and feel around your group.

• Duration: flexible, approx. 1–3 hours
• Group size: 3–17 guests
• Private tour price: from $297, covering up to 3 guests
• Additional guests: $99 adults, $75 seniors/students/children
• Children under 6: free, no drink included
• Includes: hot drink at Craig’s Royal Hotel + keepsake Ballarat art print
• Optional: add a relaxed lunch stop during the tour
• Meeting point: St Paul’s Anglican Church, Bakery Hill
• Accessibility: easy walk for most guests. Please let us know about mobility needs when booking.

Request a private tour

T: 0455 528 741
E: hello@hiddenlanes.com.au

Historic buildings with clock towers at sunset in an urban area, with a lamppost in the foreground.
A man with glasses, wearing a flat cap, striped shirt, and suspenders, standing outdoors near a black wrought-iron fence and a fountain, with historic buildings and a clock tower in the background under a clear blue sky.
Elegant dining room with white tablecloth-covered tables, wooden chairs, ornate golden framed tapestries on the walls, a fireplace with a marble mantel, and two large, sparkling chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
A group of five people, mostly women, walking along a city street on a sunny day, with some wearing sun hats. The man in front seems to be explaining something as they pass by a storefront with large windows.
Group of people sitting around a wooden table in a vintage-style room, engaging in conversation. There is a man wearing a flat cap and suspenders holding a cup, with a woman sitting beside him. The background features an ornate mirror, a fireplace, a

Your Experience Includes:

A coffee, hot chocolate or chai at Craig’s Royal Hotel.

A keepsake Ballarat art print created by Hidden Lanes.

A simple promise: if you don’t genuinely enjoy your City Tales tour, we’ll give you your money back.

RECENT GUEST REVIEWS

  • Photograph of a man with glasses and a beard, wearing a light-colored shirt with suspenders, making a gesture with his right hand, standing in front of a blackboard or wall with white chalk drawings.
  • A social media review post titled "Lovely laneways" with five photos: two showing tarot cards and window panes, and three showing a man in vintage attire holding a book or tablet, walking outdoors near wooden walls and signs.
  • Review of a walking tour in Ballarat with Jarrod, describing a historical and engaging experience.
  • Review of a walking tour by Deborah K from Melbourne, Australia, promoting a tour called "A Fantabulous Walking Tour - you won't be disappointed!!!" scheduled for July 2025, highlighting interesting historical and quirky facts.
  • Photo of a city street with buildings, trees, cars, and a clear blue sky.
  • Google Maps review for a walking tour of Ballarat, Australia with five green dots indicating a five-star rating, written by Jane O, praising the knowledgeable guide and enjoyable experience.
A group of people wearing sun hats and casual clothing standing outdoors near a historic building with a clock tower and an Australian flag flying in the background.

  • The meeting point is out the front of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Bakery Hill. Please arrive 5 minutes before departure time.

  • The tour goes for approximately 2.5 hrs and includes a coffee/tea break. It’s around 1.5km long.

  • Parking is available at the Main Road carpark or on side streets nearby. Big W is another centrally located car park.

  • Ballarat's driving culture is a bit different - the unwritten rule of the road here is that cars have the right of way-and they go fast! When crossing the road, if a vehicle is still moving, try to establish eye contact and wait till they stop. Do not just follow the tour guide crossing the road, only cross when it is safe for you to do so, the group will wait for you on the other side of the road.

  • Ballarat's weather is... infamous - be prepared for anything. Having said this, Mark Twain, the American writer was a big fan of Ballarat's weather when he visited in 1895!

    However, bring a warm jacket and brolly and comfortable walking shoes. On icy winter days a hat and gloves are in order. The tour will go ahead regardless of the weather.

  • This tour is enjoyable for most children. Children under 6 years old are free, but no drink or art print is included.

  • For assistance in booking please email hello@hiddenlanes.com.au or call 0455528741

With thanks to local historians Dr. David Waldron and Doug Bradby.
This tour was developed on the Country of the Wadawurrung who have performed age old cultural ceremonies, celebrations and traditions here for thousands of years. We would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Elders past and present.