Summer in the Parks
Make the most of sunny days, balmy nights and free entertainment by immersing yourself in our beautiful parks as part of the Summer in the Parks event program. Enjoy cinema under the stars, live music, walking tours and festivities to celebrate the Christmas season.
Chinese New Year
Celebrate in the Chinese New Year at Dai Gum San on Saturday February 9. Be entertained by beautiful dancers, martial arts and acrobatic tricks. Daring stunts will be performed to overcome obstacles whilst spreading good luck and prosperity to all onlookers.
Attractions for everyone: Rattle along on a talking tram, go deep underground into a mine, free fall from our vertical slide, explore Chinese artefacts or create your own ceramic piece at Australia’s oldest working pottery. Many attractions offer special activities for kids over the school holidays as part of the Family Fun in Bendigo program, available from the Bendigo Visitor Centre.
Become a Bendigo Ambassador
Entertain your visiting family and friends by showing them around Bendigo’s iconic tourist attractions. The Bendigo Ambassador Passport allows residents to visit many of Bendigo’s attractions for free when they’re accompanying a full paying adult. Pick up your free Ambassador Passport from the Bendigo Visitor Centre in Pall Mall today.
Enjoy the outdoors
Take to the waters at Lake Eppalock; great for fishing, waterskiing, sailing, boating and swimming. Or visit, Crusoe Reservoir where you will find many recreational pursuits available. Bike trails and walking paths, like the popular O’Keefe Rail Trail from Axedale to Bendigo, weave through idyllic bushlands and local swimming pools offer the perfect place to cool down.
Foodie Culture
With a European feel, there’s alfresco-style restaurants that spill into the gorgeous streets lined with gold-rush architecture. Enjoy local restaurants, many featured in the 2013 Age Good Food Guide or jump aboard tramcar restaurant ninesevensix for a unique dining experience.
Fossick for Local Produce
Fresh local produce is in abundance on restaurant menus, at nearby farm-gates and at the bustling farmers markets held in Bendigo and Heathcote. Pick up a copy of the Food Fossickers Guide, from the Bendigo Visitor Centre to explore all the tasty treasures. Crafty local wares are the highlight at The Square – Bendigo’s Handmade Market on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 December.
Plate of the Season
Experience the ‘Plate of the Season’ as part of the innovative Life’s a Dish program in seven of the region’s best eateries. As a memento you can even take home a hand-painted dish to savour memories of your visit. Meet our Winemakers And what dining experience is complete without wine!
From rich, ripe reds to elegant whites, the wines from Bendigo’s gold-bearing soils are a wine lover’s treasure and the nearby Heathcote region produces fine world-class Shiraz from the famed ancient Cambrian soils.