I went here when l was in primary school back then it was awesome took my kids here not long back they loved it so much funand there is also room to make it even better had an enjoyable day here will be back soon check it out its well worth it thats for sure

Approximate cost: $120

We spent New Years Eve here and had such a brilliant time - it's been renovated beautifully and it's gorgeous - so different and so much better than the Kryal of my childhood. The fireworks were simply wonderful and we enjoyed every minute of our warm summers eve.

In & out in less than 2 hours which included half hour pantomime & half hour "skills" session
Very tacky & a lot of areas needing repair.
Very expensive for what little is there. $89 for a family ticket.

I hadn't been out to Kryal Castle for a few years since my sister in law worked there with the old owners. i had heard that it had been revamped by the new owners and was more lavish so i was expecting bigger things. we actually took our two chinese exchange students thinking that they would like the experience. we lasted only a couple of hours out there. granted, the weather wasn't great but the only real highlights was the live shows. the dragon entrance... well scared my youngest children and because the exchange students didnt know what was going on (and i didnt know myself) it was difficult to keep them calm as well. great for probably teenagers and those heavily into medieval themes. staff were very friendly, but it would have been nice if we had known about the different activities (and how much they cost) beforehand so we could be prepared. the new owners have closed a lot of the small shops that previously had the different scenes, mini towns etc - now there is only one display shop with a module of Kryal Castle and a couple of small displays. the animals in the middle of the walkway is great for kids, and the torture museum is great as well - that you can try some of the torture devices is fantastic - the kids loved getting into these. missed the wizards workshop and there was only one person doing facepainting so the wait was forever. also missed out on the magic show but i remember from the last time that it is good. like i said before, the biggest highlight is the live shows - the jousting and the horses and the knights duelling which afterwards you could meet the knights and jesters. might wait until my youngest is older so we can go and appreciate it a bit more, but not a bad day out - just make sure you have plenty of money once you get in, food is expensive, gifts are even more expensive and all the additional things to do costs (wizards workshop etc)

I'd been wanting to go to Kryal Castle for many years, since I have a love of Medieval things. But I had been told it was terrible and not to bother. About 4 years ago (under the old owners) we were driving past on our way back from a weekend at Dalesford, and decided to go to have a look. Because I'd been told it wasn't very good, I wasn't expecting much - and (because my expectations were low) I had a good time. A lot of it was badly run down and quite "cheesy", but overall, I thought it was ok.

But then we had the opportunity to go back again recently, and having heard that new people had bought it and had been working on updating it - I was optimistic that it would be better than last time. It was!

The new owners have done a great job to fix things up and give it a much more Medieval feel. They have taken some of the existing displays (like the weapons and torture devices) and placed them in different areas to give them better context - so it looks a lot better, and had a more Medieval feel to the whole place. There are now also a few little shops to visit, and it seems like there is more to see and do.

My favorite part would have to be the jousting! They had it both times we went and it's really great to be able to see something like that - I don't know where else you'd be able to. The horses are magnificent!

They have a Dragon Cave thing as you enter (just before the photo area) - which isn't very well signposted. We only knew it was there because one of the staff directed us to it as we walked in, but a couple of times when we had gone back to the car and come back in again, there was nobody there, so anyone entering there wouldn't have known about it. So make sure you do that part - It's not fantastic (a little boring at times), but it's an extra experience, and I think it's worth doing.

We visited on the weekend of the "Timeline Festival" - where different period re-enactment groups were at the castle doing demonstrations, which added to the entertainment - especially with all the people dressed up walking around. So if you can time your visit to coincide with one of those "Timeline" events, it's even better value for money. We were told that there were shows and entertainment that wasn't on the weekend we went, so I am not sure how much there is to do normally. The first time we went there was a magic show, which wasn't on the second time, but there was still the theater for it - so I assume it's still normally happening.

They have a room set up for kids activities (like free colouring in, face painting and craft activities). My daughter took part in a potion making workshop that you had to pay extra for it ($4 I think), which didn't seem to be advertised at all (the facepainting guy mentioned it when she was sad that they didn't have the materials to do the wand making workshop), which I think is fun for little kids. They got to take home some slime stuff they made, and they also made a potion to drink and a potion to watch fizz. I think they also did a calligraphy workshop too, since I could see feather quills and certificates for people to sign in that same room - that likewise wasn't advertised though, which was a shame.

The staff were all lovely, and dressed up to look medieval. The overall atmosphere was great!

We stayed the night in the hotel part, which has also been revamped with the new owners. I recall peeking in the window last time we were there and seeing 4 poster beds, but the new owners seem to have removed them and just put normal beds in, which is a shame (or maybe only some rooms have them?) The furnishings of the rooms were plush and gave the room a qood quality feel. Huge tapestry over the bed, King size bed, even fake fur looking pillows and throw rug :) With heating and electric blankets we were toasty warm all night. There was a microwave, kettle and fridge in the room, all tucked away in a cabinet so it didn't spoil the look of the room. The only complaint I have was that instead of a beadspread or doona cover, they had a plain white sheet over the doona. Which I just think spoiled it - I don't think the white worked for a medieval theme, and it being a sheet rather than a doona cover just seemed very cheap. But anyway. The bed was comfy and we had a great night there. It was a shame to have to leave!

All in all, I think the new owners have done a great job. They are still working on the place, so it's likely to be even better as time goes on too. Definitely worth going to!

This is a great day out for the family. The new owners have outdone themselves with the re-opening of Kryal Castle. I used to love going there when i was a kid. Heaps of activities for a fun filled day with the kids with plenty to do.

Approximate cost: $28.50

Ok I wanted to go here for years and got to go at last and I found it very exsepencive but fun I loved the live shows and the food was yummy my cousins kids eyes almost popped out lol

I have been to Kryal Castle multiple times, each and every time i've had such a great experience there.
Its a place of imagination and great for the kids.
I think i enjoyed it just as much, if not more :) haha
I recommend 100%
The weapon demos were good, so was the jousting!!

I had such a great experience there, with my little siblings! the weapon demos were good, so was the jousting, to me, it was reliving an ancient time and the my little siblings saw this too, its a place of truth and imagination

Kryal Castle, Ballarat is an awesome place to go for a fun day out. i havent been since it reopened a few months ago but am wanting to take my girlfriend
because she has never been, the staff are friendly and are great at what they do.
There is so much to do and see there and its something you dont see everyday!
You have to go there if you go to ballarat. They also have an awesome weapons demo so its good for us guys too