Places to visit
There's much to see in and around Buninyong of remarkable natural beauty and historical interest. As well as browsing local shops such as Sew Special, Unique Garden Décor, Divine Vintage, the Lions' Bookshop or Lana-Rose and enjoying a coffee in one of Buninyong's welcoming cafés, there are several interesting walks to take around the town or surrounding district.
Calling in at the Buninyong Information Centre for maps, a Visitors Guide and a chat with a local volunteer is a good place to start.
Botanic Gardens
Buninyong's pride is its lovely old-world Botanic Gardens and The Gong. Every season brings new perspectives on their life and beauty, making walks through the gardens and around the Gong an endless pleasure.
De Soza Park
In the heart of Buninyong, De Soza Park has picnic and toilet facilities, a playground and pleasant tree-lined walks along the Union Jack Creek.
Lal Lal Falls, September 08
Mount Buninyong
An extinct volcano, Mt Buninyong gives great views over much of Western Victoria. You can drive or walk to the summit.
Mt Innes/Hastie's Hill
A small but steep volcanic neck of Mt Buninyong, Mt Innes/Hastie's Hill gives the best views over Buninyong. There is a very pleasant half-hour walk from the township or you can drive there in five minutes.
Cemetery
Of great historic interest, the headstones in the peaceful cemetery give glimpses into the lives of Buninyong's early residents.
Historic Buildings
Buninyong has a wonderful legacy of churches, shops, houses and public buildings still surviving from its early days. These can be freely seen, and some visited, during a leisurely walk around the township. The Buninyong and District Historical Society has produced a short a guide to such walks for those who would like more historical information.
Buninyong Town Precinct Update
It's finished and looking good. Now we're just waiting for the grass to grow and the street sculptures by Cliff Burtt to arrive. Debate is growing about where they would be best placed: there is clearly more room on the south-east corner, in front of the old bank, rather than in the smaller and more congested space on the north-east corner, as first proposed. What do you think?
Read more about the Buninyong town centre upgrade in: News
Nearby attractions
- Ballarat Bird Park, Mt Helen
- Lal Lal Falls
- Lal Lal historic Blast Furnace
Ballarat
- Sovereign Hill
- Ballarat Fine Art Gallery
- Ballarat city shops & cafes
- Ballarat Observatory
- Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka
- Lake Wendouree and the Ballarat Botanical Gardens
- Ballarat Wildlife Park
Further afield
- Yuulong Lavender Estate, Mt Egerton
- Daylesford
- Clunes
For more information about accommodation and tourist attractions in and around Ballarat, visit the following websites:
visitballarat.com.au - City of Ballarat's official tourism website
ballarat.com - Ballarat Accommodation & Tourism Directory
- Details
Buninyong Eateries
Restaurants, cafés, picnic areas, wineries, a monthly market with delicious fresh produce - there is plenty to savour in and around Buninyong.
Bookings may be made by emailing the owner and chef, Dianne Ray, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by phoning 5374 2076.
Cafés, Restaurants, Food shops and pub
Buninyong Bakehouse ... 318 Learmonth Street, Buninyong ... 5341 2199 ... Facebook: bunbakecafe
Buninyong Foodworks ... 310 Learmonth Street, Buninyong ... 5341 3263 ... Foodworks Buninyong
Crown Hotel ... 420 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong ... 5341 3402 ... email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Web: crownhotelbuninyong.com.au
Dynamite Cycles Café and bike shop: 409 Warrenheip St (formerly Pig & Goose) ... 0402 181 943
Espresso Depot ... 315 Learmonth Street, Buninyong ... 5341 2677 ... www.espressodepot.com.au ... Facebook: EspressoDepot
Greenvale Quality Meats ... 405 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong ... 5341 2149 ... Facebook: Greenvale Quality Meats
Kawa Sushi ... 1/403 Warrenheip St, Buninyong ... 5301 3026
Maggie & Kate ... 4/403 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong ... 5341 2208 ... Facebook: maggieandkate
Red Door Pizzeria ... 401 Warrenheip St, Buninyong ... 5341 8235 ... This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ... www.thereddoorpizzeria.com ... Facebook: thereddoorpizzeria
The Farmgate Shop, Elaine ... Settlement Road, Elaine ... 0492 050 727 ... Facebook: The Farmgate Shop
The Old Bluestone Café ... 324 Learmonth Street, Buninyong ... Marilyn Delfin ... 5341 8166 ... This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Shared Table ... 317 Learmonth St, Buninyong ... This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ... 5374 2076 ... Facebook: The Shared Table.
