Ballarat gears up for the RoadNats and FREE things to do in Ballarat | ourballarat Summer 2021-22

Australia’s premiere cycling event is back in Buninyong and Ballarat this summer PLUS check out the best free summer activities from all over Ballarat!

Maggie and Kate owner Katrine Taylor and artist Brigid Corcoran celebrate the return of the RoadNats with locally-designed biodegradable and recyclable coffee cups.

Gear up for the RoadNats!

The Federation University Road National Championships is Australia’s most prestigious cycling event and returns to our region in the second week of January 2022.

Ballarat has been a key partner in hosting the Championships, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Road Nats,’ for the past 15 years. Each year the event grows to incorporate more and more of the Ballarat community and in 2022 we will see the addition of a Community Festival and activities for families.

The RoadNats will see the return of the popular biodegradable and recyclable coffee cups designed by local artists Ben Sanders, Anthony Mitchell, Katie Chancellor and Brigid Corcoran, that will be available in cafes and restaurants across Ballarat and Buninyong.

These artistic cups showcase Ballarat as a creative city, with local artists interpreting the importance of the RoadNats through visual design.

More than 25,000 people attended in 2019 to watch almost 2,000 cyclists participate across exhilarating events such as the Para-Cycling Championships, Community Criterium, and of course the main event of the National Road Championships.

Catch all the action at the 2022 Road National Championships in Ballarat and Buninyong from 12-16 January.

Free Activities

Be creative
Drop into the Art Gallery of Ballarat on Thursday 16 and Saturday 18 December between 10am-12pm to make your own decorations for the festive season.

Make a splash
Cool off at Ballarat’s splash parks. Located at Midlands Reserve, Doveton Street in Ballarat North, and at Victory Park, Vickers Street in Sebastopol.

Play in the park
Check out the new bounce zone at our award-winning Victoria Park Inclusive Play Space. The playground now features air-jumpers and undercover wheelchair-accessible picnic areas for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

City of Ballarat Council Plan Alignment

The projects, initiatives, and ideas in this article align with the following goals of the City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025:

Goal 5

A strong and innovative economy and city