When it comes to must see tourist attractions in Bendigo, Victoria there really is something for everyone. For lovers of art, you can wile away the hours at the newly refurbished Bendigo Art Gallery. If you’re more of a history buff, then head to the Buda Historic Home and Garden, or even the Soldiers Memorial Museum Bendigo to get your fix. Train enthusiasts will be right at home in Bendigo, with the Bendigo Tramways offering rides and tours.
With such an array of choices, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things to do in Bendigo, Victoria to help you narrow down how you plan to spend your next Bendigo holiday.
Bendigo Chinese Precinct
Golden Dragon Museum
The Golden Dragon Museum is often referred to as the Chinese Cultural Centre of Australia. Opened in 1991, the objective of the museum is to document, and preserve the Chinese heritage and culture that is prevalent in Australia. The museum includes a number of permanent collections including a collection of costumes from Canton in the 1880s, Loong who is the world’s oldest imperial dragon, and Sun Loong who is the world’s longest imperial dragon, the Horrie Bridges Chinese Currency Collection, and the Dai Gum San Wax Works Collection.
Golden Dragon Museum Details
Website: www.goldendragonmuseum.org
Address: 1 – 11 Bridge Street, Bendigo
Opening Hours: 11am to 4pm daily, except in June and July when it is open Saturday to Wednesday only.
Cost: Adults $11; Concession $9; Children $6; Family $28.
Bendigo Joss House Temple
Ever since gold was discovered in Bendigo in 1851, the Chinese community has played a major role in the history of the town. So, if you’re looking to discover more about Bendigo’s Chinese immigrants, then look no further than the Bendigo Joss House Temple. A visit to this unique Bendigo attraction will give you an invaluable insight into Chinese culture. Originally a Chinese house of prayer, the Bendigo Joss House Temple was constructed during the 1860s and is one of the few still standing in Australia. The temple is managed by The Bendigo Trust, and was listing as a heritage site by the National Trust in 1959, after which extensive restoration works were undertaken.
Bendigo Joss House Temple Details
Website: www.bendigojosshouse.com
Address: Emu Point, Finn Street, North Bendigo
Opening Hours: 11am to 3pm daily.
Cost: Adults $6; Concession $5; Children $4; Family $18.
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
Currently under construction in Bendigo, the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is the largest Buddhist monument in the entire western world. A symbolic representation of a fully enlightened mind, a Stupa is the most sacred monument in the Buddhist world. The Bendigo Stupa will be home to the largest jade Buddha in the world, and will be the same size as the famous Great Stupa in Gyantese: 50m wide and over 50m in height. If you decide to visit the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, there are a number of guided tours available, during which you can view an extensive collection of artworks and relics. Construction of the Stupa is scheduled for completion in 2015.
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion Details
Website: www.stupa.org.au
Address: 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat
Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm weekdays; 10.30am to 5pm weekends
Cost: Entry is free
Bendigo Art Gallery
Established in 1887, the Bendigo Art Gallery is one of the oldest in Australia. Its sizable collection contains many precious artworks, predominantly nineteenth century Australian and European pieces of art. Having recently undergone an $8.5 million expansion, the gallery is now home to more than 5,000 artworks, including sculptures, paintings, photographs and ceramics. There are works of art from Ben Armstrong, Dale Frank, Fiona Hall, Bill Henson, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Jan Nelson, Patricia Piccinini and Kit Webster. There is also a Gallery Café onsite, which serves a delicious breakfast and lunch menu, as well as a range of coffees and cakes.
Bendigo Art Gallery Details
Website: www.bendigoartgallery.com.au
Address: 42 View Street, Bendigo
Opening Hours: 10am to 5pm daily
Cost: Entry by donation
Bendigo Botanical Gardens
Established in 1857, the Bendigo Botanic Gardens were Bendigo’s first public gardens and were classified as heritage listed in 2001. The gardens are laid out around a central billabong (that used to be a part of the Bendigo Creek) and feature River Red Gums and a variety of other exotic native plants. The gardens are home to a number of rare plants, including a Kei Apple – the only other example of which is at Werribee Park. There is also a Cottage Garden, an example of the type of gardens that would have been popular in the 19850s, filled with fragrance, colour and variety.
Bendigo Botanical Gardens Details
Website: www.bendigobotanicgardens.com.au
Address: 557-559 Napier Street, White Hills, Bendigo
Opening Hours: 7.30am to 9pm (Daylight Savings); otherwise 7.30am to 6pm
Cost: Entry is free
Sacred Heart Cathedral
The Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo is one of Australia’s largest churches, and at 87m high is the second tallest church in Australia, coming in after St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne. It is the main church of the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst, serving the residents of central and north-west Bendigo. The cathedral was commenced in the 1850s, and was designed in the English Gothic style, featuring enclosed flying buttresses, by architect William Tappin. However, the construction of the cathedral was not actually completed until 1977. Today, the cathedral features beautiful stained glass windows, an impressive collection of bells, and a number of relics.
