Ornate Alexandra Fountain stands proud in the middle of Pall Mall as cars loop around it. Wide streets are lined with Victorian-era architecture, and hectares of lush parkland are dotted with trees that are almost as old.
Like an aristocratic lady, Bendigo has the kind of timeless beauty that isn’t flashy or try-hard. Her history stretches back to 1851 when the discovery of gold made her (for a while) the richest town in the world.
Bendigo is a timeless beauty. (Image: Visit Victoria)
I’ll admit that it’s often one thing that lures me here initially. Bendigo Art Gallery has made a name for itself internationally, hosting absurdly impressive exhibitions for a regional town – Princess Charlene of Monaco visited to open Grace Kelly: Style Icon; Priscilla Presley to open Elvis: Direct from Graceland. But there is so much more to Bendigo than this much-lauded gallery.
Art is a big part of Bendigo. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Wine, dine and fine art
Bendigo has an enticing mix of good food, wine and shopping, laced with a hefty dose of history. On View Street, wine bars, restaurants and theatres reside inside heritage beauties such as a grand bank, a red-brick schoolhouse and an 1898 fire station.
Boutique shops in Bendigo are refreshingly different. A five-minute walk away, Chancery Lane has an entirely contrasting vibe with restaurants spilling out onto a narrow laneway colourful with graffiti.
The vibrancy continues in the murals and street art found up Dimples Lane. Stories of the Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples are shared through Djaara Lights, an installation featuring neon artworks and augmented reality around Oscars Walk and the Bath Lane Precinct.
Bendigo Art Gallery has made a name for itself internationally. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
Golden town highlights
I like that plenty of Bendigo is walkable. From Melbourne, it’s two hours by train (only minutes slower than driving) and, once there, the historic Bendigo Tramways run the length of town.
A 45-minute round trip pauses at many of Bendigo’s biggest draws: Central Deborah Gold Mine, where you can descend 61 metres to subterranean tunnels from which 929 kilograms of gold was extracted; peaceful Lake Weerona, popular with joggers and walkers; Bendigo Joss House Temple and Golden Dragon Museum, which are both a reflection of the time when a fifth of the population were Chinese miners and merchants.
You can venture beyond the city centre to visit Bendigo Pottery, Australia’s oldest working pottery (since the 1850s), or the 48-metre-high Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, an ambitious Buddhist complex that’s constantly evolving. And then there are the dozens of surrounding wineries, renowned for their bold reds. Whatever draws you to this old gold town, you’ll leave richer for it.
Bendigo Pottery is Australia’s oldest working pottery. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Laura is a Melbourne-based writer, speaker and author with a passion for adventures in the great outdoors. Her memoir ‘Bewildered’, about hiking the length of New Zealand, won Best Travel Book at the 2021 ASTW Awards and she has also penned the popular Ultimate Walks & Hikes Australia.
Get out of the city and close to nature in Victoria’s Heartland, one of Australia’s finest food-producing regions.
This fertile area is abundant in natural beauty, rich volcanic soils, mineral-rich waters, artisan producers and farm fresh produce. In towns spanning the Central Goldfields, Macedon Ranges and surrounds, just a short drive or easy train ride from Melbourne, you can taste a plethora of incredible food and world-class wine in these best of Victoria’s Heartland food regions.
1. Daylesford
Dine on the multi-course fare served at the elegant and light-filled Lake House Restaurant. (Credit: Visit Victoria)
Warm and inviting, fans of Japanese cuisine should make a beeline for Kadota. Settle in for Japanese flavours, in cocktail glasses and on the plate, that have been carefully produced using seasonal local ingredients.
For those who love a farm-to-table moment, Sault is the place to be. Fresh ingredients – directly from the restaurant’s kitchen gardens, or from regional organic farms and producers – are crafted into a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Hat-awarded Head Chef Jack Powlay.
Boasting gorgeous water views from its location on the banks of Lake Daylesford, Boathouse Restaurant is perfect for an elevated dining experience.
For a special treat, a visit to the two-chef-hatted restaurant at the Lake House is a must. Savour beautiful views and a seasonal menu championing small-scale local suppliers and their own farm just 10 minutes away.
2. Hepburn Springs
Tuck into hearty, farm-fresh flavours. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Taking cues from its Swiss-Italian roots and the area’s produce, the picturesque Lavandula Farm houses a seasonal trattoria, rustic wine bar, and a new deli and larder inside the original Shepherd’s Flat Post Office.
For another dining destination immersed in the area’s history, visit The Hepburn Pavilion café at Hepburn Bathhouse. Brunch, lunch, scones and house-made cakes are served under the vaulted ceiling of this Edwardian heritage-listed building.
