How to Have the Ultimate Weekend in Bendigo

Bendigo’s transition from gold-rush epicentre to regional Australia’s cultural capital is now complete. A weekend in this Victorian town, 150 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, reveals a trove of riches: it’s been designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy for its vibrant culinary scene, and it regularly hosts blockbuster art exhibitions while offering a year-round calendar of festivals and events. Here’s our guide on what to do during your next visit.

Brush up on culture

Start your day by exploring the street art-filled View Street Arts Precinct, which is also home to the heritage-listed The Capital theatre. Then, head to Bendigo Art Gallery – one of regional Australia’s oldest and largest – to be immersed in some of the country’s top modern and contemporary art. While previous exhibits have included a spotlight on Frida Kahlo and Elvis Presley, the permanent collection includes works by the likes of multi-disciplinary creative Patricia Piccinini and photographer Bill Henson. The best part? Entry is free. If you’re travelling with the whole family, in 2026 the gallery will present the playful CURIOSITY: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO® Bricks exhibition at Bendigo’s Discovery Science & Technology Centre from 3 March - 29 November, where the world of science will be reinterpreted through colourful brick creations. 

A ten-minute walk from the gallery will also bring you to the city’s Golden Dragon Museum, which celebrates the country’s Chinese-Australian history with more than 30,000 objects on display including Dai Gum Loong, the world’s longest processional dragon – at 125 metres in length and clad in 7000 handcrafted scales.

Absorb the history and drama of the imposing gold-rush era gaol that now serves as the state-of-the-art 1000-seat Ulumbarra Theatre. Head off on a guided tour of the 1860s building, which takes its name from the local Dja Dja Wurrung word meaning to ‘gather together’, and book a ticket to an upcoming show – Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter Ben Folds and culinary icon Yotam Ottolenghi are on the current roster. From here, you could also join an Ulumbarra CBD Walking Tour led by a Dja Dja Wurrung guide to learn more about the region’s First Nations history. You’ll learn the cultural significance of the ancient scar trees fringing the theatre and visit the rotunda where the landmark Recognition and Settlement Agreement was signed along the way. 

Seeking peace? Amid 89 hectares of lush bushland, the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is the largest stupa in the Western world. Do some forest bathing while wandering through its surrounding gardens or bask in the Zen presence of the four-tonne jade Buddha inside. 

The ideal retreat for a weekend of cultural immersion, Bendigo Ernest Hotel is another converted heritage building. Established in 1864, this former bank has been transformed into a boutique hotel with 10 Australian-art-laden suites. And the location couldn’t be better – it’s just a stone’s throw from Bendigo Art Gallery.

Explore nature

Bendigo’s green spaces are just as sumptuous as its lavish buildings. Opened in 1870, Rosalind Park’s 200-year-old trees and 19th-century Conservatory are spread over 24 manicured hectares in the centre of town. 

Further afield, discover the 30,000 climate-resilient plants housed in the Garden for the Future at Bendigo Botanic Gardens, climb One Tree Hill for panoramic views over the town, or walk the 20-minute loop around Lake Weerona with a cone of lemon meringue gelato from Favourite Flavours.

The national and regional parks that surround Bendigo have earned it the nickname “city in a forest”. Tackle a section of the Bendigo Bushland Trail that circumnavigates the city via the 65-kilometre loop or gain a deeper understanding of the landscape with Traditional Owners. Dumawul’s half-day Kooyoora Walking Tour takes place in Kooyoora National Park to the north-west. Following a Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony, visitors journey through granite formations, rock pools and lush vegetation while gaining insight into the rich cultural heritage and connection to Country of the Dja Dja Wurrung people.

Indulge in topnotch produce

Bendigo joined cities including Parma, Italy and Rouen, France as a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy in 2019. In addition to acknowledging Bendigo’s thriving culinary scene, the designation recognises the city’s dedication to sustainability, innovation and traditional food systems. 

But the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Start at Omari where brunch-time zucchini fritters with whipped feta or decadent buttermilk waffles fuel a stroll around the nearby Bendigo Botanic Gardens. At The Woodhouse, native red gum feeds flames that smoke, grill and roast cuts delivered direct from Central Victorian farms. Award-winning Alium Dining cherrypicks from world cuisines using seasonal ingredients resulting in a rotating menu that could include smoked eel on a fluffy donut with beetroot jam and raw scallops drizzled in nahm jim (fragrant Thai chilli sauce).

Housed within a historic bank in the centre of the View Arts Precinct, Terrae’s menu (above) transforms local ingredients into dishes such as handmade pumpkin ravioli stuffed with braised rabbit and charcoal grilled quail with polenta and pancetta. For elevated French bistro classics, the recently-opened Le Foyer Brasserie plates up boeuf bourguignon with Victorian wagyu and King George whiting from the Corner Inlet topped with finger lime and a creamy lemonade beurre blanc. While you could spend an evening sipping your way through Ms Batterhams’ creative cocktail menu and extensive Australian and European wine list, the food here is just as appealing. Think confit octopus with fermented chilli, seared kangaroo loin drizzled in pepperberry dressing and a sweet blood orange Persian pistachio cake to finish the evening.

Join a citywide celebration

In summer, free events light up Bendigo’s parks and next year’s Bendigo Chamber Music Festival (4 - 8 February) features a performance by Brazilian violinist – and winner of the 27th Sphinx Competition – Nathan Amaral. Throughout the Easter long weekend, the Rosalind Park hub of the 155th Bendigo Easter Festival (3 - 6 April) will hum with roving entertainers, markets and an epic hunt for 80,000 Easter eggs. In winter, the Bendigo Writers Festival hosts workshops, book launches and sell-out literary events. By spring, thousands of tulips pop along Pall Mall for Bloom, transforming Bendigo into a kaleidoscopic floral haven from mid-September to mid-October.

SEE ALSO: The Australian Towns You Need to Visit