12 of the best Bendigo accommodation picks

Strike gold with a stay at one of the most exceptional Bendigo accommodation picks.

Historical Bendigo, Victoria’s small-yet-mighty country town, boasting less than 125,000 people, flows with a surprisingly extensive range of overnight stays. Plotting a break in Goldfields region? Whether you’re keen to treat yourself to a boutique hotel in the city’s centre, on the hunt for a romantic winery, or just plain desperate for a family-friendly change of scenery, our guide to the best Bendigo accommodation presents a smorgasbord of possibilities.

Hotels

Bendigo’s hotel game thoroughly excels. Just add character-filled touches of true Australiana for some of the most memorable Bendigo accommodation you’ll ever come across.

1. Bendigo Ernest Hotel

a woman relaxing in her suite at Bendigo Ernest Hotel — Each bespoke suite at Bendigo Ernest Hotel is a design lover’s dream. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Legacies of Bendigo’s gold rush past linger at the Bendigo Ernest Hotel . Though it only opened its doors as what we see now in early 2022, the 1864 building has lived several lives including one as the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. See the history for yourself by idling in the hotel lounge, housed within the old bank vault, and you might even spot a bullet hole, believed to have originated from a gold-rush era heist. Each of this Bendigo accommodation’s individually designed rooms feature Australian artwork and natural, earthy colour palettes, while fur parents will be utterly charmed to learn that there’s a pet-friendly suite that welcomes your house-trained bestie.

2. Bendigo Lodges

the dining area inside Bendigo Lodges — The lodges feature nature-inspired architecture. (Image: Dylan James)

A boutique Bendigo stay unlike any other, Bendigo Lodges is architecturally staggering and environmentally friendly. While one is larger than the other (60-sqm vs. 36-sqm), the two self-contained builds are equally breathtaking, inspired by the region’s natural bush surroundings and magazine-styled to perfection. There’s not even a check-in counter—the entire system works remotely—and you can expect a delicious blend of polished concrete, high vaulted ceilings and warm timbers to help fill your dream home mood board. Rain showers, private courtyards, Sonos entertainment systems and electric vehicle charging stations ensure five-star joy no matter where you’re sprawled.

3. Hotel Shamrock

the exterior of Hotel Shamrock in Bendigo — The architecturally designed hotel mirrors the city’s glorious past. (Image: Hotel Shamrock)

Step into a bygone era dressed in ornate architecture, red carpets and chandeliers at Hotel Shamrock , a total time warp in the middle of Bendigo. While it’s renowned locally as one of the best pubs around, this Bendigo hot spot is also home to 37 overnight suites with ensuite bathrooms, TVs and tea and coffee making facilities. Clean, crisp bed sheets and spacious floor plans equal comfortable and convenient lodgings, with two dining areas and that-all-important-bar dialling up the party right downstairs.

4. Mercure Bendigo Schaller

a bedroom with balcony and scenic views at Mercure Bendigo Schaller — Each suite opens up to scenic views. (Image: Mercure Bendigo Schaller)

On the hunt for something contemporary and funky? Mercure Bendigo Schaller is the place for you. An art-filled Bendigo accommodation pick located slap-bang between Lake Weeroona and the CBD, the hotel offers two categories of rooms: standard or superior, with the latter promising almost double the space, and both offering balconies. This wheelchair-accessible hotel also has a cafe and bar onsite.

5. Quality Hotel Lakeside

Quality Hotel Lakeside ’s outdoor pool might well be a deal clincher for some. For others, it might be the property’s location just opposite Lake Weeroona, and only a short stroll from Bendigo’s CBD. Moreover, this Bendigo accommodation’s spacious rooms ooze contemporary chic thanks to a simple neutral colour scheme, while some stays feature balconies and pool or lake views. There’s also the relaxed Lakeside Restaurant on site, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner inspired by international cuisines.

Caravan parks and camping

Glamp, camp and RV your way around the city at these Bendigo holiday parks and wineries, which range from peri-urban settings to bushland.

6. Balgownie Bendigo

a safari tent at Balgownie Bendigo — The luxe glamping tent is fitted out with a private ensuite and a deck with vineyard views. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Balgownie Bendigo is a scenic spot to sample a few local drops, devour a three-course lunch and retire to your choice of indulgence—a decked-out glamping tent or a plush room. If you’re opting for the former, don’t be deceived by that blank canvas. Inside you’ll find almost every mod con, from an in-tent split system to a mini bar, fluffy robes and slippers. Choose from the slightly more compact bell tent or go for a safari tent that can sleep up to four guests. Both varieties feature private decks with bushland or vineyard views. Meanwhile, Homestead Deluxe and Queen rooms are beautifully styled and ultra-comfortable, and an additional one-bedroom suite looks out over the vines and sleeps up to three.

7. BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – Bendigo

tents at BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – Bendigo — Bask in the outback for an elevated camping experience. (Image: BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks)

There are multiple BIG4 holiday parks to choose from in the Bendigo region — but BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – Bendigo is arguably the cream of the crop. Not only is this Bendigo accommodation the closest to central Bendigo, but it also offers a plethora of different accommodation options and a litany of facilities: think a solar-heated outdoor swimming pool, barbecue areas, mini-golf, an outdoor fire pit area, a pump track, a half-size basketball court, arcade games, a giant chess board, a giant jumping pillow, go karts, a pool table, table tennis and more.

