Exploring Ballan and Myrniong, Victoria
Quaint and quirky! Sitting pretty at a short drive from both Ballarat and Melbourne, Ballan and Myrniong have become popular destinations for those out on a weekend drive, offering gorgeous landscapes and great options for sightseeing and dining.
Stroll down Ballan’s historic main street and choose from some great dining options, or check out the local art galleries. Ballan is also host to the famed annual Autumn Festival, along with the Ballan District Vintage Rally.
Just up the highway, Myrniong is home to a significant number of early bluestone buildings, along with two of Moorabool’s most loved venues, The Plough restaurant and St Anne’s Winery.
Truly this section of Moorabool is a daytrippers delight, as evidenced by the large numbers of classic cars which line the main streets every weekend.
Bakery goods, coffee, alcoholic drinks, local produce
• Vegetarian options
• Drive-through or eat in
• Open daily
More
Coffee, sandwiches, juice, pastries
• Vegetarian and Vegan options
• Not licensed
• Breakfast and Lunch: Mon-Sat
Cafe and bistro favourites plus Nepalese specials
• Vegetarian options
• Fully licensed
• Pies from $7, Mains from $11
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner: Seven days
Coffee, breakfast, lunch, desserts
• Vegan / Vegetarian options
• Fully licensed (no BYO)
• Snacks from $5, Mains from $11
• Breakfast and Lunch: Mon-Sun
Pub classics
• Vegetarian options
• Fully licensed (no BYO)
• Starters from $6, Mains from $20
• Lunch and Dinner: Mon – Sun
Coffee, sandwiches, bakery goods
• Vegan / Vegetarian options
• Eat in area
• Sandwiches from $5, pies from $4
• Breakfast and Lunch: Mon-Sun
‘50s style burgers, hotdogs, milkshakes
• Vegetarian options
• Not licenced
• Snacks from $5
• Breakfast, Lunch: Wed-Mon
Snacks Wed-Fri. Lunches on weekends. Wine tasting
• Gluten free and Vegetarian options
• Fully licenced (no BYO)
• Snack menu from $12 - $26
• A la carte menu from $12 / $30
Modern Australian, Steak
• Vegan / Vegetarian options
• Fully licensed (no BYO)
• Starters from $8, Mains from $24
• Lunch: Fri-Sun, Dinner: Thurs-Sat
Eat & Drink
Sleeps 8, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• From $666 per night (approx)
• Central Ballan Accommodation
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Ducted Gas Heating
Sleeps 4, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms
• From $280 per night (approx)
• Short drive to central Ballan
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Garden views
Two double studio rooms available
• Mon-Wed $150 per room
• Thurs – Sun $200, incl. $50 dining voucher
• Flatscreen TV, tea/coffee
• Private bathroom
Sleeps 4, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom
• From $98 per night (approx)
• Entire unit including kitchenette
• 0.7 km walk to central Ballan
• Overlooking the Werribee River Valley
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• Caravan sites and on-site cabins
• Barbecue facilities and communal laundry
• Adjoins Caledonian Park and Playground
• Central Ballan Accommodation
Sleeps 6, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom
• From $292 per night (approx)
• Entire house plus kitchen
• Just outside Ballan township
• Modern design, deck area and park views
Sleeps 6, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom
• From $283 per night (approx)
• Entire house plus kitchen
• Just outside Ballan township
• Modern design, deck area and park views
Sleeps 8, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom
• From $287 per night (approx)
• Entire house plus kitchen
• Close to train station and shops
• Architect designed with garden views
Sleeps 8, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom
• From $159 per night (approx)
• Entire house with full kitchen
• Short walk to central Ballan
• Spacious brick house, great parking and backyard
Sleeps 5, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom
• From $270 per night (approx)
• Entire house with kitchen
• Just outside Ballan township
• Modern design, deck area and park views
Sleeps 5, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom
• From $126 per night (approx)
• Entire house with kitchen
• 5 mins from central Ballan
• Recently renovated, 2 mins from freeway
Sleeps 2, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
• From $166 per night (approx)
• Entire house with kitchenette
• Central Ballan Accommodation
• Cosy, 1860s cottage with garden
Sleeps 2, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
• From $134 per night (approx)
• Fridge and microwave
• Central Ballan Accommodation
• Lovely cosy converted 1914 train carriage
Stay
There’s a new chapter beginning in Ballan, with Wilde About Books bringing the joy of browsing for books back to the township.
Open Thurs 10am - 1pm, Fri 1pm - 5pm, Sat 10am - 1pm
A new gem in the heart of Ballan, bringing beautiful homewares, plants, gifts and vintage-inspired treasures to Inglis Street.
Open Tues-Sun
The Ballan Historic Tree Walk has been created by the Ballan Arboretum Group to honour the planting efforts of the early settlers and ensure that these now mature significant trees get the recognition they deserve.
Open 24 hours
Relive your childhood with nostalgic lollies and old time favourites, or sample some of their 25 – yes, 25! – fabulous ice cream flavours, including seven dairy free and vegan sorbets.
Open daily
Iconic 1864 post and telegraph office which has found a new life as a visual arts gallery and studio space, with a regularly updated collection of paintings and photographic art.
