Best Breakfast and Brunch Places in Hepburn Springs

"The 1890 Lakeside Lodge was designed by WH Piper and today it’s a lovely light-filled cafe with a courtyard and huge windows looking out over the lake. Dishes range from egg-and-bacon fry-ups to quinoa breakfast..."

"Pipers By The Lake is proud to be one of western Victoria’s leading restaurants and function centres. The location of Pipers is a stand out,..."

"Boatshed is located on the Lake Wendouree foreshore in the very heart of Ballarat. The iconic Ballarat restaurant has been a popular eatery by the Lake for almost two decades. In late 2017 Boatshed was refurbished and relaunched for its next phase."

"Located 4km (2.5 miles) from the centre of Ballarat, on the western shores of Lake Wendouree, the Ballarat Botanical Gardens covers 40 hectares (99 acres) and is one of Australia’s most remarkable cool climate gardens. Opened in 1857, the gardens are more than 150 years old and feature mature trees, a modern conservatory, a heritage statuary pavilion and the Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial. Divided into three zones, the gardens include a Victorian pleasure garden and the Prime Ministers Avenue, which features bronze busts of every PM since the Federation."

"From the lake, pebbled paths lead to the historic Ballarat Botanical Gardens. The gardens were planted in the 1860s, and on your visit, you can soak up the beauty of the grand floral displays, heritage oak trees, Italian marble statues and the iconic Prime Ministers Avenue. There are free guided tours departing from the Conservatory, and a nursery on-site where you can purchase plants to take home."

"Ballarat’s Botanical Gardens are one of Australia’s most significant cool climate gardens. Located about four kilometres from the centre of town on the shore of Lake Wendouree, they cover 40 hectares and are a popular heritage and recreation destination for residents and visitors. The Gardens are open all day, all year, and until 9pm from October to April, and are free to enter."

"Sovereign Hill is a unique outdoor folklore museum recreating an era when the city was a flush with thousands of fortune-seeking gold-diggers from all over the world hoping to strike it hot and find riches. The 25-hectare park is full of recreated shops, hotels, theatres, factories, schools and underground mines as well as spectacular shows re-enacting the Eureka Rebellion on the Ballarat goldfields. A full day is needed here to soak in the Victorian history and perhaps even snare yourself some bling."

"Step back into the 1850s at Sovereign Hill – a multi-award-winning open-air museum that earns as many plaudits from adults as it does the little ones accompanying them. This immersive attraction is set across a 25-hectare site (equivalent to the size of some 13 MCGs), and plays host to more than 60 historically recreated brick and timber buildings decked out with antiques, artwork, books and papers. It’s also staffed by costumed actors who can answer your historical questions and pose for photos."

"At Sovereign Hill you’ll be on ground zero for the richest alluvial gold rush in the world. The Welcome Nugget, the largest gold nugget ever recovered, was found at this very place and weighed almost 70kg. This 25-hectare site is now an outdoor museum where you can return to the fast-moving first ten years of Ballarat’s European history."