Book Ararat hotels

Ararat oozes country charm in its ideal pozzy just an hour from the gorgeous Grampians National Park. This also means that it’s part of the Grampians wine region! Full of small town vibes with a touch of history, Ararat is really laidback and the surrounding mountain views are super pretty. You might even remember Ararat from the 2014 The Biggest Loser challenge – while the whole town has certainly lost kilos, they haven’t lost charm! See for yourself with one of our Ararat hotels below.

Local charms

Wander down the main street and you’ll love the heritage-listed buildings, many of which are now cafes and shops. You can even drop into the old Ararat Town Hall, which is now the Ararat Regional Art Gallery and Performing Arts Centre for a squiz at the works of local and visiting artists. What’s super-unique about Ararat is that it was the only Australian town founded by Chinese miners, who started a gold rush here in the mid-1800s. You can explore this fascinating story further at the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, which is set in beautiful Chinese gardens. Another unique piece of local history is the J Ward Museum, which was once a hospital for the criminally insane, and the Ararat Asylum, Australia’s biggest abandoned asylum where you can take a ghost tour! With its morgue, operating theatres and its own chapel to explore in the dark of night, this is sure to get the blood pumping!

Food and wine

We all know you love your wine and food! So get stuck into the Grampians wine region, home to some of the world’s oldest vines. Regional highlights are the Shiraz and Riesling, though all of them are totes fab. There are cellar doors just outside of town, and many more all around the region which, thankfully, are also super scenic to get to.

Nearby adventures

The Grampians National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Australia, and for good reason! The rugged mountain ranges are gorgeous and packed with outdoor fun, from bushwalks past colourful wildflowers to exploring ancient Aboriginal rock art and checking out the views from spectacular lookouts. There are also some picturesque waterfalls to find in here too! And it’s just an hour’s drive away.

For something a little closer to Ararat, head to One Tree Hill Lookout for fab views across the town and rolling ranges in the distance. You can also check out Green Hill Lake, just east of town, where you take to the walking tracks, put your boat out onto the water, or simply light up one of the barbeques and tuck in at the picnic tables. There’s also plenty of trout to catch!

Getting there

Ararat is an easy two hour drive northeast of Melbourne, and a cruisy hour from Ballarat. You’ll be glad to know we have tonnes of cheap flights to Melbourne to get you (nearly) there!

Ararat is an interesting little town. With wine all around, the Grampians up the road and plenty of local charm, come check it out with our range of Ararat accommodation below.

Image credit Mattbgn under Creative Commons