Stay, Do, Eat – a Weekend in Bendigo
A narrow laneway with hipster bars and fairy lights catching the breeze. A world-class art precinct. Heritage buildings transformed into contemporary retreats. They’re not the first things that spring to mind when one thinks of Bendigo, the gold-rush-era boom town two hours north of Melbourne. But times have changed.
While history is still its strongest suit, with majestic churches, intricate fountains and stately 19th-century architecture, the Victorian city’s broad boulevards are also dotted with innovative cafés, restaurants and watering holes such as The Dispensary Bar & Diner. With more than 20 craft beers, 30 single-malt whiskies, 15 gins and 35 cocktails, its drinks list is one of the weightiest tomes in town. Just like The Dispensary, Bendigo will surprise you. And while it’s impossible to experience it all in one weekend, here’s where to start.
Stay
Don’t bother setting an alarm when you check into one of Hotel Ernest’s ten art-filled suites, where the walls are adorned with artworks by some of the country’s top creatives, including Robin Wallace-Crabbe, Heather B. Swan and Patrick Henigan. Housed in a historic bank from the 1860s in the centre of town, each colourful room comes with comfortable king-sized beds, plush linen and fluffy robes, as well as Laughing Pug coffee bags and Australian-made Salus amenities. Choose carefully: some include private balconies, while others come with a spa bath or gas fireplace – ideal for winding down after exploring neighbouring Rosalind Park’s manicured gardens. When your appetite calls, head to onsite modern Australian restaurant, Terrae, for handmade rigatoni with beef shin ragu and a decadent dark chocolate pudding topped with poached pear.
Eat
Percy & Percy near the Bendigo Tramways has been a grocery store, a milk bar and an office space over its lifetime. Now, it's a relaxed café transforming produce from nearby award-winning butcher Flora Hill Quality Meats and Bendigo Fresh into hearty brunch fare spanning Persian-style poached eggs with smoked bacon and housemade dukkah to buttermilk-fried chicken burgers on brioche – order with a matcha latte or frothy cappuccino.
Settling into Ms Battenhams – located in the former basement of an old school hall at MacKenzie Quarters – for a pre-dinner cocktail is an easy affair once you scan the cocktail list, where classics such as the Negroni have been given a passionfruit amaro makeover. Should you choose to linger, pile the table high with the likes of pan-fried prawns and chorizo nestled in a cider reduction or braised lamb shoulder with celeriac puree – all plates here are designed to share.
At the heart of the kitchen at the recently opened Le Foyer (above) lies a wood-fired hearth which kisses almost every dish on the menu. Grilled peaches sweeten the burrata, while smoky calamari is cloaked in a fragrant sauce verte. Local produce takes centre stage here, from ethically sourced Corner Inlet King George whiting to Maremma duck and lamb from Gundagai. For the full experience, let executive chef Paul Pitcher take the reins and lead you on an eight-course modern Australian dining journey.
Do
The best way to find your feet in this regional city is by embarking on an Ulumbarra CBD Walking Tour led by a local First Nations guide. Starting at Ulumbarra Theatre in the View Street Arts Precinct, you’ll discover Bendigo’s complex past while learning more about the area’s significance to the Djaara people – from the sacred trees that stud the theatre’s lawns to the grey-headed flying foxes in Rosalind Park and the rotunda where the landmark Recognition and Settlement Agreement was signed.
Alternatively, board a Vintage Talking Tram (above) and spend your day hopping between the city’s biggest landmarks, such as Lake Weeroona and Bendigo Joss House Temple, before pausing for a Reuben sandwich at the Tram Café in the country’s oldest working tram depot. Afterwards, head 61 metres underground at Central Deborah Gold Mine to traverse hidden tunnels while being immersed in Bendigo’s gold rush heritage.
Prefer your short break with a more creative bent? While the city’s famed Bendigo Art Gallery is set to close for renovations in November 2025, nearby Dudley House showcases a rotating exhibition of local artists and neighbouring The Capital regularly hosts live music and theatre performances. Make your own keepsake at Australia’s oldest working pottery, Bendigo Pottery, by painting a ceramic bowl or making a mug to commemorate the trip.