And while The Surly Goat may have a farm-like ring to it, it’s in fact a homely restaurant that takes seasonality seriously. Chef David Willcocks heads up an ever-changing set menu celebrating local and small-scale regenerative producers.
3. Trentham
Satisfy your sweet cravings with handcrafted treats. (Image: Sisko Chocolate)
No trip to an Aussie regional town is complete without a stop at the pub. Pig & Whistle Hotel sits surrounded by farmland. Soak it in from the locally beloved beer garden. Here, pub classics include a parmigiana with an Irish twist.
For a more refined experienced, dine at du Fermier, where chef and owner Annie Smithers crafts a weekly menu of French farmhouse-style dishes, often sourcing ingredients from her nearby farm in Lyonville.
And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t leave town without a cheeky stop at Sisko Chocolate Studio, where owner Christina Tantsis has built a chocolate-lovers wonderland inside a stunning architectural space. Her handcrafted creations use couverture from Valrhona, a certified B Corporation, and the hot chocolates are positively sinful.
4. Woodend
Taste incredible Japanese cuisine at Kuzu Izakaya.
Taste local drops in town at the family-owned Woodend Cellar and Bar – complemented by tapas and artisan platters featuring sourdough from the local bakery – or at 600 Above, a wine bar with a sunny courtyard and cosy fireplace serving small and large plates.
Nearby, Kuzu Izakaya is the go-to place for Japanese dining. Chef Eriko Pannam has crafted a moreish menu of creative and traditional dishes; think miso cream scallops and everyone’s favourite, Japanese fried chicken.
Mount Macedon Winery is another must-visit for wine connoisseurs. Enjoy a glass and wood-fired pizza on the deck, or opt for fine dining at their Cellar Door Restaurant.
5. Kyneton
Piper Street in Kyneton is overflowing with top-notch eateries. Take Prato, specialising in traditional Greek dishes and pinsa (a lighter, crispier version of traditional pizza); or the upscale Midnight Starling, where chef Steve Rogers serves French classics inside a historic building with bluestone cellar.
A little further down, The Piper Street Wine Company is a European restaurant and wine bar inside a gorgeous heritage building. Their evolving menu highlights one European country or region at a time, so there’s always something new to discover. Further along, Fook Shing delivers a flavour-packed Southeast Asian menu using local and regional Victorian produce.
6. Castlemaine
Discover rich, creamy cheeses crafted by a certified cow’s milk artisan cheesemaker. (Image: Long Paddock Cheese)
Cafes, bars and restaurants have taken up residence inside this former Gold Rush town’s historic buildings. At The Mill Castlemaine – an 1870s woollen mill turned creative hub – you’ll find Long Paddock Cheese, a small-scale artisan cheesemaker that uses certified-organic cow’s milk from a nearby family-owned farm; and Das Kaffeehaus, a Viennese cafe serving traditional Austrian food with coffee from their small batch roastery.
Meanwhile, inside the Midland Hotel you’ll find the chef-hatted Bar Midland, founded by locals Loudon Cooper and Alexander Marano. Their monthly set menu celebrates Victorian producers who focus on sustainable land management, and often utilises indigenous food, introduced wild animals and weeds.
7. Lancefield & Romsey
Savour beautifully plated dishes in a relaxed setting. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Art meets food and wine at Mount Monument, located just outside of Romsey. The beautiful vineyard is home to a sculpture park, cellar door and restaurant with a menu shaped by the Macedon Ranges’ rich seasonal produce.
In town, The 1860 Romsey has reimagined a 160-year-old hotel. Here, country pub charm meets modern bistro, with a menu that supports local at every opportunity (their Central Victorian Oakdale Black Angus steak is a winner).
A few minutes’ drive north, the Lost Watering Hole in Lancefield is a family-friendly brewery and restaurant crafting 100% naturally brewed beers. Their unusual names – No Dodo, Flightless, Big Roo – make sense once you learn Lancefield is the location of one of the richest deposits of megafauna fossils in Australia.
8. Harcourt
Treat yourself to buttery, house-made Danish pastries. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Harcourt is famous for its apple orchards and cider production, and there’s no better place to visit than The Little Red Apple. At this roadside store, you can stock up on fresh crisp apples, ciders, vinegars, juices, and other gourmet products.
To taste more local delights, pop into the Harcourt Produce & General Store, renowned for their house-made danishes, or stop at Sutton Grange Winery where winemaker Chris Smales crafts wines using their organically grown estate fruit. Open on Sundays, it’s an idyllic spot to slow down over wine, pizzas and share plates.
