Summertime fun for everyone!

Poured out at the Heart

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

WITH free splash parks located across the region, a visit to one of them is a cheap and easy way to keep the kids cool this summer.

There are parks in Ballarat North, Sebastopol, Creswick and the newest of them all, Bannockburn.

Known as Bannockburn Heart, $3 million facility is more than just a splash park, with flying foxes, an adventure playground, huge sandpit, public barbecues and all-abilities toilets. And it’s all free!

Open from 9am to 9pm every day, as the name suggests the park can be found in the heat of Bannockburn, on the corner of corner of Milton and Byron streets.

Opened last Thursday, Golden Plains Shire mayor invited everyone to come check out the region’s newest splash park and playground.

“Everyone has worked tirelessly to deliver this before the school holidays,” he said. “While it’s called Bannockburn Heart, it’s truly for all resident of Golden Plains Shire.”

 

Summer rush on the hill

BY EDWINA WILLIAMS

OFFERING a plethora of new activities during the Summer school holidays, it’s as busy as it was during the gold rush at Sovereign Hill.

There’s something for all children to enjoy, with different challenges on the program depending on the day of the week, and a chance to win a gold nugget worth $400.

Butter churning and cheese making are ready to try during Make it Mondays, as well as sewing the Eureka Flag and making a block candle.

Trotting Tuesdays are all about the horses, with chances to meet and have photographs taken with the Clydesdales and see the team change the vehicles’ animals over.

Steam engines, ruins and child mining are the focus during What’s that Whistle Wednesdays, while rare trades, the Cyanotype process and coachbuilding are the stars of Trade Thursdays.

Coin pressing action and photos with the Australia nugget are available during Find it Fridays, alongside the opportunity to rush to the diggings to be the person who finds the $400 gold nugget.

The weekends bring Sweet Saturdays and Soldiering Sundays where walks will be taken around Lollipop lane, giant jars of Raspberry Drops can be photographed, people can get hands on in Brown’s Confectionary, dress as redcoats in the parade, learn trooper drills and watch licence hunts in the Red Hill Gully Diggings.

Sovereign Hill is open daily from 10am until 5pm. Visit sovereignhill.com.au.

 

Ten great activity ideas this festive break from some well-known favourite attractions through to things that cost nothing but will keep the kids happy and cool.

MASS HYSTERIA, AUGMENTED RANDOMNESS

Until 31 December.

Animate street art by Travis Price and Milan Milojevic by using the EyeJack augmented reality app. Locations include Hop Temple, Wigton Place, McKenzie Street, Campanas, The Workshop Café, inside the Art Gallery of Ballarat, and outside Mass Motion.

 

ART GALLERY OF BALLARAT

Open daily except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 10am to 5pm. Free. 40 Lydiard Street North.

Explore temporary exhibitions, Dark Horse: Wild beasts and curious creatures, Geoff Bonney’s Pangrams, Troy Emery’s After the Gold Rush, and Cake Industries: 08:26AM.

 

BALLARAT BIRD WORLD

Open every day until Monday, 27 January, 10am to 5pm. Adults $15, Concession $12, Family $35, Child $6. 408 Eddy Avenue, Mount Helen.

Sanctuary showcasing Australian birds. Park also holds a dinosaur collection including a new full-sized, animatronic 10m triceratops.

 

TWILIGHT AT KRYAL CASTLE

Until 26 January. Adults $35, Family pass $99, Single Family $79, Child $22 and Concession $28.

Savour the Summer’s day and share a meal with family at the castle. Endless fun in the labyrinth, with archery, a jumping castle and the Wizard’s Workshop.

 

SOVEREIGN HILL’S SUMMER GOLD RUSH

Until 27 January. Entry is $58.50 for adults, $26.20 for a child, $46.80 for a concession and $148 for a family.

New activities daily and a weekly chance to win a $400 gold nugget. Something for everyone with Make it Mondays, Trotting Tuesdays, What’s that Whistle Wednesdays, Trade Thursdays, Find it Fridays, Sweet Saturdays and Soldiering Sundays.

 

WESTERN UNITED VS WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Saturday, 28 December. Mars Stadium. Gates open 4pm for 5pm kick off. Tickets from $6 at Ticketek.

A-League team, Western United’s first regular season match in Ballarat against New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix.

 

REGENT CINEMAS

Open daily. 49 Lydiard Street North.

Get out of the heat and sit back with a choc top in the cool air of the city’s grand art deco movie theatres.

 

OUTDOOR POOLS

Open daily. Adult $5, Concession $4.20, Child $4.20, Family $15, children under five free.

Eureka Pool, 102 Stawell Street South. Monday to Friday, 6.30am to 7.30pm. Weekends, 7.30am to 7.30pm. Opens at 12pm on New Year’s Day.

Black Hill Pool, Chisholm Street. Monday to Friday, 12pm to 7pm. Weekends and public holidays, 10am to 7pm.

Buninyong Aquatic Centre, Forest Street. Monday to Friday, 12pm to 7pm. Weekends and public holidays, 10am to 7pm.

Brown Hill Pool, Humffray Street North. Monday to Friday, 12pm to 7pm. Weekends and public holidays, 10am to 7pm. Prices differ: Adult $4, Concession $3.50, Child (3-5) $2.50, Children under three free, Spectator $2, Family day pass $11.

 

SPLASH PARKS

City of Ballarat water play facilities are operational daily, 9am to 9pm. Free. Midlands, Midlands Reserve, Doveton Street, Ballarat North, and Sebastopol, Victory Park, Vickers Street, Sebastopol.

Creswick Splash Park is on Victoria Street, Creswick and operational daily. Free.

Bannockburn’s Splash Pad is at the Bannockburn Heart, Milton Street, Bannockburn. Operational daily from 9am to 9pm.

 

CRESWICK JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM

20 January. Creswick Regional Park. Free.

Minibeast Discovery from 10.30am to 11.30am will explore St George’s Lake with a ranger, with ponding and bug investigation. Nature Treasure Hunt from 1pm to 2pm will find the natural wonders of the park. For six to 12 year olds. Registration at juniorrangers.com.au/whats-on.