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Melbourne

Sovereign Hill and Wildlife Park

Lions Adventures

Sovereign Hill and Wildlife Park - Melbourne

Wednesday 23 & Thursday 24 July 2025

Sovereign Hill and Wildlife Park - Melbourne

Wednesday 23 July & Thursday 24 July 2025

Sovereign Hill and Wildlife Park

This excursion on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 July provides the opportunity to meet a Lions Legend.

Step back in time to the heady days of Australia’s gold mining era on this comprehensive full-day program to Sovereign Hill, and a stop at Ballarat Wildlife Park to see the local wildlife roam free. Depart your hotel for the 90-minute drive to the Gold Rush town of Sovereign Hill where you will relive the joys, hardships, and daily life of miners and their families. The shops, miners’ huts, cottages, hotels and public buildings have been carefully preserved, and being renewed life to the atmosphere of a bygone era. Upon arrival, you will view displays documenting daily life in the 1850’s, or visit craft and jewellery shops offering goods reminiscent of those available during the Gold Rush.

During the early afternoon you will proceed for two course lunch at a popular local Golden City Restaurant. After lunch, you will visit the historic town of Ballarat. While passing through its charming centre, your guide will reveal its main highlights including the impressive gardens. Next your tour will continue with a visit to the 37-acre Ballarat Wildlife Park, where you can observe free-roaming kangaroos, emus, Tasmanian devils, koalas and numerous other Australian fauna.
Following your visit to Ballarat, you will re-board your coach for the 90-minute return drive to Melbourne.

Step back in time to the heady days of Australia’s gold mining era on this comprehensive full-day program to Sovereign Hill, and a stop at Ballarat Wildlife Park to see the local wildlife roam free. Depart your hotel for the 90-minute drive to the Gold Rush town of Sovereign Hill where you will relive the joys, hardships, and daily life of miners and their families. The shops, miners’ huts, cottages, hotels and public buildings have been carefully preserved, and being renewed life to the atmosphere of a bygone era. Upon arrival, you will view displays documenting daily life in the 1850’s, or visit craft and jewellry shops offering goods reminiscent of those available during the Gold Rush.

During the early afternoon you will proceed for two course lunch at a popular local Golden City Restaurant. After lunch, you will visit the historic town of Ballarat. While passing through its charming centre, your guide will reveal its main highlights including the impressive gardens. Next your tour will continue with a visit to the 37-acre Ballarat Wildlife Park, where you can observe free-roaming kangaroos, emus, Tasmanian devils, koalas and numerous other Australian fauna.
Following your visit to Ballarat, you will re-board your coach for the 90-minute return drive to Melbourne.

About this Excursion

Duration:

8.5 HOURS

Food & Beverages:

2-course lunch at Ballarat local restaurant + 1x local beer/wine/soft drink

Activity Level:

Moderate

Duration:

8.5 HOURS

Food & Beverages:

2-course lunch at Ballarat local restaurant + 1x local beer/wine/soft drink

Activity Level:

moderate

Itinerary

Depart Melbourne for scenic drive to Ballarat – 1:30-hour journey

Visit Sovereign Hill – 2-hour visit

Transfer to lunch – 15-minute journey

Lunch in a local restaurant – 1:30-hour break

Transfer to Ballarat Wildlife Park – 15-minute journey

Visit Ballarat Wildlife Park – 1:30-hour visit

Transfer back to Melbourne – 1:30-hour return trip

Gallery

PLEASE NOTE:

You will need to make your own way to the departure point for this excursion. Closer to the date of departure, we will notify you of the departure point which will be located in ‘central’ Melbourne.

Sovereign Hill & Ballarat Wildlife Park

Day Trip to Adelaide

Wednesday 30 July - Departs 9:30 AM / Returns 17:00 PM

The Barossa is in South Australia, about 70km north-east of Adelaide, the state’s capital city.   Your trip will include a visit of the city centre, The State Library of South Australia and lunch at a local wine bar and kitchen. 

The State Library is the information heart of South Australia, located in the North Terrace Cultural Precinct.  You will have the opportunity to explore all three buildings: the award-winning contemporary Catherine Helen Spence Wing with its iconic glass foyer, the Mortlock Wing with its 19th century Victorian splendour, and the 1861 heritage listed Institute Building.

Sweeping stadium views, stylish bar and lounge, premium menu and extensive wine list.  Bespoke Wine Bar & Kitchen is one of Adelaide’s most impressive dining experiences.

Extending across level three of Oval Hotel and into the iconic Adelaide Oval, Bespoke’s unique setting makes a stunning backdrop lunch.

Executive Chef Daniel Simpson’s modern Australian menu brings bold flavours to life through fresh, seasonal produce.  Two drinks are included, and you may choose from house wine, beer or a soft drink.

After lunch you will be transferred to the North Terrace, Adelaide city where you can choose to spend your time either at Rundle Mall, The Art Gallery of South Australia or South Australian Museum.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  We have been advised that the carpet is being replaced in the Mortlock Chamber (section of the library) and we are now unable to conduct tours through this section during July so we will amend the Private tour of the State Library slightly and now include access to the basement (old & rare artifacts storage) which is an area of the library usually inaccessible to the public. 

 

Private 60 minute tour of State Library of South Australia | 30 July 2025 – 11:00am

Guests will have the opportunity to explore one of South Australia’s great institutions and take a look behind the shelves. An expert librarian will take you on a walk sharing stories of how the State Library began. Your experience starts at the historic Adelaide Circulating Library to learn the history of the building. By 1861, the collection of books held there was to became the first public library in South Australia. The Adelaide Circulating Library has been used in the past as a backdrop to several movies including Shine and Gallipoli. Continue your way to the basement to see some of the interesting old & rare artifacts housed in the library. Discover how the state’s most important treasures are maintained in the state-of-the-art storage and how the preservations team cares for the collection. 

Legends that have joined us on previous experiences