As for your unique digs, dial up the luxe in a glamping tent or go for a schmick three-bedroom cabin. Bring the excess down just a notch by pitching up at the park’s campsite or booking a powered caravan site.

8. Lake Eppalock Holiday Park

Though it’s a 30-minute drive from the centre of Bendigo, the rural location of Lake Eppalock Holiday Park is undeniably the allure.

Featuring 2.5 kilometres of lake frontage, a stay at this Bendigo accommodation is your ticket to a nature-focused getaway perfect for water babies. That lake is great for swimming, canoeing, boating and water skiing, while various species of perch inhabit the waters so it’s a hit with anglers, too.

You can, of course, camp or park your RV, though there are standard, deluxe and premium cabins available for those who fancy extended creature comforts. Beyond the lure of the lake, visitors can exploit onsite facilities spanning a heated pool, a playground, a games room, a jumping pillow, a mountain bike track, and even an open-air cinema come summer.

Airbnb and holiday homes

From spacious abodes begging to be filled with large groups to intimate apartments inviting true romance, the best Bendigo Airbnbs and holiday homes flow with unique charms.

9. The Stables at Byronsvale

a married couple at The Stables at Byronsvale, Bendigo — The Stables at Byronsvale is an idyllic wedding venue.

Searching for an idyllic winter escape? The Stables at Byronsvale comprise three self-contained apartments immersed in photo-ready, vine dripping wine country. Located about ten minutes’ drive from the centre of town, this Bendigo accommodation is romance central, complete with sandstone walls, parquetry floors and full kitchens so you can stock up on supplies and never leave. Even more enticing, gourmet breakfast baskets and yoga classes can be arranged upon request.

10. Grandview Apartment

Grandview apartment in Bendigo — The apartment is swathed in sumptuous red velvet.

It would be tough to come up with a better way to describe this Bendigo Airbnb than pure theatre—you need to see it to appreciate it. An atmospheric gem of a place, Grandview Apartment gives off a near stately vibe with exposed red-brick walls, ornate brass wall sconces, dark timber furniture and plush crimson soft furnishings. Whatever the season, this one-of-a-kind Bendigo accommodation appeals. Come winter, there are plenty of nooks to lean into with a good book, and when warm weather breaks through, its sizable balcony is a lovely spot for sundowners.

11. Bendigo Cottage

Bendigo accommodation — The cosy cottage is heated by a fireplace in winter. (Image: Bendigo Cottage)

Almost every conceivable amenity you could need is on offer at two-bedroom Bendigo Airbnb —a hot tub, indoor fireplace, Nespresso coffee machine, blackout blinds, cot, highchair, bathtub, children’s books and toys, even condiments and breakfast supplies. An Airbnb ‘plus’ property, this little cottage – complete with a white picket fence – features a simple, modern and minimalist design and is located just on the northern cusp of the CBD, across the road from the historical Ulumbarra Theatre.

12. Harcourt House

the exterior of Harcourt House, Bendigo — The elegant exterior of Harcourt House boasts country charm in spades.

Travelling en masse? Harcourt House is our top pick. This spotlessly clean five-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home was made for groups, sleeping up to 10, and it also happens to be tastefully designed, too. The facade features a fretwork verandah and a palette of smoky greys and creamy whites, while inside you’ll find clean lines, modern furnishings and pared-back styling.

The crowning glory is its large, well-equipped kitchen, which features every amenity as well as plenty of pantry staples (tea, coffee, hot chocolate, flour, oil, vinegar, canned goods, pasta and cereal). Enjoy a home-cooked meal while sitting at the kitchen island or venture al fresco and linger over a long lunch on this Bendigo Airbnb’s deck.

Originally written by Chloe Cann with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

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Wind through fern tunnels, stop for a wine in a tram bar, or chase giant murals across the wheatbelt. These drives and rides prove Victoria’s best stories are found off the straight and narrow.

There’s something unmistakably Australian about a road trip: car packed, playlist on, landscapes shifting. Travelling down the highway toward Healesville, in Victoria’s Yarra Valley , the mountains rise, flanking me on both sides. I feel its embrace, a silent invitation to explore what lies beyond.

Moss-covered embankments rise on either side, and towering mountain ash trees form a green tunnel overhead. Road signs warn of wombats and cyclists but with giant ferns lining the roadside, the landscape feels prehistoric, as if a dinosaur might suddenly emerge. This, the Black Spur , is one of my favourite road trips.

The Black Spur

Location: Yarra Ranges
Duration: 30 kilometres / 30 minutes

The Black Spur is short compared to other Victorian road trips, just 30 kilometres, stretching from Healesville to Narbethong. But what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in scenery. Just outside Healesville, Maroondah Dam offers bushwalks and scenic views. However, if pressed for time, Selover’s Lookout is an easy roadside stop offering uninterrupted views of the dam.

