The Goldfields Way plots a course between Ballarat and Bendigo, and offers a scenic way of discovering the heritage and natural wonders of this picturesque region of Victoria.

Ballarat

Ballarat is a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, so a visit to the new Australian Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades is a precious opportunity to learn new and unique craft skills from the experts. Try your hand at such crafts as dry stone walling, making stained glass, armouring, chair making, silversmithing, knife making and plenty more throughout the year. Upcoming classes are available on the centre’s website. Of course, there is plenty more to discover on the Goldfields Way, so hit the road for Creswick, just 20 minutes away.

Creswick

Creswick is well known among regional cyclists for its excellent trails, and its cafes and restaurants. To get the scoop on what to see and do, make a stop at the Creswick Visitor Information Centre, located on Albert Street and open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. While history lovers will want to make a beeline for the Creswick Museum, it is currently being renovated and is closed until further notice. Instead, check out the Buried Rivers of Gold Trail, which identifies 20 sites in the region that tell the story of mining and its impact on local towns and landscapes.

Clunes

If you visit Clunes from 25 to 26 March, you’ll be joining literature lovers from far and wide who congregate here for the largest book event in regional Australia, the Clunes Booktown Festival. Over the two days of the festival, Clunes’s main street will come alive and transform into a book bazaar, with the help of more than 50 specialist book traders. If you’re looking for a rare or antique book, there’s a chance of finding it at the Clunes Booktown Festival!

Maryborough

Maryborough continues with the theme of opulent heritage in the Goldfields region of Victoria, so lovers of architecture and history will not be disappointed. Clustered around the Maryborough Civic Centre, the elegant architecture of the Town Hall, Post Office, Old Fire Station and Court House all demonstrate the detail and workmanship of the region’s heyday. The historical Maryborough Railway Station dates back to the 1890s, and offers a glimpse of the grandeur of the time in its polished timber ceilings and tessellated floor. Stand on the longest platform in country Victoria and imagine you’re waiting for a steam engine!

The Autumn 2023 edition of Caravanning Australia is out now!

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