Goldfields Treasure Hunt Tour: Family Adventure Walk At RACV Goldfields Resort - Public

Step back into the gold rush and join Hidden Lanes Ballarat for a fun, hands-on school holiday adventure at RACV Goldfields Resort.

On this family-friendly guided walk, kids and grown-ups will become gold rush explorers as they search for hidden treasure, discover real old goldmines, explore bushland tracks, and uncover the stories of Creswick’s gold rush past.

This playful outdoor experience is designed especially for families, with a relaxed pace and plenty of opportunities for kids to get involved along the way. Together, we’ll explore real on-site gold mining areas, look for signs of wildlife, hear stories from the diggings, and find out what life was like for the people who came here searching for fortune.

A great way to get outdoors, learn something new, and enjoy a memorable school holiday experience together.

This tour welcomes both guests staying at RACV Goldfields Resort and visitors to the resort.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. This tour is best suited to primary-school-aged children and older, but parents and carers are welcome to decide whether the walk is suitable for their child.

What’s Included

Your goldfields adventure begins at the main foyer of RACV Goldfields Resort, where children will receive their treasure hunt activity and become gold rush explorers for the afternoon.

From there, we’ll visit the Living Museum area to explore real goldfields artefacts and relics, and discover what they can tell us about life on the diggings.

Next, children will take part in a gold treasure hunt, searching for a piece of “gold” that can be exchanged for a chocolate gold coin. Dairy-free options will also be available. Along the way, they’ll learn how miners staked out a claim of land for gold digging.

We’ll then head off on a bush walk through the resort’s natural bushland, keeping an eye out for birds, plants and wildlife as part of a sticker activity. Along the way, we’ll discover a Chinese gold mining water race and learn how water was used on the goldfields.

Finally, we’ll visit real gold mines used during the gold rush and hear the story of the Creswick gold mine disaster. Children who complete the treasure hunt will receive an owl sticker at the end of the tour.

Approximate Activity Schedule

• Meet at the main foyer of RACV Goldfields Resort and begin the Goldfields Treasure Hunt

• Living Museum: explore real goldfields artefacts and relics, approximately 10 minutes

• Gold Treasure Hunt: find a piece of “gold” to exchange for a chocolate gold coin, and learn how miners staked a claim, approximately 15 minutes

• Bushland walk: discover a Chinese gold mining water race and look for birds, plants and wildlife along the way, approximately 20–25 minutes

• Gold mine discovery: visit real gold mines used during the gold rush, hear the story of the Creswick gold mine disaster, and receive an owl sticker for completing the treasure hunt, approximately 15 minutes

Accessibility & Suitability

This is an outdoor walking experience and includes a bush walk through natural terrain. There is quite a bit of walking involved, with some uneven ground, so closed-toe shoes are required.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

This tour is best suited to primary-school-aged children and older. It is not suitable for very small children, prams, walkers, or guests with limited mobility.

Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Weather & Safety

Because this experience takes place outdoors in the bushland around RACV Goldfields Resort, guest safety comes first.

Tours will not run if the forecast temperature is over 35°C, due to bushfire and heat risk, or if heavy rain makes the tour unsafe.

If we need to cancel because of weather, guests will receive a full refund or the option to move their booking to another available date.

We’ll always do our best to let guests know as early as possible if a tour needs to be cancelled.

Cancellations & Refunds

Guest cancellations made at least 24 hours before the tour start time will receive a full refund.

Guest cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour start time, or failure to attend on the day, are non-refundable.

If Hidden Lanes needs to cancel the tour due to weather, safety concerns, or other circumstances beyond our control, guests will receive a full refund or the option to transfer to another available date.