Sports and fitness in Bendigo: your complete guide

Bendigo's fitness culture is anchored by the Bendigo Spirit (WNBL basketball), the Goldfields Football League, and the cycling infrastructure connecting Bendigo to Ballarat and the surrounding goldfields countryside that creates exceptional road and gravel cycling within easy reach of the city.

Bendigo Spirit — WNBL basketball — the Bendigo Spirit is one of the WNBL's most successful clubs (four championship titles between 2012 and 2016) and has created an extraordinary women's basketball culture in a regional centre of Bendigo's size that national sporting administrators cite as a model for community sports investment. Home games at the Red Energy Arena draw loyal attendances.

Goldfields Track — Bendigo to Ballarat — the 174-kilometre gravel trail connecting Bendigo to Ballarat through the Box-Ironbark goldfields country provides the multi-day cycling and trail running route that the MTB touring community has adopted as one of Victoria's premier off-road adventures. The track is accessible in sections for day rides from Bendigo.

AFL — Goldfields Football League — the Goldfields Football League provides the community-level AFL competition in the Bendigo region, with the Sandhurst, Kangaroo Flat, and Gisborne clubs providing the grassroots football engagement that maintains Bendigo's strong football culture between professional AFL seasons.

Running — Bendigo Park Run and creek trails — the Saturday morning Park Run at Lake Weeroona and the Bendigo Creek Trail running path create the community running infrastructure that Bendigo's active fitness population uses as its primary morning exercise network. The Bendigo Running Festival (August) is the signature road running event.

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