Bendigo is a former Gold Rush city in Central Victoria and one in all our common regional locations with the children. The metropolis provides grand Victorian buildings, beautiful streetscapes and a slower tempo of life, whereas nonetheless boasting fascinating cultural and culinary sights. It’s only a 90-minute drive from Melbourne or 90-120 minutes by way of V/Line from Southern Cross Station.
Here are my recommendations on issues to do in Bendigo with youngsters, together with the place to remain, go to, play and eat.
Things to do Bendigo with Kids
1. Bendigo Art Gallery
Bendigo Art Gallery is Australia’s largest regional gallery and up to now few years it has hosted some world-class exhibitions.
Open every day, the gallery hosts an intensive assortment and when you go together with youngsters (underneath 5s are free) you should definitely cease on the kid-friendly Gallery Cafe.
Bendigo Art Gallery 42 View St, Bendigo (03) 5434 6088
2. Golden Dragon Museum
The Golden Dragon Museum payments itself because the ‘Chinese Cultural Centre of Australia’ and your $16 entry (Children 5-16 $10) consists of entry into the museum shows, the Chinese gardens and the Kuan Yin Temple.
As a first-generation Chinese immigrant I discover it fascinating to be taught concerning the historic significance of Chinese folks in Australia. It charts the origins of the vast majority of the Chinese miners who got here for the gold rush within the 1850s with artefacts, furnishings and on a regular basis items and follows their assimilation into Anglo Australian society and their contributions to the communities of Bendigo and Victoria.
On a balcony surrounding the round central gallery is a set of the Chinese Dragons and their related regalia used within the Bendigo’s annual Easter procession.
Golden Dragon Museum 1-11 Bridge St, Bendigo (03) 5441 5044
3. Bendigo Easter Festival
The Bendigo Easter Festival is an annual occasion that provides a lot of free/low-cost leisure for households when the climate is usually gentle. The complete metropolis comes alive with parades and festivities!
Other annual festivals in Bendigo nice for households embrace:
- Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival – Four days of stay blues performances, workshops and a household live performance within the Civic Gardens, plus tram‑based mostly gigs weaving by means of city.
- Electric Wonderland – An immersive after-dark expertise reworking Bendigo’s Rosalind Park into a stunning gentle and sound playground for all ages.
- Bendigo Festival of Cultures – Weeklong March celebration of multicultural expertise with music, dance, meals markets, boards and exhibitions.
- Australian Sheep & Wool Show – July occasion with sheepdog trials, breed judging, fleece competitions and wool‑craft shows.
- Bendigo Agricultural Show – October two‑day household enjoyable on the Prince of Wales Showgrounds with rides, competitions and showbags.
4. Discovery Science and Technology Centre
Bendigo’s model of Questacon or Scienceworks is an inexpensive day trip, at the same time as a day journey from Melbourne because the VLine station is throughout the street.
Take your Museums Victoria membership card to get free entry into the Discovery Science Centre and luxuriate in over 100 interactive reveals. Read my overview.
Discovery Science and Technology Centre, 7 Railway Pl, Bendigo, (03) 5444 4400
5. Camp Hill playground
Inside Bendigo’s big central park, Rosalind Park, you’ll discover a good fenced playground with a lot of ramps and walkways, slides, climbing sculptures and rocks and piles for extra climbing. There are water faucets contained in the fence and Rosalind Park has public bogs.
Note that as a result of it’s the playground for Camp Hill college it’s only open to the general public exterior of college hours.
Camp Hill playspace, Rosalind Park, 50 Goal Rd, Bendigo
6. Eaglehawk Playspace
An enormous playground in suburban Eaglehawk impressed by the A.B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson’s poem ‘Mulga Bill’s Bicycle’ and the form of the eaglehawk, or wedge-tailed eagle.
You’ll see references to Mulga Bill within the artworks, play gear and contours from the poem etched into logs. The lake even options Mulga Bill’s premature finish! Read my overview.
Eaglehawk Playspace, Napier St, Eaglehawk
7. Lake Weeroona Adventure Playground
On the shores of Lake Weeroona is a big absolutely fenced playground. The important construction options a lot of ramps, tunnels, slides, swings and bridges. The floor is all smooth fall and there’s a fantastic water play space with fountains and water trails.
The playground has some pure shade and there are shaded and unshaded seats throughout the fenced space. Outside the fence there are shelters with tables and bogs and a espresso van.
Lake Weeroona Adventure Playground, Napier St, Bendigo
8. FunLoong (Hargreaves Mall) playground
OK, I admit it. I simply LOVE the title of this playground!
