Bendigo's Great Outdoors: Reservoirs, Trails, and Open Space

Bendigo's outdoor recreation opportunities extend well beyond the conservation reserves that protect remnant native vegetation to include the water storage infrastructure of the Coliban system and the trail networks that criss-cross the Box-Ironbark forests of the surrounding region. The combination of accessible natural areas within the urban boundary and the extensive public land of the Bendigo environs provides outdoor recreation resources that attract residents and visitors seeking walking, cycling, and wildlife experiences without long travel times.

White Hills Reservoir and the connected open space around the Coliban water system provide recreational access to water infrastructure that serves the dual purpose of supplying the city and providing a natural open space buffer. The reservoir's birdlife and the wetland habitats that develop around water storage infrastructure make these areas productive for wildlife observation alongside their primary water supply function.

The Box-Ironbark forests that dominate the public land surrounding Bendigo provide habitat for the woodland birds that have become significant drivers of birdwatching tourism to the region. The combination of the dry woodland ecosystem's characteristic species, including the swift parrot and the regent honeyeater, both critically endangered, and the accessibility of good woodland habitat within easy reach of the city makes the Bendigo region one of Victoria's most important birdwatching destinations.

Mountain biking trails developed in the state forests adjacent to the city have added a new dimension to outdoor recreation, attracting participants from across Victoria and interstate for trail networks that offer the technical variety and natural setting that mountain biking requires. The investment in trail development has generated economic activity from visiting riders that the trails' maintenance cost is more than offset by.

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