Visit Kryal Castle – is it actually worth a visit?

Kryal Castle…oh there are some amazing memories from my childhood from this place. I think most Victorian kids and probably plenty of interstate kids will have memories from here.

I remember my mum taking me when I was younger and Mark also remembers a visit to Kryal Castle Ballarat with his family. And how many of us walked away with memories or nightmares from the whipping of the wench?

Times have changed since then and with a multi-million dollar renovation, there is no longer any whipping but you will find updated arena shows and an accommodation area that caters from small, romantic getaways to large family stays. In this post, we review our overnight stay and day pass to Kryal Castle to make your visit hassle-free and easy.

What is Kryal Castle?

Kryal Castle was originally built in 1972 and opened to the public in 1974. Modelled on a medieval castle it has changed hands a few times over the years and is now one of Victoria’s top tourist attractions for all ages. For many years it was marketed as Australia’s only castle but now there are a couple of others popping up in Queensland.

While there are no actual castles in Australia that are occupied or have been built by the Royal family, Kryal Castle is Australia’s only castle with a medieval theme park.

Visit Kryal Castle Ballarat

You will find Kryal Castle just outside of Ballarat in Victoria Australia.

The address for Kryal Castle Medieval Adventure Park is 121 Forbes Road, Leigh Creek Victoria. 3352. (You can put this address into your navigation device and it will help you get there)

The entry to the Castle theme park is well signed on either side of the road with brown tourist signs pointing to the entryway from the highway. There is ample parking at the Castle and parking is free.

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Kryal Castle Prices

There are plenty of ways that you can get Kryal Castle tickets. You can purchase your Kryal Castle tickets on the day at the castle ticket office or you can purchase them online through the website. We recommend that you purchase tickets through Klook who often have discount tickets available.

General Admission 

The entry price gives you access to the Castle grounds, all shows and attractions. There is an additional charge for face painting, archery, craft, pony rides and selected seasonal attractions.

Ticket	Price
Adult	$36.00
Concession	$30.00
Child (4-16 years)	$24.00
Family (2 adults & up to 4 children)	$104.00
Single parent family (1 adult & up to 3 children)	$89.00

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Things to do at Kryal Castle

We had the Noble Passes when we visited Kryal Castle and they were great for our kids. They did as many of the activities that were on offer as they could. Potion making was a real favourite of theirs and they had a great time at that activity.

There was only one entry to potion-making for the day on the Noble Pass so you should head over to the watchtower as soon as you can to book in for it. Unfortunately, the pony rides were not available on the day we went but it turns out our daughters were both too tall. We missed the archery siege as we were getting some lunch when it was being done.

We were very lucky that we were able to visit Kryal Castle in winter. There were not too many people about so we did not have trouble exploring to find the activities that we wanted to do. The wait times were not long either but it did mean that there were some activities that were not running. Our top tip would be to make sure you know the times of the activities to maximise your fun there.

The Kryal Castle Arena Shows

The best thing to do at Kryal Castle is to watch the arena shows throughout the day. These arena shows were a highlight for us. Our kids loved the theatre-like performances and because we were visiting Kryal Castle in winter they had a fire jousting section of the performance.

For us, the actors were what made us love the place. We really liked Kryal Castle but because of the performers, we loved it! We cheered on Sir Hector and we booed the Black Knight. We all got involved and it was a great family activity.

11.30 is the start of the main show.

2.00 is the Royal Joust. Because we were visiting Kryal Castle in winter it was the Fire Joust show. It was a fantastic show and the actors were amazing. The Arena shows change their themes throughout the year to keep it a bit fresh for visitors.

Kryal Castle Opening Hours

Kryal Castle Ballarat is open: every Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm

In addition to the weekend openings, Kryal Castle Ballarat is also open for the duration of the Victorian School Holidays & Select Public Holidays (Closed Christmas Day)

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Kryal Castle Food

One thing that we were really surprised at where all the places you could purchase food at Kryal Castle and that it was pretty affordable. There were three main places there to get Kryal Castle food. We had breakfast at The Abbey Tavern (they also served lunch) and we had lunch at the Alehouse. There was also a bakery but it was closed for the winter.

Breakfast

Our Kryal Castle food was really good at breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, we ate at the Abbey Tavern. If you are staying in the Kryal Castle rooms it would be a great place to start the day. The breakfast was a nice big meal perfectly named the King’s Breakfast (eggs, bacon, toast, mushrooms, sausage, spinach, beans and tomato) Queen’s breakfast (the same as the King’s without tomato)

There were great options for the kids too with a good-sized breakfast. Just be warned though if you are visiting Kryal Castle in the winter, and you are planning on eating at the Abbey Tavern in the morning it can be a little cold before the open fire really gets roaring so please dress well.