The playground at Hargreaves Street Mall takes its title from Sun Loong, the world’s largest imperial dragon housed within the Golden Dragon Museum and Bendigo’s delight. It’s a very vibrant, well-designed and semi-shaded house in a pedestrian mall and a useful cease if you’re within the centre of city or doing a little purchasing.
FunLoong playground, Hargreaves St Mall, Bendigo
9. Cooinda Park playground
After an arson assault in 2016, this suburban playground has rebuilt its financial institution of superior rainbow wave slides. We visited when the slides weren’t there and whereas it was enjoyable, it was not likely value a particular journey until you’re within the space.
Cooinda Park playground, Cnr Norma Street and McKenzie Street West, Golden Square
10. Bendigo Botanic Gardens Playspace
Located throughout the picturesque Botanic Gardens is an Alice in Wonderland-inspired playground. Children will love the hidden play alternatives dotting all through the play space. There are picnic tables, BBQs, public bogs and a restaurant close by.
Bendigo Botanic Gardens Playspace, 559 Napier Street, White Hills
11. The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
In the center of the bush is an unlikely sight – The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion. It is a sacred Buddhist monument and is modelled on the Great Stupa of Gyantse, which is 600 years previous. When it’s completed it will likely be the very best stupa within the Western World.
You don’t must be Buddhist to go to, simply be respectful.
The Peace Park showcases symbols from many religions together with Catholic, Sikh, Islam and Hindu.
It is free to enter and there’s a self-guided tour. The Stupaview Cafe serves low cost vegetarian meals with vegan choices.
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat, Bendigo
12. Bendigo Tramways
The iconic classic speaking trams are an effective way for households to expertise the sights of Bendigo! Your all-day ticket permits you to hop on and off at varied landmarks whereas studying all concerning the cities historical past and tradition.
Be certain to cease on the new Tram Cafe at Bendigo Tramways, the place youngsters can sit within the driver’s seat and play with the controls.
Read our Bendigo Tramways overview.
Bendigo Tramways, 76 Voilet Street, Bendigo, (03) 5442 2821
13. Bendigo Pottery
For over 150 years Bendigo Pottery has creating high-quality ceramics and it’s the oldest working pottery in Australia. There you’ll discover a store and cafe, demonstrations of hand throwing by potters and hands-on actions, notably throughout college holidays.
Read our Bendigo Pottery overview.
Bendigo Pottery, 146 Midland Hwy, Epsom, (03) 5448 4404
14. Central Deborah Gold Mine
Explore the hidden underground tunnels of an actual gold mine that operated throughout the gold rush increase of the 1900s. It’s one in all Bendigo’s greatest vacationer sights however we’re but to go as the children are nonetheless freaked out by darkish enclosed areas!
Read our Central Deborah Gold Mine overview.
Central Deborah Gold Mine, 76 Violet St, Bendigo, (03) 5443 8322
15. Parky’s Play
Parky’s Play is an indoor play centre in Bendigo, appropriate for teenagers 3 – 14 years, with a toddler space for teenagers underneath 4. They’ve additionally bought a leaping pillow exterior, and BBQ services.
The multi stage indoor play construction consists of 5 slides, a smooth ball cannon play zone, two trampolines, a big ball pit, a flying fox and extra.
Parky’s Play, 761 McIvor Hwy, Bendigo, (03) 5449 3335
16. Bendigo Cinemas
There are 6 theatres at Bendigo Cinemas, exhibiting the newest releases. There is a variety of particular offers and screenings on provide (various every now and then) together with a Movie of the Week for $10, discounted youngsters films and an on a regular basis low value. They even have Sensory Friendly Films with the lights turned up and the sound turned down.
Bendigo Cinemas, 107 Queen St, Bendigo, (03) 5440 8000
Where to Shop in Bendigo
17. Book Now
Book Now holds the mystique of previous dusty tomes ready to be found with the grandeur of a two-levelled Bodleian-esque library. We go to each time we go to Bendigo.
Books are sorted by class (with seating in nooks and crannies between cabinets) with highlights together with the non-fiction literature and antiquarian collections. It’s bought a small assortment of youngsters’s books within the again nook however predominantly it’s a store higher for grownup readers.
Book Now, 1 Farmers Lane, Bendigo (03) 5443 8587
18. Bendigo Farmers Market
Every second Saturday of the month Bendigo holds a Farmers Market from 9-1pm on the Rosalind Park finish of Williamson St. The market sells contemporary, regional and seasonal produce.
