Bendigo getaway, Goldfields, Victoria, Australia

The heart of Central Victoria and one-time richest city in the world, Bendigo has been attracting people from across the globe since the 1850s gold rush. These days, frenetic fortune hunters have been replaced by a new breed of creative "tree-changers", who have brought with them a passion for the arts, design, food and wine. The dynamic regional centre continues to celebrate its contrasts, setting vibrant arts hubs and buzzing bars and restaurants against grand architecture and a storied history.

Try a three-day break that captures the energy and flavour of this grand old city.

Day one

The best place to start in any new place is the Visitor Information Centre. It's a bonus that the Bendigo Visitor Centre is a former post office and grand historic attraction in its own right. It also houses the Post Office Gallery social history museum, and the Living Arts Space, which showcases emerging local artists. You might be longer than you think here.

Take a moment to get your Bendigo bearings from beautiful Rosalind Park. The reward for ascending the mine tower (Poppet Head) is stunning views of Bendigo and surrounds.

Lunch at the Gallery Cafe is the perfect segue into an arty afternoon. A delectable showcase of local food and wine, it also offers delicious views of the Bendigo Art Gallery's sculpture annex and Rosalind Park.

Fortified, you're ready to head inside to Australia's largest regional art gallery. See a touring international exhibition, or familiarise yourself with the contemporary names in the permanent collection.

Finish your fix of fine art with a wander through the View Street Art Precinct and its galleries, theatres, bars, eateries and boutiques.

Prepare for a night out Bendigo-style with dinner at the vast The Woodhouse restaurant. Then it's on to the new Ulumbarra Theatre to catch a performance in the 1860s Sandhurst Gaol building. Or you can devote your night to the blues, catching a gig at The Handle Bar, Rifle Brigade Hotel, Hotel Shamrock, Goldmines Hotel or the Old Church on the Hill.

After such an artistic day it's fitting that you should rest your head amid the original artworks, large-scale sculptures and mosaics at Mercure Schaller Hotel, inspired by Mark Schaller's working studio.

Rosalind Park

Parks & gardens

Explore the beautiful old gardens, historic conservatory, fernery, playground and 60 acres of open spaces in Rosalind Park, in the centre of Bendigo.

Bendigo Art Gallery

Art galleries

Stop by the Bendigo Art Gallery and see works by contemporary Australian artists including Patricia Piccinini, Tracey Moffatt and Bill Henson.

Bendigo Visitor Centre

Visitor information centres

51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo
Ph 03 5434 6060

Living Arts Space at the Bendigo Visitor Centre

Art galleries

The historic Bendigo Post Office, built in 1887, is now home to the Bendigo Visitor Centre, the Living Arts Space, Uniquely Bendigo and the Post Office...
Day two

Set the tone for a bumper Bendigo day with breakfast from the kitchen garden at the Spring Gully General Store. Then join your local guide and take the Food Fossicking Tour of Bendigo's gourmet hotspots, discovering chocolate making, seasonal fruits and vegetables and sourdough bread.

All that talk of food is bound to lead to hunger pangs, so finish up the tour with a "paddock to plate" meal at Masons of Bendigo in the old WD Masons Glass shop.

It's time to talk gold. Don your miner's hat and lamp and descend 61 metres underground at Central Deborah Gold Mine, a real mine from the mid-1900s. Climb ladders, work a mine drill and search for gold – it's finder's keepers!

Discover more tales of the city founded on one of the world's richest goldfields by sitting back on a historic Bendigo Tramways tram and visiting key local landmarks.

You've well and truly earned a drink by now. Head to tiny Chancery Lane and grab a glass or two of a local drop at The Dispensary.

Finish a jam-packed day with dinner at Ms Batterhams. Housed within the old school hall at Mackenzie Quarters, this relaxed lounge bar offers a southern European menu, paired with a locally-sourced wine list, delicious cocktails and a wide range of craft beers.

Masons of Bendigo

Restaurants

Get a taste for central Victoria's finest produce, paddock-to-plate dining and local wines, beer and cider at sophisticated Masons of Bendigo.

Central Deborah Gold Mine

Family

Gear up in overalls, a miner's hat and lamp and head into underground tunnels in search of gold in a key mine from Bendigo's 19th century gold rush.

Bendigo Tramways Vintage Talking Tram

History & heritage

Sit back, relax and let the tram do all the talking as you journey through the past 150 years aboard a majestic Vintage 'Talking' Tram.
Day three

Grab a Lekker bike from Mercure Schaller Hotel and cycle to beautiful Lake Weeroona for breakfast.

Head to the Golden Dragon Museum to discover the living history of the Chinese people of Bendigo from the gold rush to the present day. Then make your way to The Great Stupa, the largest Buddhist stupa (monument) outside of Asia and home to the largest gem quality Jade Buddha in the world.

Alternatively, visit Bendigo Pottery to watch potters at work, or throw a pot yourself.

Lunch at Balgownie Estate should be a relaxed affair so you can savour the rich, ripe reds and elegant whites from Bendigo's gold-bearing soils. With over 30 cellar doors to choose from, a visit to the Bendigo wine region is up there with striking gold.

Golden Dragon Museum

Museums

Experience a living history of Bendigo's Chinese population and explore exhibitions featuring artefacts dating as far back as the Shang Dynasty.

Bendigo Pottery

Art galleries

Established in 1858, Bendigo Pottery offers a unique visitor experience of both historic and modern ceramic production.Bendigo Pottery has quality ceramic...

The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion

Museums

Explore a vast collection of Buddhist relics and a huge two-and-a-half-metre-high jade Buddha at one of the biggest stupas in the world.

Lake Weeroona

Lakes & waterways

Lake Weeroona is the jewel in Bendigo’s crown. This beautiful ornamental lake and reserve, set on 18 hectares, was transformed from a dusty mining area...

Balgownie Estate Bendigo

Wineries

Only 10 minutes from Bendigo City Centre, Balgownie Estate Bendigo is a fully operational working winery, featuring a brand new Cellar Door, huge extended...