Open Fri-Sun until 3
You might know Bolwarrah Springs from their delicious fresh produce, but the farm is also home to Spa Country Sunflowers, an amazing photo-picnic-picking experience, close to Ballan and Gordon.
Open weekends and public holidays during the picking season
Tranquil mineral spring located on Shaws Road, nearby the beautiful Bostock Reservoir. Includes parking area and picnic tables, overlooking therein branch of the Moorabool River.
Open 24 hours
Active gallery space located in the main street of Ballan, featuring regular exhibitions focusing on the work of local artists.
Open Fri-Sun 10am-3pm
Now operating in its new location in the Ballan Neighbourhood House, Steptoe’s is a regular haunt for avid op shoppers from across Victoria.
Open Thurs-Sat
Regularly updated assortment of vintage, designer and second-hand clothing, books, shoes and bric-a-brac.
Open Mon-Sat
Quilting, sewing and knitting shop, located in a fabulously decked out former masonic lodge and house.
Open Wed-Sat
Thriving fabric and second-hand store and a hub for lovers of all kinds of craft and vintage items.
Open Tues-Sat
One of two Moorabool Art Pathway Program (MAPP) outdoor galleries, a Council initiative showing the work of local artists 24 hours a day.
Open 24 hours
For over 20 years, Sam's Christmas Trees have been supplying gorgeous pine trees which have been carefully pruned throughout their lives for that perfect yuletide look.
Fri - Sun throughout December
Visit St Anne’s huge bluestone cellar door inn Myrniong, offering free tastings of their wine range, along with from-the-barrel port sampling.
Open daily
See and Do
Visit Country Grocers Ballan, make a $2 or $5 donation at the checkout and add your name or a message of support to a special Pink Up token. The tokens will then be displayed around the store, creating a growing visual show of community support as more people get involved.
Ballan Arts Space is joining Pink Up Ballan 2026 with a special exhibition running from late September through to the end of October.
Art and community come together at Flack Post & Telegraph Gallery in Ballan this October for the Against Breast Cancer Exhibition, a special showcase exploring the healing power of art while raising awareness and support for breast cancer research.
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).
Kick off the weekend with Chelby & Hoges, performing live at the Commercial Hotel in Ballan on Friday night.
Join Gordon’s at Gordon for a Pink Ribbon Breakfast this October, bringing the community together over breakfast while raising funds to support breast cancer research.
The clever crew from the Plough are putting on live music and pizza every month throughout 2026!
Stretch out for a good cause this October, with The Studio Ballan running its regular Sunday evening Studio Stretch classes pink in support of Pink Up Ballan 2026.
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).
Enjoy an evening of great food, fascinating insights and spiritual discovery when Alavu Psychic Events comes to The Plough in Myrniong in October.
The doors of the Old Ballan Courthouse are about to be unlocked with a super spooky paranormal exploration…
The Tin Plate Cafe is joining Pink Up Ballan 2026 with a special Pink Morning Tea filled with sweet treats, good company and a little bit of fun for a great cause.
Classic cars, winery views and a drive-in movie come together for a twilight Show ’n’ Shine at St Anne’s Winery in Myrniong.
Stretch out for a good cause this October, with The Studio Ballan running its regular Sunday evening Studio Stretch classes pink in support of Pink Up Ballan 2026.
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).
Grab a picnic blanket or camping chair and settle in under the stars for a family-friendly Open Air Movie Night at Ballan Primary School, raising funds as part of Pink Up Ballan.
Get the kids into the Halloween spirit with a morning of slime, craft and spooky fun at Ballan Bakehouse & Bar.
Don’t miss the best of Irish, American and Australian traditional music with Five O’Clock Charlie, playing live at the Commercial Hotel.
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).
After very wet weather forced the cancellation of the October market, Ballan Lions Community Market is taking its Pink Up celebration into November instead — and the pink theme is very much still on.
Garage Sale Trail returns to Moorabool Shire Council over two big weekends, 7-8 and 14-15 November 2026, with hundreds of locals expected to sell or shop secondhand at garage sales and markets across the region.
Contemporary poetry, live music and literary performance come together at the Ballan Mechanics Institute for a special edition of Melbourne’s long-running Thin Red Lines, presented as part of the Hide + Seek Arts Festival.
The clever crew from the Plough are putting on live music and pizza every month throughout 2026!
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).
Garage Sale Trail returns to Moorabool Shire Council over two big weekends, 7-8 and 14-15 November 2026, with hundreds of locals expected to sell or shop secondhand at garage sales and markets across the region.
Super-popular farmers-style market, offering regional and local produce and home-made, home-produced items.
Settle in for an indulgent afternoon at The Plough in Myrniong, with their new High Tea bringing a little extra ceremony to a Sunday catch-up, birthday or special occasion.
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).
The clever crew from the Plough are putting on live music and pizza every month throughout 2026!
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).
The monthly Ballan Lions Community Market is held on the first Saturday of each month, with stalls lining the main street of Ballan.
The Ballan Lions Community Market gets a festive makeover for its final market of 2026, with a special Christmas Twilight Market taking over Inglis Street from 4pm to 8pm.
Get ready for more than two hours of Fleetwood Mac classics when Gypsy – The Australian Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show takes over the Commercial Hotel Ballan.
Thursday nights at the wonderful Plough Bistro in Myrniong feature the popular Locals Menu (fortunately for visitors, everyone is local at the Plough).