Day 3: Sovereign Hill. Its an open air museum telling the story of Australia’s goldrush history, focusing on the 19th century gold discoveries in the town of Ballarat. It has period re-enacters walking around and its pretty hands on; we got to travel underground and tour a gold mine. And see soldiers fire their muskets a lot.

We spent most of the day here and then returned after dinner for the “blood on the southern cross” show. Its a light and sound show that depicts the story of the Eureka Rebellion, a battle between gold miners and Government forces at Ballarat on 3 December 1854.

You travel across an 80 acre set (which the public only has access to if they go to the show) and its pretty impressive. They have these little cars that take you around. It was FREEZING and night and so dark for most of it. Husband turned to the elderly couple next to us in the little car: “Its like jurassic park, only without the dinosaurs.”

The lady agreed and then whispered to her husband “what’s jurassic park?”