Shake off winter with a trip to Sovereign Hill to experience their Spring Series

Sovereign Hill has 29 engaging activities that are available year-round designed to take kids – and adults – on a gold rush adventure. Highlights include a gold-panning experience where you may find your very own gold, and an underground tour of the gold mine to see what life was like for a miner. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, be sure to check out Sovereign Hill’s confectioners as they create a fresh batch of sweets by hand like they did back in the day. Plus, stroll to Davidson’s garden to learn about 1850s home remedies when paracetamol was oh but a dream.

Running from September 17 to October 2, Sovereign Hill’s stellar school program will not only educate your little ones, but keep them entertained, too. The kids will get to play and use their imagination to turn items found around the grounds of Sovereign Hill into creative masterpieces. They can sit back and enjoy listening to Sovereign Hill’s own in-house band, the Welcome Strangers, as they sing 1850s hits, and cheer on Captain Really Brave as he takes on nasty Blackbeard at Blackbeard the Pirate show.

If you’re interested in herbal medicine, qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, chef and horticulturist, Naomi Ingleton, will be hosting a workshop (Sat Nov 26) where you’ll learn about common herbs and their medicinal and culinary benefits, as well as make a herbal tonic and healing ointment. Hear from Yorta Yorta woman Emma Leehane (Sat Sep 10), who will give insights into how Aboriginal people lived sustainably for tens of thousands of years, and have a fun day out at sustainable farming property, Narmbool (Wed Sep 28), going bush walking and cooking damper. And be sure to visit Hope Bakery to tuck into their ‘pie of the month’ or one of their award-winning sausage rolls (Best Sausage Roll in Australia, 2014, no less).

The festive season is going to be here before you know it, and Sovereign Hill is putting on a bunch of activities in early December to bring the Christmas cheer. Learn how to make a pretty Christmas wreath (Sun Dec 4) using fresh blooms and greenery that you can take home and pop on your front door. Don’t get stuck last minute shopping and pick up some homemade goodies such as creamy fudge, sauces and chocolates, as well as soaps and other locally made products at Sovereign Hill’s Christmas Shopping Night (Thu Dec 8). You can also spend a few hours learning how to make traditional Victorian Christmas decorations (Sat Dec 17) to take home for your tree or give as a gift.