Today I found gold!

Predictably, I could not resist and went back to the Pancake Kitchen for breakfast, which consisted of pancake, eggs and bacon, topped with golden maple syrup.

Suitably sated, I then made my way to Ballarat's main attraction, Sovereign Hill. This is an open air museum that recreates what Ballarat was like during the height of the gold rush.

The museum consists of a mini town with many stores, workshops, theatre, hotels etc of the era recreated. There is also an old mine with guided tours, horse drawn carriage rides and the Gold Museum. You also get an opportunity to pan for gold.

I went on all three mine tours. They were all very good but the highlight for me was the new Trapped tour, which included one of the best light and sound shows I've ever seen as it told the true story of the worst mining disaster in the area in 1882.

The Hope Bakery produces delicious sausage rolls, and a wagon wheel the like of which I've not seen before.

I tried my hand at gold panning, but without any success.

Sovereign Hill is a great place to spend a day.

Oh, and that gold I found? If you were paying attention, you'd know it was the maple syrup on my pancake!