Lunch

There was plenty of space for us to sit and enjoy our Kryal Castle food. At the Alehouse for lunch, there was pizza, sausage rolls, pies, sandwiches and soup on offer. There was a large eating area available inside out of the weather with a nice warm fire. Kryal Castle food prices at the Alehouse started at around $5.00 (pie) and drinks were also available.

BYO Food

If you don’t want to purchase food there were plenty of families that bought their own food for Kryal Castle. Many were around the playground and in the Grandstand enjoying lunch together. This may be an option if you are saving some money.

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Kryal Castle Events

During our stay at Kryal Castle Ballarat, we decided to attend the Medieval Feast night. It is a dinner and a show-styled night and it was lots of fun for the kids as everyone gets involved.

We had the same actors from throughout the day and again they were fabulous. By the end of the night, we were all in stitches and we even learnt the names of the actors so we could personally thank them for doing such a fantastic job all day.

If sharing a meal with strangers is not your thing then you may find the Medieval Feast difficult. We were very lucky and the people we sat with were really nice. You share a platter of cheeses, to begin with, and then the main meal of meats and vegetables.

Kryal Castle Accommodation

The Kryal Castle accommodation is within the walls of the theme park. This gives you fantastic opportunities to go and wander the medieval theme park before opening and after it has shut to visitors.

The Kryal Castle suites are all styled in a medieval theme and are nice and cozy to go back to on a cold day when you are visiting Kyral Castle in winter. I was a little surprised that they were not serviced every day for the price they are but it was a very nice and tidy room for the 4 of us.

I really loved wandering and watching the medieval theme park come to life throughout the day. It was fantastic to see it come alive and we only got that from staying in the Kryal Castle suites.

A night in the Kryal Castle suites would be a great way to celebrate an anniversary or special occasion. The Kryal Castle Accommodation we stayed in started at $175 per night for 2 adults. There is plenty of great Ballarat accommodation options nearby.

*One thing I was very confused about was that none of the Kryal Castle accommodation included children even if you booked a family room. You had to add on $25 per night to your Kryal Castle suite’s price for the kids. It added an extra $50 per night to our costs.

Klook.com

Kryal Castle events

There are so many other Kryal Castle Events that come up through the year including a Murder Mystery night and other Medieval feasts. I also really loved that you could get married at Kryal Castle and even have your birthday party there!

What is no longer at Kryal Castle?

I must admit though it has changed from what I do remember. The focus of Kryal Castle Ballarat is even more family-friendly now and I can tell you there is no longer the ‘whipping of the wench! OK, all you oldies out there reading this there is no more of that sort of action at the new and improved Kryal Castle! But as you are reading this you are thinking it is still one of those memories that stick with you right?!

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How do I get to Kryal Castle Ballarat?

By car from Melbourne

Enter the address above and you will be taken along the M8 freeway to Kryal Castle Ballarat. It will take around 1 and a half hours to reach Kryal Castle from Melbourne.

By train from Melbourne

You can get a v/line train (this is the rural train provider in Victoria) from Southern Cross Station to make a day trip from Melbourne to Ballarat.

All in all, we had a great time at Kryal Castle Ballarat during our stay. While some things could be a little bit better the people who worked there were what made us love our time.

A huge thank you to Laurence, Penny, Sir Hector, the Black Knight and all the other actors that made our stay visiting Kryal Castle amazing.

Without you and your hard work to keep the kids (and the adults) entertained, Kryal Castle Ballarat would absolutely not be the same. Thank you.

We hope this article from us here at Explore Victoria has inspired you to embark on your adventure in Victoria, Australia, from popular caravan parks and pristine beaches to drives along the Great Ocean Road. Enjoy weekends away on the Mornington Peninsula and discover the cosmopolitan charm of Melbourne, Victoria, with a range of experiences for every traveller who wants to visit Victoria.

Whether you’re drawn to the rugged beauty of the Grampians, the cultural richness of Ballarat, or the autumn colours of Bright and Northern Victoria, there’s no shortage of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in Victoria.

Even if you love exploring Gippsland or driving the Great Alpine Road, Victoria has something special for you, and there is so much more for you to discover. If you are looking for more incredible and best places to visit in Melbourne or more travel in Victoria destinations, Explore Victoria has some more articles below for you to check out. Expand your horizons and get out and about in Victoria, Australia, for an unforgettable experience. 

If you have an idea, attraction, or top spot in Victoria, please comment or email us at contact@explorevictoriaaustralia.com.

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