The Yummy Kitchen ... 320 Learmonth St Buninyong ... 5341 8203 ... Facebook: theyummykitchen17/
(left) Summer in Buninyong means ice cream. Mmm ... now, which flavour to choose?
Takeaway Food/Drink Suppliers
- Buninyong Bakehouse
- Buninyong Fish & Chips
- Buninyong Supermarket Foodworks
- Buninyong Pizza and Hamburger House
- Kawa Sushi
- Red Door Pizzeria
- The Yummy Kitchen
Markets
The Buninyong Village Market is held several times a year on Saturdays, usually in the Buninyong Town Hall Market Square, with occasional Twilight markets. Buninyong Village Market on Facebook
Farm produce
Buninyong Blueberry Farm (seasonal) ... Innes Lane, Buninyong. 
Luscious fresh blueberries are on sale from Christmas and over January at the Buninyong Blueberry Farm. Drive in from the Midland Highway - turn off before Mt Buninyong Road to service road on south side of the highway. See their website: Buninyong Blueberries, Facebook page: facebook.com/BuninyongBlueberryFarm or email Ernie: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ring 0409 316 724 for more info about berry availability and pick-your-own days. The blueberry farm puts on a gorgeous show (right) every autumn before the bushes enjoy a well-deserved rest over winter.
The Farmgate Shop, Elaine
Specialty food shop with a great range of locally produced foodstuffs.
Call in or visit their Facebook pageThe Farmgate Shop to see what's in stock.
Wineries
Attwood Wines ... 45 Attwoods Road, Scotsburn ... Troy Walsh ... 0407 906 849 ... www.attwoodwines.com.au ... This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mt Buninyong Winery & Restaurant ... 210 Platts Road, Scotsburn ... 5341 8360 ... 0412 670 311
Picnic areas
- De Soza Park
- Buninyong Botanic Gardens
- Mt Buninyong summit
Buninyong Garden Harvest Lunch
A delicious locally grown and prepared picnic meal was enjoyed by all in the Buninyong Botanic Gardens on Sunday 14 March, 2010. On a perfect autumn day, the feast featured a tasty paella dish with local wild rabbit, Wurrook gourmet barbecued sausages, free-range chicken, roasted whole pork with various locally-made condiments in sourdough rolls, pizza with a range of toppings including locally produced ham, salami and prosciutto and local vegetables, along with blueberry and hazelnut petite cakes for dessert. Locally produced wine, beer and mineral waters were savoured too.
- Details
Information for Visitors
When you are in Buninyong call in to the Visitor Information Centre to chat with a friendly local volunteer about what to see and do in and around Buninyong.
While you are there, you can pick up a copy of the excellent Buninyong Visitor Guide, revised in 2021 by the Buninyong Community Association.A handy guide to Buninyong, it includes map, photos and local information. Print copies are available from the Buninyong Information Centre.
Buninyong Visitor Guide
Buninyong Visitor Information Centre
408 Warrenheip St, Buninyong
Hours: 10am - 3pm, six days a week: Tuesday - Sunday
Before you get here, we recommend exploring this site or contacting the Visitor Information Centre by phone or email.
Accommodation Looking for somewhere to stay? Buninyong has some delightful B&Bs.
Food and Wine Try out our local cafés: yummy food and great coffee!
Places to visit There are many interesting things to see and do when you are here: see what the locals suggest.
Services & Amenities Where is an ATM, the doctor, footy ground, swimming pool, etc? See the directory of services and amenities in Buninyong.
Walks around Buninyong and District
Buninyong Heritage Walks booklet, is an excellent booklet of walks around Buninyong. With maps and background information, it is on sale for $5.00 in the Buninyong Visitor Information Centre.
You can also find lots of helpful info about local walks on Buninyong Walks
Tours of Buninyong
Interested in a group tour of Buninyong? The Buninyong Information centre has organised several very popular tours of the township and surrounding district.
EV Charging point now in Buninyong
Free EV charging is now available at the two-vehicle EV station installed in Warrenheip St in January 2020.It is conveniently located in front of DeSoza Park, next to the Information Centre, opposite the BP garage. The charger also has a 1.5 amp power point for charging electric bikes and scooters.
- Details
Places to stay in Buninyong
Buninyong offers a range of attractive accommodation options. Several excellent Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs), each with its own distinctive style and attractions, self-contained cottages and farm stays ensure that your stay will be enjoyable. Buninyong is also a peaceful accommodation option for visitors to nearby Ballarat, only 11 KM away.
