Bendigo Launches New Underground Mines and Ghost Tours for Visitors

Bendigo's tour scene is getting a makeover. Five new operators have launched experiences in the past six months, adding to the 20-plus guided tours now running across the city, according to Bendigo Tourism's latest register.

The timing matters. School holiday bookings hit 4,200 last week alone, a record for mid-July, and tourism officials say the city is drawing visitors who want more than a quick lap of the CBD. They want stories, secrets and a few cobwebs.

Underground and unscripted

Central Deborah Gold Mine on Violet Street has extended its weekday underground tours to run seven days through the holidays. The 61-metre level tour now includes a new 'night shift' experience from 6pm, where guides switch off all electric lights for five minutes to demonstrate what miners endured in the 1870s. Price: $42 for adults, $24 for children under 16.

Over on Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo Ghost Tours has added a Friday-night 'Laneways & Lanes' walk that snakes through Chancery Lane and Williamson Street. Owner Sarah Mitchell told this masthead bookings have tripled since July 1. The 90-minute walk costs $35 and includes a stop at the former Bendigo Benevolent Asylum site.

For visitors who prefer wheels, Electric Bike Bendigo on Mitchell Street now runs a daily 'Goldfields Loop' that hits the Chinese Joss House at Emu Point, the Lake Weeroona circuit and the Pall Mall heritage precinct. They supply helmets and a rain jacket. $89 includes the bike and a coffee at Bridge Street's Mates Gully Roasters.

By the numbers

Bendigo Tourism's July 2026 visitor survey, released on Thursday, found that 38 per cent of domestic tourists cited 'unique local tours' as their primary reason for visiting. That's up from 22 per cent in 2024. Average spend per day among those who book a tour has climbed to $287, compared with $201 for non-tour visitors. Tour operators have added 11 part-time roles since January, according to the City of Greater Bendigo's economic development unit.

The Bendigo Tramways company, which runs the Talking Tram along the city's heritage loop, reported its busiest June quarter in a decade: 14,800 passengers between April and June, up 23 per cent year-on-year. A family pass (two adults, two children) costs $60 and is valid for unlimited rides on the day.

What's next

Bendigo's winter school holidays run until July 20. Most tour operators recommend booking at least 48 hours ahead. The Bendigo Visitor Information Centre on Bridge Street will stay open until 5pm on weekdays and 3pm on weekends through the period. For the full list of tours, including the new 'Miner's Lantern' walk at the Gold Museum in Wattle Street, pick up a copy of the Bendigo Experiences Guide from the centre or download it from the City of Greater Bendigo's website.