A school holiday activity that's fun and easy. Yes, it really does exist.

By BERN MORLEY

I don’t know about you, but as a parent, especially over the school holidays, I run out of fun, cool and easy things to do with my kids.

The great thing about living in Melbourne is that there is ALWAYS something to do and it is virtually impossible to run out of fun, reasonably priced and accessible things to do.

One of the things I’ve especially wanted to experience since we arrived in Melbourne was to visit and take in Sovereign Hill. If you’re not familiar with Sovereign Hill, then briefly, it’s Australia’s most famous outdoor museum and recreates Ballarat’s first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851 when thousands of international adventurers rushed to the Australian goldfields in search of gold and fortune. It is, simply, like going back in time.

On the Saturday just gone however, we actually made it happen. And it was SO easy and stress free. And for that, I can only praise V/Line, the regional train carrier that made our access to Sovereign Hill easy, reasonably priced and stress free.

Just FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by V/Line. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words. 

Just in time for the school holidays, I found out about V/Line’s ‘Goldrush Special’ train, which is a daily service that leaves Southern Cross Station daily and returns each afternoon, complete with full bus transfers to Sovereign Hill. Then you simply pay for entry at the attraction.

Now, I don’t know about you, but we as a family rarely sit down in the same space for any period of time these days. Yet this experience allowed me, for just over an hour, to grab my children’s full attention and for once we got to chat, giggle, be a bit silly and play some games we haven’t in a very long time.

Being just over an hour from the city though, no one got bored and because V/Line were doing the driving, it was a hassle free journey. One in which I even got to read a little of my book while my husband played endless games of rock/paper/scissors and I Spy.

Even more beautifully, I couldn’t help but note the grandparents who were taking the same journey with their little grandchildren. The thrill on their faces at being on a proper train, one that felt like a great big adventure.

It felt like our trip was far too short and suddenly we had arrived at Ballarat Station and were ushered onto the waiting coach to take us all on the short ride to Sovereign Hill.

Walking through the entrance is like being transported back in time. From the gold panning (in which we found GOLD) to venturing underground to a real life mine shaft (which all of our children thought was absolutely thrilling!) to dressing up in olden day clothes and sitting for a portrait, it felt like our time there was not quite enough. Like I could come back and do it all again.

Of course, if you were to ask any one of my children which part they were most enamoured with, I can guarantee they’d tell you it was the lolly store. Or more so, tasting the freshly prepared, in front or our own eyes, hard boiled lollies. That or the chocolate fudge from the store next door.

Another highlight was the candle dipping where we dipped our white candles into coloured dye to make our own designs.

Of course, the beauty of Sovereign Hill is that if you so choose, you can take along your own food and essentially have a picnic among the old settlements or plough fields. Alternatively, you can eat at one of the many and varied establishments. We chose to have our lunch in the main dining room, designed to feel as if we were eating in a saloon from the 1900s. We did however grab dessert from the New York Bakery and indulged in some delicious sweets.

I simply don’t have the space here to outline all of the activities available at Sovereign Hill. All I can advise is that if you choose to come along, check out the website first so that you can plan your day, so you don’t miss a thing.

V/Line’s Goldrush Special service allowed us to effortlessly reach our destination and to spend some quality time as a family. Sovereign Hill’s commitment to authenticity and value-for-money family entertainment combined with our transport made the day so very enjoyable and I can recommend this to any family who is thinking of visiting over the coming school holidays.

How do you keep the kids entertained during school holidays?

Check out more pics from Bern’s day at Sovereign Hill…

V/L

ine’s daily Goldrush Special from Southern Cross Station to Ballarat Station is a hassle free way to enjoy Sovereign Hill. A family return ticket is only $51.20* and includes a free shuttle bus transfer to Sovereign Hill, 10% off Sovereign Hill entry and a free horse carriage ride. 

More information can be found at vline.com.au/Goldrush

* V/Line Family Traveller ticket. Two adults and up to four children, off peak, economy return Melbourne to Ballarat as at 1 January 2014. This ticket not available with myki. Terms and conditions apply.