Sacred Heart Cathedral Details
Website: www.sandhurst.catholic.org.au/index.php/cathedral
Address: 66 Short Street, Bendigo
Opening Hours: All day, with mass at 8.30am and 11am on Sundays
Cost: Entry is free
Bendigo Tramways
The Bendigo Tramways have been in operation in one form or another since 1890. And, even today, there is no better way to take in all that Bendigo has to offer. The Bendigo Tramways offer a delightful talking tour of Bendigo. You can alight at any stage, with stops available at the Central Deborah Gold Mine; the Alexandra Fountain; the Bendigo Joss House Temple; Lake Weeroona; and, of course, at the Bendigo Tramways Depot and Workshop. You can even take a tour of the Bendigo Depot, one of the oldest tram depots in Australia.
Bendigo Tramways Details
Website: www.bendigotramways.com
Address: 1 Tramways Avenue, Bendigo
Opening Hours: 10am daily, please check website for timetable.
Cost: Various (check website for further details)
Bendigo Pottery
Established in 1858, Bendigo Pottery has enjoyed widespread popularity for its high-quality ceramics for more than 150 years. This must-see Bendigo tourist attraction offers a magical combination of history, hands-on experimentation, and shopping. Bendigo Pottery is home to the largest collection of wood fired kilns in the world: five bottle kilns, three circular kilns, and two rectangular kilns that are now on display in the museum. All of Bendigo Pottery’s kilns are now heritage listed. The site also includes an antique centre with more than 30 stalls, galleries exhibiting local artists, a café, a museum, artists’ workshops and a large shop.
Bendigo Pottery Details
Website: www.bendigopottery.com.au
Address: 146 Midland Highway, Epsom
Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm every day
Cost: Various (check website for further details)
Soldiers Memorial Museum Bendigo
Officially opened in 1921, the Soldiers Memorial Museum in Bendigo is a tribute to all of the soldiers from Bendigo that lost their lives serving Australia during times of war. The memorial was transformed into a museum in 1997, with items on display including uniforms, medals, letters, diaries, photos, equipment and firearms. The artefacts come from a range of wars, and cover the experiences of army, navy, air force, women’s services and prisoners of war. The Bendigo Memorial Museum is also home to an extensive library and a number of research records.
Soldiers Memorial Museum Bendigo Details
Website: www.bendigorsl.com.au
Address: 37-39 Pall Mall, Bendigo
Opening Hours: 11am to 3pm, Sunday to Friday in winter; 10am to 4pm Sunday to Friday for the remainder of the year.
Cost: Entry by gold coin donation
Central Deborah Gold Mine
When gold was first discovered in Bendigo in 1851, the region become famous for gold mining and production for decades. The Central Deborah Gold Mine was one of the last mines to cease operations, closing in 1954, having produced approximately 30,000 ounces of gold. The mine is now open for tours by the public that take approximately 75 minutes to a full day. During the tour, you’ll experience exactly what it was like to be a gold miner, descending more than 60 metres below the earth’s surface, and even working a drill.
Central Deborah Gold Mine Details
Website: www.central-deborah.com
Address: 76 Violet Street, Bendigo
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 4.30 daily
Cost: Various (check website for further details)
Discovery Science and Technology Centre
Established in 1995, the Discovery Science and Technology Centre was Australia’s first science and technology centre outside of a major metropolitan area. There’s always something on at the centre, from shows about electricity and high voltage fun, to displays about the Hubble Space telescope. The centre is also home to the Bendigo Planetarium. With 20 minutes shows daily, you can explore astronomy and all the stars in the sky above. Or, if you’re more of a daredevil, then take a trip down the southern hemisphere’s tallest vertical slide. At 7m high, and an average speed of up to 40km per hour, it’s certain to satisfy even the most adventurous among you.
Discovery Science and Technology Centre Details
Website: www.discovery.asn.au
Address: 7 Railway Place, Bendigo
Opening Hours: 10am to 4pm daily
Cost: Adults $13.50; Concession $11.50; Children $10.50; Family $43.
Bendigo Rosalind Park
Located on the edge of the Bendigo CBD, the 60-acre Rosalind Park includes grassy spaces, leafy trees, playgrounds, an historic conservatory, and beautiful gardens. Originally home to a government camp in the 1850s, Rosalind Park has always been at the centre of public life in Bendigo. During the gold rush of the 1850s, this woodland area was turned into an important public park, and prior to that, it would have been an important source of food and water for the native aborigines. There is plenty for the whole family to explore at Rosalind Park.
Bendigo Rosalind Park Details
Website: www.bendigotourism.com/images/documents/rosalind_park_brochure.pdf
Address: Corner of View Street and Pall Mall, Bendigo
Opening Hours: All day
Cost: Entry is free