As of this writing, Americans are unable to visit Australia due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, so consider this story as a way to plan for future trips.
While Bendigo may not immediately come to mind if you’re planning your first trip to Australia, it’s certainly worth adding to your itinerary if you want to venture out from Melbourne for a day trip or you have time to see more of regional Victoria during your Working Holiday Visa year. Roughly two hours northwest of Melbourne, Bendigo offers a look into Victoria’s gold rush past, with enough tours to satisfy any history buff. Here’s how to make the most of your time there, whether you’re into mining tours nearly 750 feet underground, historic Chinese temples, chic eateries, street art or want to spend time with the animals at a nearby vineyard farmstay.
Tour One Of Australia’s Oldest Gold Rush Cities
Traditionally home to the Dja Dja Wurrung Indigenous people, regional Victoria was later settled by pastoralists gold was discovered in the 1850s. Mining became the rage until about 1940—learn all about it on a tour of the Central Deborah Gold Mine, which lets you see what underground conditions are like at 200 feet (61 meters), 279 (85 meters) and 748 feet (228 meters) below the surface. Back above ground, there are several walking tours or you can take the Vintage Talking Tram around town if you want to learn more about the area’s goldfields and heritage.
Discover Bendigo’s Rich Chinese History
Following the Australian gold rush in the mid-1800s, roughly 20% of the population in Bendigo was made up of Chinese merchants and miners, who brought strong cultural traditions and influences that still exist in Bendigo today. Stop by the Golden Dragon Museum, where you can see two of the world’s longest Golden Dragons—Sun Loong, a 330-foot (100 meter) wonder and Dai Gum Loong, which made its debut at the Bendigo Easter Parade in 2019 at 410 feet (125 meters)—as well as countless artifacts and stories highlighting the Chinese experience in Australia proudly on display.
Nearby, the Bendigo Joss House Temple, built in 1871 as a Chinese center of worship, is reopening on May 15 and will celebrate its 150th anniversary this year. About a 20-minute drive from the city center is The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, home to a beautiful Buddhist temple with lovely gardens, Jade Buddha statues and a charming café with a view.
Enjoy Chancery Lane’s Street Art and Chic Eateries
Like the colorful laneways you’ll find in larger locales like Melbourne and Adelaide, Chancery lane is chock full of artsy and provocative murals created by local artists, and home to a number of chic cafés and restaurants. Here’s where you’ll find El Gordo, a legendary Spanish-style tapas bar and The Dispensary Bendigo, home to an innovative modern Australian menu that focuses on locally sourced ingredients and more than 100 craft beers, 80 single malt whiskies, 60 gins and over 50 creative cocktails.
Spend Time In The Victorian Countryside
There’s no shortage of budget-friendly hotels in Bendigo, with brands like Mercure, Best Western, Quality and Quest close to the city center. If you want to see more of the countryside, try GilGraves Vineyard Farmstay, located 25 minutes away in Axedale, with rates for its three-bedroom cabin starting at $138 ($180 AUD) a night based on double occupancy. Help feed the sheep or collect eggs from the chickens each morning, meet the resident billy goat and llama, enjoy the view from the wraparound porch or cook up a meal in the fully stocked kitchen. A two-night minimum stay is required and there’s a 10% discount if you stay more than five nights.