Accomodation List
Brim Brim Gardens ... 901 Lal Lal St, Buninyong ... Call 0417 542 175 ... Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at Brim Brim Gardens ... Web: Brim Brim Gardens.com.au
Buninyong Country Cottage ... Simpson St Buninyong ... Buninyong Country Cottage - Airbnb, Buninyong Country Cottage - Stayz
Camellia Cottage ... 701 Warrenheip St, Buninyong ... Call 5341 8262 ... Web: Camellia Cottage
Durham View Cottage ... 307a Hedrick St, Buninyong ... Call 0407 304 431
Garden Room@Historic National Bank ... 319 Learmonth St, Buninyong ... Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lal Lal Falls Cottage ... 42 Lal Lal FallsRd, Lal Lal ... Call 0407 717 626 or or call 0423 733 740
Mossmount ... Warrenheip St Buninyong ... Mossmount - Airbnb
Mozza's B&B ... 506 Barkly St Buninyong ... Call 0407 249 823 or or call 0438 498 231
Rosie's Cottage ... 58a Gittings Ln, Buninyong ... Call 0417 168 456
The Railway Carriage, Scotchman's Lead Rd, Scotchmans Lead ... The Railway Carriage - Airbnb
The Ridge - Mt Buninyong ... 694 Yankee Flat Rd, Mt Buninyong ... Web: The Ridge - Mt Buninyong ... Call 03 5341 3087
White Horse Cottage ... 6995 Midland Highway, Scotsburn ... Call 0419 119 912
Yarrabee, Buninyong
Yuille Cottage ... Yuille St, Buninyong ... Call 0437 352 668 ... Yuille Cottage - HomeAway/Stayz
Motels
The nearest motels to Buninyong are 10-15 minutes drive away:
Ballarat Lodge 613 Main Road, Ballarat ... Tel: 5331 3588
Begonia City Motor Inn, 244 Albert St, Sebastopol ... Tel: 5335 5577
Caravan Parks
The nearest caravan park to Buninyong is 10-15 minutes drive away:
Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park 108 Clayton St, Ballarat ... Tel: 5332 7888
Other accommodation around Buninyong
There is a wide array of other accommodation available in Ballarat and district. For more information about accommodation in the Buninyong district, call in at the Buninyong Information Centre or contact Ballarat's main tourism website:
visitballarat.com.au
- Details
Group Tours of Buninyong
Looking for an interesting place for a field trip?
Planning a program of outings for your club or society?
We invite you to consider a visit to historic Buninyong, Victoria's first inland settlement.
Many beautiful early buildings live on in Buninyong and a guided tour of the former Library, the Italianate Court House and Town Hall and the Uniting Church (est. 1847) can be arranged. The Ballarat goldfields were initially discovered at Buninyong and a tour of the historic gold sites can also be incorporated into your tour.
The geology of the area is also worth considering as the town is nestled at the base of the dormant volcano, Mount Buninyong, and surrounded by many small volcanic cones such as Mount Innes which offer excellent views from their summits. Local stone wall fences are also a picturesque sight.
Plan your tour to explore our atmospheric Botanic Gardens, planted with assistance from Baron Von Mueller.
The Buninyong Visitor Information Centre would be delighted to help you plan your own tour and to provide local people with real knowledge of the town to accompany you on your tour. You can include a stop for morning tea or lunch at a local café or the Buninyong Hotel.
Usual cost: $2/head or $50 (minimum) per bus. Donations appreciated.
Location: Melbourne: 90 minutes, 120Km; Geelong: 50 minutes, 80 Km.
For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ring (03) 5341 3954.
Self-guided Tours of Buninyong
You can also take one of several self-guided tours of Buninyong & District using the booklet, "Buninyong Heritage Walks" as your guide. The booklet costs $5 and is available from several outlets in Buninyong, including the Visitor Information Centre at 408 Warrenheip Street. It includes three self-guided walks around the township and some scenic drives in the district, accompanied by historical notes, beautifully reproduced photos and several full-colour maps. "Buninyong Heritage Walks" can also be purchased in advance from the Buninyong & District Historical Society by including $1 postage. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information or to place your order.
Another helpful booklet is the Buninyong Visitor Guide (free) produced by the Buninyong and District Community Association. It is available at the Buninyong Information Centre and several other outlets in the town.
- Details