On Monday, we drive more than 100km north-west from Melbourne heading to The Goldfields Region. Why did we drove so far is because I mentioned before that I'm a theme park fan and in the whole entire region of Victoria, this is probably the only place that come closely to be regarded as theme park.
Because of the time issue, we only managed to go Ballarat. ‘Sovereign Hill’ located in Ballarat town, used to be a gold mining town has now become a Goldfield Theme-park that brings us back to 17th centuries.
Sovereign Hill is a recreated goldfields township set over 25 hectares on a site which forms part of the richest alluvial goldfields the world has ever seen. This place offers a wide range of activities carried out by costumed staff, many of whom portray some of the behaviours and prejudices of the 1850s! 
There is so much to see at Sovereign Hill especially if you are easily amused and have good imagination skill that you can transport yourself back to 1800s. Among them ...
More than 50 horses, including Clydesdales & Percherons (I learnt this from Farmville of course);
Regular demonstrations and street theatre performances and shortly after you can take a picture with them;
1850s-style shopping, even the road are not tar and full of horses' droppings (OK, I don't enjoy this); 
There is also a Chinese village in the gold-mining town, it’s called ‘Sen Kum San’ (translate: New Gold Hill). So I guess Chinese immigrant are already in Australia since 1800s;
A underground so-called 'adventure tour' of the Red Hill Mine which depicts the discovery of the 69kg Welcome Nugget, the second largest gold nugget ever found. OK, not the best adventure tour I've experienced but it is different;
Or pay a visit to the 1800s house of Mr J Taylor (whoever that is).OK, overall it is not too bad. At least it is worth the trouble to travel here compared to the lousy penguin parade in Phillips Island. After we left Sovereign Hill, we catch a glimpse of a huge castle on the way down and we decided to check it out.
Kryal Castle is apparently another sort of themepark that transport you back to whatever time. But it was closed! So the only thing I can do is take a picture at the entrance.
Finally, this is our last sunset in Australia before heading home. This is from Mt. Warrenheip, 8km east of Ballarat. There you go, my 8 days journey into Victoria in Australia.
Location : Victoria, Australia
Date of travel : May 2005
