Day Train Trip to Ballarat (Art Gallery)
Did this train trip on a weekday as that, from my reading, means it’s off-peak prices (assuming you do similar times to me). Pays to check.
My main purpose was to revisit the excellent Ballarat Art Gallery. It has a marvellous collection of Australian Art and is only about 5 minutes stroll from the main Ballarat train station. In fact, I don’t think I was ever more than about 15 minutes walk from the station during this whole trip.
This is a journey you can (must?) do using a Myki. You must top up well before you go, I’d suggest the day before. I paid full fare and it was $26.88 Return. Here’s a quick summary of the fun day:
| Time | Item |
|---|---|
| 8:43 am | Train from North Williamstown to Footscray |
| 9:17 am | V/Line Train leaves for Ballarat |
| 10:33 am | Train arrives at Ballarat (stops all stations) |
| – | Walk south down Lydiard St. Morning tea at one of the cafes |
| – | Visit Art Gallery in Lydiard St |
| – | Continue south towards Highway (Sturt St). Lunch here or nearby. A few nice places on South side of Sturt St (see Notes below) |
| – | Some post-lunch shopping and exploring of the area |
| 1:12 pm | V/Line Train leaves Ballarat back to Melbourne |
| 2:17 pm | V/Line Train arrives at Footscray (semi-express, picked on purpose) |
| 3:23 pm | Train leaves Footscray towards Williamstown |
| 3:33 pm | Train Arrives back at North Williamstown |
Other notes:
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I had lunch at DaVinci’s Italian Cafe which is at 29 Sturt Street. I loved it. They had a ‘main and drink’ lunch special
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The Art Gallery of Ballarat web site has some useful information, including on their current exhibitions.
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I walked to the station from home. So this journey was almost exactly like someone would have done 100+ years ago.