Bendigo Farmers Market, 227 Breen St, Golden Square, Bendigo
Where to Eat in Bendigo with Kids
19. Percy and Percy
Percy and Percy is a former grocer turned pleasant neighbourhood cafe. The café has a small important eating room, a secluded non-public room and out of doors courtyard.
The menu is consolation meals executed with an imaginative twist and there’s a babies’s menu.
Percy and Percy Cnr Hargreaves & Baxter Sts, Bendigo, (03) 5442 2997
20. Beechworth Bakery, Bendigo
Located on High Street, Beechworth Bakery Bendigo provides a spacious, family-friendly ambiance with ample seating inside and outside. Indulge in iconic treats just like the Ned Kelly pie, contemporary sandwiches, desserts, and distinctive espresso.
Open every day for breakfast and lunch. An awesome cease to select up picnic objects to take with you to a close-by park.
Beechworth Bakery, 158 High Street, Bendigo VIC 3550
21. Palling Bros Brewery, Heathcote
Just a 35-minute drive from Bendigo, Palling Bros Brewery in Heathcote is the proper family-friendly spot for lunch or dinner.
Specialising in handcrafted artisan beer brewed on-site, take pleasure in a beer paddle and brewery tour whereas savouring a various menu made out of regionally sourced components of their sunny dog-friendly beer backyard.
Palling Bros Brewery, 168 High Street, Heathcote, brewery@pallingbros.beer
22. Edwards Providore
Edwards Providore is barely out of city however this produce retailer and café wouldn’t be amiss within the prosperous leafy suburbs of Melbourne.
Everything on the menu within the café is made out of the contemporary meals that they promote. They even have produce and meals to take dwelling on the market.
Edwards Providore, 150 Condon St, Kennington, (03) 5444 2244
23. Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane off Pall Mall is Bendigo’s laneway of meals and artwork within the CBD, with the bustling wine bar The Dispensary and the Spanish-inspired El Gordo cafe. Being small, slim eating places they don’t seem to be notably youngster/pram pleasant by way of services however youngsters are welcome – our children have each visited these eating places.
Reader suggestions:
- Bendigo Corner Store Café 305 View Street (03) 5442 2008 – natural espresso and free vary produce with a yard for the youngsters to play in. The retailer portion of the café sells milk, bread and newspapers plus different comfort objects.
- Bendigo Wholefoods – 314 Lyttleton Terrace (03) 5443 9492 – Community meals retailer with regionally grown and made merchandise and adjoining cafe.
- Old Green Bean 179 Lyttleton Tce, Bendigo (03) 5444 3173 – classic retailer, espresso roastery and cafe.
Where to Stay in Bendigo with youngsters
I search for lodging on the Bendigo Tourism web site and Airbnb.
24. All Seasons Hotel Bendigo
The All Seasons Bistro is contained in the All Seasons Hotel, and it has a youngsters play space. There’s video games consoles and a toddler space. There are additionally loads of meal choices, together with a snacks menu.
All Seasons Bistro, All Seasons Hotel, 171-183 McIvor Hwy, Bendigo, (03) 5443 8166
25. Big4 Bendigo Park Lane
BIG4 Bendigo Park Lane Holiday Park is positioned about quarter-hour drive from Bendigo CBD, close to Junorton. Like all Big4 caravan parks it’s supremely household pleasant, with a pool, leaping pillow, pedal go-karts and Bendigo’s greatest indoor playground Parky’s Wonderland!
BIG4 Bendigo Park Lane Holiday Park, 761 McIvor Highway, Junortoun Bendigo
For extra lodging choices in Bendigo, I like to recommend trying out what’s out there on Airbnb.
26. Larni Yirrip Campground – A New Cultural Camping Experience
Now open in Bendigo Regional Park, Larni Yirrip Campground provides households a novel alternative to attach with Dja Dja Wurrung tradition and Country. Set in shady Box-Ironbark forest simply exterior Bendigo, this thoughtfully designed house consists of Djaara art work, storytelling signage, ceremonial areas and strolling trails. There are 12 unpowered walk-in tent websites, together with accessible choices and raised platforms with tie-down factors—superb for nature-loving campers. Facilities embrace bogs, fireplaces, picnic tables and two massive shelters.
Day guests are welcome too—simply park at Number 7 Park, 250 metres away. Keep in thoughts this campground is tent-only (no caravans or trailers), and bookings are important. There’s no consuming water or garbage bins, so come ready and take every little thing with you. Located close to Crusoe Reservoir, it’s a peaceable base for swimming, paddling, birdwatching or just slowing down with the children. Check the Parks Victoria web site for availability and hearth security updates.
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