In Narbethong, close to the Marysville’s snowfield, is the Black Spur Inn , a charming double-storey brick hotel that’s been welcoming travellers since 1863. Here, diners cosy up by the roaring fire or gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows, imagining horse-drawn coaches carrying hopeful gold seekers to the eastern goldfields.

Victoria’s Silo Art Trail

Location: Various towns across the Wimmera Mallee region
Duration: More than 200 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days

What began as a way to draw travellers back into town bypassed by highways – places such as Nullawil, Sea Lake and Patchewollock – has grown into a celebrated outdoor art movement. The Silo Art Trail now includes 23 silos, each transformed with large-scale mural portraits sharing local stories, celebrating community heroes, Indigenous history, farming life, or regional identity.

The Nullawil silo, for example, is a portrait of a local farmer in a chequered flannelette shirt alongside his loyal kelpie, painted by artist Sam Bates (AKA Smug). And the silos at Albacutya in the Grampians, painted by artist Kitt Bennett, depict her joyful memories of growing up in the countryside. Many of the murals sit right in the heart of small towns, such as Rochester and St Arnaud , making them perfect spots to pause for a country pub meal or something sweet from a local bakery.

Metung to Mallacoota

Location: Gippsland
Duration: Approximately 220 kilometres / 4 hours

The Gippsland Lakes are a much-loved holiday spot in Victoria, but road-tripping further east reveals much more. Begin in Metung and time your visit with the monthly farmers’ market, or simply linger over lunch on the lawn of the Metung Hotel. Twenty minutes away is Lakes Entrance , where you can watch the fishing boats return with their catch.

Lakes Entrance. (Image: Visit Victoria/Iluminaire Pictures)

Continue to Marlo, where the Snowy River spills into the sea, and Cape Conran for its many beaches and walks. If needing to stretch your legs, Croajingolong National Park is home to the historic Point Hicks Lighthouse and the Wilderness Coast Walk. Birdwatching and rainforest trails near Bemm River are worth a pit stop before arriving in Mallacoota, where the forest meets the sea.

Great Ocean Road

Location: South-west Victoria, from Torquay to Allansford
Duration: Approximately 250 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days

Victoria’s most famous road trip delivers it all: world-class surf breaks, rainforest walks, clifftop lookouts and wildlife encounters. The journey begins in Torquay, the state’s surf capital, then hugs the coast past Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay, before curving inland through the lush rainforest of the Otways. Stop at Cape Otway Lightstation or take to the treetops at Otway Fly.

Between Cape Otway and Port Campbell lies the most photographed stretch – seven of the Twelve Apostles still standing, alongside the golden cliffs of Loch Ard Gorge. Further west, Warrnambool is a winter whale-watching hotspot, before the road winds to Port Fairy, a charming fishing village of whalers’ cottages, walking trails and offshore seal colonies further along the coast.

Bellarine Taste Trail

Terindah Estate. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

Location: Bellarine Peninsula
Duration: Approximately 80 kilometres / 2–3 hours

The Bellarine Taste Trail is a feast for the senses, winding through coastal towns, past boutique wineries and artisan producers. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure style trail – simply grab a map and build your own delicious journey.

You might wander historic, seafront Queenscliff, sip wine in a converted tram bar at Terindah Estate , sample a locally distilled whisky at The Whiskery in Drydale or pick up a jar of honey at Wattle Grove in Wallington. Seafood lovers can head to Portarlington, famous for its mussels. Eat them fresh at local restaurants or head out on the water with Portarlington Mussel Tours.

O’Keefe Rail Trail – Bendigo to Heathcote

Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

Location: Central Victoria
Duration: Approximately 50 kilometres / 4 hours cycling

Travellers first journeyed between Heathcote and Bendigo in 1888, when the railway line was built to link the towns. Trains stopped running in 1956, but today the route has a new life as the O’Keefe Rail Trail . The path is mostly level for easy riding, and along the way you’ll cycle past bushland, waterways and reserves. There are plenty of places to picnic, birdwatch, and if you’re lucky, spot a platypus.

The trail is well supported with water stations, bike repair points, shelters, and signage. Axedale makes a great halfway stop, with the pretty Campaspe River Reserve for a rest and local cafes for refuelling. Begin in Heathcote, known for its wineries and cafes, or in Bendigo, which is easily reached by train from Melbourne/Naarm. Shorter sections, such as Heathcote to Axedale, are also popular.

Goldfields Track – Ballarat to Bendigo

Location: Central Victoria
Duration: Approximately 210 kilometres / 2–3 days cycling

The Goldfields Track traces a route once so rich in gold it made Melbourne one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Starting at Mt Buninyong, south of Ballarat, the trail leads mountain cyclists and walkers north through Creswick, Daylesford and Castlemaine before finishing in Bendigo. Along the way, you’ll encounter granite outcrops, eucalypt forests, rolling farmland and remnants of the region’s mining past.

As it passes through the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Wadawurrung people, the track shares gold rush history and Indigenous stories brought to life by interpretive signs. Walk or ride the full trail or choose from one of its three distinct sections. With cosy stays, cafes and pubs, it’s easy to mix wilderness with comfort.