Victoria - Australia 2004 - page 576

family room; A$210 (US$137) apt. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Restaurant; tour desk; baby-
sitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room: TV, dataport, hair dryer, iron.
Ballarat Heritage Homestay If you'd enjoy staying in a historic cot-
tage, you might want to try Ballarat Heritage Homestay. Some of these Victo-
rian and Edwardian cottages date from the gold rush days. All of them are very
different, but all have a historic feel. Three cottages have claw-foot tubs, and one
has a Jacuzzi. Generally there's a queen and a double, and sometimes two singles
in each cottage. All the cottages have three bedrooms, open fires, and gas heat-
ing. The B&B room has a queen-size bed and sole use of a lounge.
185 Victoria St. (P.O. Box 1360, Ballarat Mail Centre, VIC 3354). & 1800/813 369 in Australia, or 03/5332
8296. Fax [phone]. www.heritagehomestay.com. 5 cottages, 1 B&B unit. A$175 (US$114) for 2 people
for 1-night weekend stay (available for some cottages only); A$275-A$350 (US$179-US$228) 2-night week-
end stay; A$145-A$160 (US$94-US$104) 1-night weekday stay. Rates include breakfast. Extra adult A$30
(US$20), extra child under 18 A$15 (US$9.65). AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: TV lounge. In room:Kitchen, hair
dryer, iron.
The Sovereign Hill Lodge The colonial-style wooden buildings adjacent to
the Sovereign Hill were built to resemble an 1850s Government Camp that was
used to control (and tax) the mine fields. The residence building has rooms with
queen-size beds and a set of single bunks, and the Offices building has heritage
rooms with four-poster beds and Baltic pine furnishings, some with Jacuzzis.
There are eight double rooms in the Superintendent's house, while the Barracks
houses dorm rooms sleep up to eight people (A$55/US$36 double; A$32/
US$21 single). There's a bar, 24-hour reception, and a game room. Guests get a
10% discount off entry to Sovereign Hill.
Magpie St., Ballarat, VIC 3350. & 03/5333 3409. Fax [phone]. www.sovereignhill.com.au. 37 units.
A$126 (US$82) double; A$138 (US$90) heritage room. Extra person A$14 (US$9.10). Ask about packages.
AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; Jacuzzi (in heritage room); babysitting; laundry serv-
ice; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV, iron.
WHERE TO DINE
Lake Pavilion Restaurant Café INTERNATIONAL I like this restaurant
across from the Botanical Gardens and on the shores of Lake Wendouree. The
Lake Pavilion was constructed in 1890 and still has that old-world atmosphere,
with polished floorboards and high ceilings. You can eat either indoors or out-
side, but either way you have some good views across the gardens and the lake.
The menu includes pizzas, focaccia sandwiches, various pasta dishes, salads,
steaks, and seafood. It's licensed but you can also bring your own wine. A kiosk
adjacent to the restaurant sells cheap snacks.
Wendouree Parade (across from the Botanical Gardens). & 03/5334 1811. Main courses around A$11
(US$7.15). AE, MC, V. Daily 9am-6pm. Bus: 15 Mon-Sat.
Robin Hood Family Bistro BISTRO The Robin Hood is located in a big old
pub—not exactly a place where you'd expect to find a bistro catering to healthy
eating. The bistro, though, is a past winner of the Real Meal Award, handed out
by the Australian Hoteliers Association and aimed at promoting healthier pub
food. Everything here is made with low-fat/low-cholesterol ingredients. On the
menu you'll find steak-and-kidney pie, beef curry, and several types of steak. Not
healthy so far, perhaps, but there's an extensive salad bar, and all main courses
come with a healthy dollop of vegetables.
33 Peel St. N. & 03/5331 3348. Reservations recommended Fri-Sat. Main courses A$8-A$20
(US$5.20-US$13). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am-2pm and 5:30-8pm.

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