Why Bendigo is Melbourne’s Best Weekend Away Right Now
A cruisy two-hour drive from Melbourne or a direct flight from Sydney, this buzzing regional city has a UNESCO-rated food scene, culture and award-winning wine. It’s the getaway Victoria has kept to itself for far too long. Here’s how to have the best country-meets-cool weekend this winter.
Catch big names in historic surrounds
There’s no theatre quite like Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, a 1000-seat venue set into a gaol that was built during the 1800s Goldrush. Since its opening just over ten years ago, it’s seen an ever-rotating roster of must-see events, from moving Shakespeare adaptations to stirring symphony orchestra performances.
Explore hip laneways
Bendigo's answer to Melbourne's inner city, Chancery Lane is the place to check out street murals, drink and shop – without the city crowds. Find your fit on the designer fashion racks at Robe boutique and discover the five-page-long list of gins at cosy hangout The Dispensary.
To tour more historic streets, jump on a Vintage Talking Tram tour to see Sacred Heart Cathedral, one of Victoria’s most beautiful churches, and the old Central Deborah Gold Mine. There's a tram tour for almost every traveller: Dja Dja Wurrung Tram tour explores the story of Bendigo's First People, while the Groove Tram plunges you into a whole other side to Bendigo’s vibrant music scene. The 1.5-hour experience, which happens aboard a vintage tram on Saturday evenings, gives visitors the chance to listen to a live musical act as you trundle along through the historic streets. Yes, there’s an on-board bar for drinks and nibbles – it is the weekend, after all!
Hit the drinks trail
There are more than 60 wineries in the Bendigo and Heathcote regions, most family-owned and operated. New to the scene, St Anne's Winery, just south of Bendigo, serves pizza and live music on Sundays. Locally-made chardonnay, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon flows every day. Although shiraz and cab sauv are the region's most famed varietals, there's more than rich reds to discover in Bendigo (though Ellis Wines makes a compelling case for sticking to them). Vin du Van Estate, less than 15 minutes out of town, does excellent pinot gris and rose wines, served from their French-inspired cellar door. Pair with fromage and charcuterie plates for the full experience.
Bendigo is also one of Victoria's top craft brewing centres – taste the best of them at the annual Bendigo on the Hop festival , held every winter. Outside of the cool weather seasons, any time is a good one to try the 1700s-style Blacksmiths Porter at Tooborac Hotel & Brewery, the oldest National Trust-listed country pub in Victoria or the new Bendigo Brewing, right in the town's heart, pouring everything from locally-brewed pils to pale ale.
Eat UNESCO-rated food
It will all make sense that Bendigo was named a UNESCO Creative City Of Gastronomy when you eat your way around the Community Farmers Market at Golden Square. Passionate producers bring their best fruit and vegetables, cheeses, locally-raised meats, eggs and baked goodness to its buzzing stalls at the on the second Saturday of every month.
At dinner time, The Woodhouse cooks region-reared meat over local redgum trees for a unique smoky flavour. Masons of Bendigo might look industrial-chic but it follows a farm-to-plate ethos, with the ingredients for 95 per cent of its dishes coming from Bendigo surrounds.
Peppergreen Farm in North Bendigo, a social enterprise that employs people with disabilities to work the farm, is the spot for lunch. Dig into hearty fare at the cafe (set in an old tram), then pick your own veg from the garden and check out the oldest Chinese kiln outside Asia.
Find late drinks with good vibes
Catch the best free live music in the city on Saturday nights in a space where gardens grow at will. Handle Bar, on Mitchell Street, is a true ‘backyard’ watering hole. 30 locals put money in to create somewhere great to drink tap brews like Moondog Roadie Draught and Hawkers West Coast IPA with BYO food. It can be challenging to find but once you do, it’s harder to leave.
For a cosy evening tipple, head to Ms Batterhams, a basement speakeasy-style venue loved for its extensive drinks menu spanning Victorian sparkling to local gin distilled less than 15 kilometres away in Longlea.
Stay in country style
Langley Estate, one of the most stunningly restored Federation-era mansions anywhere in Australia, is only five minutes up the Midland Highway from the CBD but with charming suites, grand dining spaces and halls and a drawing room, feels like a romantic trip back in time. If you’re with the family, the Big 4 Bendigo Ascot Holiday Park has stylish new Glamping Miners tents that come complete with a queen four-poster bed, two single beds and all the mod cons.
