Museums

Sovereign Hill Winter Wonderlights Tickets

Open today

10:00am - 5:00pm

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Entry to Sovereign Hill’s daytime living museum, including Red Hill Mine, gold panning, gold pouring demonstrations, live shows, and traditional bowling

Access to Winter Wonderlights with immersive light projections, glowing laneways, Fairylight Fun activities, and arts and crafts

Access to St Nicholas’ Grotto & Sovereign Hill’s festive village & historic diggings after dark

Entry to Sovereign Hill during your selected session: day (10am–7pm), evening (5pm–7pm), or night (8pm–10pm)

Access to Winter Wonderlights (starts after dark from 5.45pm; late session from 8.45pm)

Day tickets (available daily Fri 26 June–Sun 19 July)

Evening tickets (5pm–7pm) are Saturday nights only: 27 June, 4 July, 11 July, and 18 July

Night tickets (8pm–10pm) are select Fri/Sat nights: Friday 3 July, Friday 10 July, Friday 17 July, Saturday 27 June, Saturday 4 July, Saturday 11 July, and Saturday 18 July

Locals Pass: Exclusively for Ballarat locals—buy a full-price day ticket (10am–7pm) to unlock unlimited visits all year long

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Experience Sovereign Hill’s gold rush heritage by day and stay on after sunset for Winter Wonderlights, a festive Christmas-in-July celebration filled with dazzling light displays, snowfalls, live entertainment, and immersive after-dark experiences.

Getting started

Your ticket includes full-day entry to Sovereign Hill and access to the Winter Wonderlights evening program. Arrive early to explore the living museum, pan for gold, and visit the Red Hill Mine before the township transforms into a glowing winter wonderland at dusk.

What to expect

Daytime gold rush experiences: Explore the recreated 1850s township, visit the Red Hill Mine, try gold panning, watch live gold pouring demonstrations, and enjoy interactive shows, heritage trades, and costumed characters throughout the village.

Shining Streetscapes & snowfalls: As darkness falls, watch historic buildings come alive with spectacular light projections while snow drifts across Main Street, creating a magical winter atmosphere.

Fairylight Fun & festive entertainment: Wander through glowing fairy-lit laneways and gardens, enjoy hands-on arts and crafts, listen to festive brass band performances, and soak up the Christmas-in-July atmosphere.

Theatre performances: Step into the Victoria Theatre for a program of live entertainment, including magic shows, interactive performances, and family-friendly productions.

St Nicholas’ Grotto & Diggings after Dark: Meet St Nicholas in his cosy winter hut, then experience the goldfields after sunset with immersive storytelling, sing-alongs, and scenes inspired by life on the diggings during the gold rush.

What to bring

Have your ID ready for a seamless experience.

What's not allowed

Carry-on items are allowed if they fit on your seat without taking extra space. For safety, luggage cannot block aisles, wheelchair spaces, or exits.

Alcohol, weapons, drugs, drones, pets, smoking and furniture are not allowed onboard the ferry.

Accessibility

The experience is wheelchair accessible. The accessible gold panning area features an elevated water channel and an easy-to-navigate pathway. Some areas have wide bluestone gutters between boardwalks and gravel roads. Ramps are marked on the free visitor map available at entry.

Guide dogs are welcome at the venue. Accredited assistance dogs wearing identifiable jackets must be harnessed or leashed and under the owner’s control at all times on Sovereign Hill’s premises. Owners may be asked to show a valid photo ID confirming them as the handler.

Additional information

Ticket sessions are day (10am–7pm), evening (5pm–7pm), and night (8pm–10pm).

Day tickets are available daily from Friday 26 June through to Sunday 19 July.

Evening tickets are available Saturday nights only: 27 June, 4 July, 11 July, and 18 July.

Night tickets are only available select Friday and Saturday nights: 27 June, 3 July, 4 July, 10 July, 11 July, 17 July, and 18 July.

Winter Wonderlights starts after dark from 5.45pm, and the late-night session starts at 8.45pm.

Locals Pass is for Ballarat locals; buy a full-price day ticket (10am–7pm) to unlock unlimited visits all year.

Facilities: Parking.

Children aged 15 and under must be supervised by an accompanying adult.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.