If you are interested in history, architecture, parks, art galleries and/or wineries, then the Bendigo area has a lot to offer you! Bendigo is a regional city of 110,000 in the goldfields region of Victoria.
We managed a taste of all the above over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, venturing also into nearby Castlemaine and Heathcote.
Beautiful Autumnal Parklands
Taking short walks around the picturesque Lake Weeroona, Rosalind Park and the Conservatory Gardens in Bendigo was a great way to soak up some of the winter sunshine. We thought these gardens were so pretty because all the large trees in the area were unaware that autumn was over and that winter was underway! Although probably not at their peak, there was a lot golden autumn foliage around. And Bendigo, particularly, has a lot of big deciduous trees!
A big surprise was all the flying foxes around Rosalind Park right in the centre of Bendigo! In fact, there were thousands of them! Late in the afternoon they start getting very active and noisy. We were both amazed to see them in such numbers across the tops of all the big trees.
We also made a detour to Castlemaine on the way back to Melbourne and discovered their Botanic Gardens. It was very beautiful at this time of year with it’s lake and autumn colour!
Further information on the above and some other parks and gardens can be found here.
Art Galleries Galore
Calling out to all lovers of art and culture – Bendigo has more than its fair share of galleries and studios. We visited just the Bendigo Art Gallery which is one of Victoria’s most significant art galleries. And it’s probably the most popular regional gallery in Australia, outside of the capital cities. Apart from their permanent artworks, there was an outstanding ‘Tudors to Windsors’ exhibition about the British royal family. Even if you are not a royalist, it was definitely worth a visit. My personal highlights though were probably some of the permanent artworks. The gallery also has a stylish café and is situated on the edge of Rosalind Park. So after you’ve had your fill of art and coffee you can go for a walk in the park!
Nearby Castlemaine has a strong arts culture too. Unexpectedly, we discovered the Castlemaine Mill area and it was a great find. Originally it was a wool mill but now it’s a myriad of individually owned businesses with an artistic or artisan bent. These include a brewery, café, art gallery, furniture craftsmen, vintage market, coffee roaster and other food businesses. Apart from the Castlemaine Mill area, the town is a wonderful place for shoppers, with a glass blowing gallery, a massive restorer’s barn (with everything you could possibly want), boutiques, bookshops, antique and second hand shops galore.
Heathcote Wineries
There are many wineries in the Heathcote and Bendigo area. We really love shiraz wines, which is what the area is known for! As part of the Heathcote-On-Show weekend, we went on a winery tour that took us to four wineries in the area. It was a pleasant day with very good wines and the weather was better than expected. However the winery tour probably didn’t quite live up to our expectations. A little bit low-key I think. We might be spoilt by the wineries of the Mornington Peninsula and the Yarra Valley which have more spectacular views, and the cellar doors and food are at another level.
Having said that, I still think they are definitely worth a visit and they produce some wonderful wines. The people at the Heathcote wineries were all wonderful and you could see a lot of effort had been made to cater to the large number of people over the weekend. We thought a little more music would have been nice. The fourth winery did have a bit of music but they were mostly having a break whilst we were there.
We went away this weekend expecting the winery tour to be the highlight but probably other aspects of the weekend were our favourites.
History and Architecture from the Gold Rush era
Architecture
Gold, gold, gold! Because Bendigo was a centre of the gold rush days in the 19th century there was a lot of money around and lots of magnificent buildings were built. Visible from almost anywhere in the centre of Bendigo is the spire of the huge gothic revival Sacred Heart Cathedral. Although this is the standout landmark building of Bendigo, many other beautiful heritage buildings exist. Examples include old bank buildings, theatres and post offices that now operate with different businesses. Also the law courts, the town hall, some monuments, fountains, a glass conservatory and many other buildings are scattered around the city centre. It’s very clear when you drive through Bendigo that there’s a lot of history here.
History
Apart from the architecture of the area, there are several other historical places to visit. The Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Golden Dragon Chinese Museum would be two of the most popular. The museum is right next door to the Information Centre (which is also situated in one of the grand old buildings of the past). Maybe also consider a visit to Bendigo Pottery, which has been operating for 150 years, and would be the most famous pottery in Australia! Or take a guided historical walking tour. Alternatively, you can create your own walking tour from information picked up at the Bendigo Information Centre.
Nearby towns
Nearby Castlemaine and Maldon also have their share of historical buildings to explore. Maldon is particularly known for its quaint historic streetscapes. We didn’t have time to visit Maldon so will have to visit another time. Both of these towns have their own personality. You can click the link at the bottom of this post to find out more.
Booking.com
Hopefully I have helped to answer the question “What is there to do in Bendigo?”. Please feel free to leave a comment or ask me any questions.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed this Travel Inspiration from an Empty Nester!
Useful links:
Castlemaine and Maldon Tourism
Related Posts:
Congratulations Jenny on a wonderful post about Bendigo. We have visited the area once. After reading this post I’m thinking it’s time for us to do a return visit. We love the history and architecture in particular. And we don’t mind a winery tour too.
Thanks Estelle! Yes there’s a lot to offer here and so close to Melbourne!
Wow Jenny, this sounds like my kind of place — architecture, history, and wine! Don’t know when I will make it to Australia but this is an incentive!
Haha, yes Christy, me too! All good stuff!
Hi, Jenny,
I really enjoyed your post on Bendigo. I know it well because I have family members living there. It is a lovely country town, not too big, not too small, with many lovely features which you have described so well in this blog. Iparticularly love the tree-lined streets, park, art gallery, and impressive gold rush Victorian architecture. It also has some great restaurants and pubs.
Thank-you for a very interesting feature, Roz.
Thanks Roz, agree with everything you said. A great spot for a weekend away and probably a great place to live I would think!
Hi Jenny great blog! The descriptions matched with the photos are very true to how it is.
Thanks, glad you liked it.
I enjoyed reading this post, Jenny. Beautifully complemented with lovely photos. I, especially liked the golden autumn foliage. I also found it is easy to navigate with the contents box at the start of your post. A good read.
Thanks Georgina, and yes the autumn foliage was a pleasant surprise as it was techically winter. Great to hear the TOC box worked well for you too.