By car. Ballarat is 105 km west of Melbourne on the M8 Western Freeway — about 75 minutes door to door. The freeway is a fast, straightforward drive. From Adelaide it is around seven hours via Horsham.
By train. V/Line runs the Ballarat line frequently from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station — under 90 minutes, much cheaper than driving, and the most relaxing way in. Trains run roughly every 30 minutes peak, hourly off-peak. The station is on Lydiard Street, an easy walk to the city centre and to a few hotels.
By air. Ballarat has no airport. Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Avalon are the closest, both about an hour's drive south.