Why Bendigo is Melbourne’s Best Weekend Away Right Now
Opens in a new tab or windowIt’s Victoria’s best-kept secret.
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Bendigo
There’s no denying that Bendigo is a city of reinvention and innovation. Renowned for its creative fusion of heritage and modernity, this Victorian city is brimming with paddock-to-plate eateries and rich red shiraz, live-music tram tours, international exhibitions, and boutique hotels to explore during a weekend away or an extended stay.
Reasons to fly Qantas
Baggage included
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Places to stay
This vibrant regional city is a celebration of grand architecture, arts, culture, food and wine along with the great outdoors. The centre of Bendigo is lined with grand gold rush buildings, parklands and laneways, which make it the perfect place to enjoy a stroll during the day or find a bed for the night. If you love a good drop of wine, then Heathcote is a must. This charming regional town is around half an hour’s drive from Bendigo’s CBD. Although it is known worldwide for its Shiraz with plenty of great cellar doors to visit, Heathcote also offers heritage buildings in the main street, boutique accommodation, quaint cafes and nearby breweries. Plus, the town is surrounded by forest, walking and cycling trails, lookouts and the stunning Pink Cliffs.
For a rustic rural escape, venture to the historic towns of the Goldfields where you can stay in restored traditional miner’s cabins. The fascinating villages of the Goldfields are known for more than just their history which makes the region great to explore during your stay. From the artisans and food culture in Castlemaine, apple growing and cider in Harcourt, farm gates, vintage fashion and natural wonders in the Loddon Valley to the historic townships of Maldon, and Dunolly, there’s a lot to explore. Also, nearby and along the Murray River is Echuca Moama, renowned as Australia’s paddle-steamer capital and steeped in rich riverboat heritage. No matter which town you decide to visit, each one combines a sense of country warmth with unique stays.
Things to do
Whether you're drawn to Bendigo for its gold rush heritage or its thriving creative energy, you'll strike gold with the experiences waiting to be uncovered. Start your day in Chancery Lane, where an eclectic mix of cafés, restaurants, and boutiques channels the charm of a hidden Melbourne laneway. Then, step into a city where art and culture are woven into its very fabric — from the View Street Arts Precinct, home to the Capital Theatre, La Trobe Art Institute, and boutique galleries, to the striking Ulumbarra Theatre, a 1,000-seat venue ingeniously repurposed from the historic Sandhurst Gaol.
Feeling inspired? Try your hand at wheel throwing at Australia’s oldest operating pottery, established in 1857. Connect with the spirit of the region, join the First Nations Walking Tour to explore Bendigo’s rich Indigenous history and stories, shared by those who know it best.
Scroll through the gallery to discover more of Bendigo.
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Bendigo City Streetscape, Autumn. Credit - Explore Bendigo -
Couple entering Bendigo Art Gallery. Credit - Bendigo Tourism -
Paris: Impressions of Life Exhibition, Bendigo Art Gallery. Credit - Bendigo Tourism -
Bendigo Art Gallery, Paris Exhibition. Credit - Bendigo Tourism -
Rosalind Park in Autumn, Bendigo. Credit - Bendigo Tourism -
People having coffee outside the Tram Café. Credit - Bendigo Tourism
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Stay, Do, Eat – a Weekend in Bendigo
Opens in a new tab or windowThere's more to this town than its golden past.
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Where to go
Eat and drink
Bendigo proudly holds the title of Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Join a Foodie Tour and uncover the region’s rich offering of award-winning restaurants, local wine, cider, craft beer, and specialty coffee. For a true taste of the region, visit the local farmers market every second Saturday, where you can meet the growers and take home fresh, seasonal produce.
Wine lovers will feel right at home, with the region boasting over 60 boutique cellar doors which offer some of Australia’s finest Shiraz. If you’re after a unique night out, hop aboard the Groove Tram on Saturday evenings, a rolling celebration of live music, local drinks, and Bendigo’s historic streetscape.
Culture and history
Step back in time and uncover Bendigo’s rich gold rush heritage. Go underground at the Central Deborah Gold Mine for a guided tour through tunnels once alive with fortune seekers. Then hop aboard a Vintage Talking Tram to explore the city’s grand architecture and stories from a bygone era. Dive deeper into Bendigo’s multicultural legacy at the Golden Dragon Museum, home to a world-class Chinese collection and the world’s longest and oldest imperial dragons.
Extend your cultural journey with a visit to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, the largest Buddhist temple in the Western world. For a deeper connection to Country, join a Dumawul Cultural Tour, a First Nations guided experience that shares the stories, traditions, and deep spiritual ties of the region’s original custodians.
Perfectly placed in the heart of Victoria’s Goldfields, Bendigo invites you to explore nearby historic towns, admire beautiful heritage buildings, enjoy a romantic escape among rural landscapes and parklands, or indulge your cultural side in a city where history and creativity meet.
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Important information
Disclaimer: ^ Qantas Frequent Flyer members will earn 3 Qantas Points per A$1 value unless otherwise specified, for hotel stays booked through qantas.com/hotels, except Classic Hotel Rewards and Airbnb bookings. Points Club members will earn 25% more Qantas Points, and Points Club Plus members will earn 50% more Qantas Points. Qantas Points will be credited to your account at least 8 weeks after check-out. Qantas Points may be earned by the member in whose name the booking is made. Members will not be able to earn points on additional charges paid to the accommodation provider for extras (including cots, breakfasts and other incidentals) on check-in or check-out (as applicable).
Disclaimer: ++ Status Credits are earned on eligible Qantas, Jetstar, oneworld® member and oneworld connect® airlines only - see the Airline Earning Tables and Qantas Frequent Flyer program Terms and Conditions for details. Status Credits may not be earned on some fare types and booking classes.
Disclaimer: ∆ Meals, beverages, entertainment offerings vary between flight times.
Disclaimer: + The number of destinations is correct as of 6 May 2025, subject to change. Some routes are subject to regulatory and government approval.
Disclaimer: #You must be a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program to earn and redeem Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and Qantas Points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program terms and conditions.