Your "home away from home", the Horse & Goat private self-catering unit is located at my house Riverbend which is on a one-acre block. I have a beautiful outlook in peaceful surrounds across the Werribee River Valley, yet just an easy 0.7 km walk from Ballan's main street with its cafes, vintage wares and op shops, and hotels.

Ask me about the "Kids Special" - book for two or more nights, up to two kids are free!

You have your own car parking space and private entrance with a little deck. You are welcome to explore the property, talk to the chooks and the four-legged friends, play boules if you are so inclined, and have cups of tea or drinks on the charming deck alongside the Werribee River (up here it is but a small creek most of the time!).

Ballan has a rich local history and is also just a hop step and a jump from Daylesford, Trentham, Blackwood, Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and Steiglitz, each of these towns being within an easy 30 to 45 minute drive. There are close and excellent bushwalking trails in the Werribee and Lerderderg Gorges and the Brisbane Ranges, all of which give visitors a close-up view of dramatic landscapes and the Australian fauna and flora.

The Ballan Horse & Goat is equipped for you to prepare your own meals in a kitchenette with microwave, toaster, kettle and small frig,, or you can give yourself a holiday and choose from a range of Ballan's eateries - two pubs, several coffee shops, a great bakery (try the Turkish rolls!), an excellent Asian and fast food shop, and a pizza place. There is an excellent IGA Supermarket here as well, and they sell a wide variety of cooked foods such as roast chickens, lasagne, and pies, and also many delicatessen items and salads.

If you do not have a car, you can reach us simply and quickly by train from Southern Cross station, Melbourne (just over one hour), and we can meet you at the station by arrangement at no extra cost. With Ballan as your base, you can readily make great rail day trips to explore Ararat, Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and Melbourne.

If you are visiting from overseas, we are happy to meet you at Melbourne Airport (this would attract an extra charge) or there is an efficient bus service to take you directly to Ballan from the airport (we can meet the bus for no charge) and from Ballan back to the airport when you leave.