Bendigo’s best local tours: From gold rush history to underground secrets

Bendigo’s tourism scene is booming, with a record number of visitors expected this winter, and local tour operators are rolling out new experiences that dig deeper into the city’s gold rush heritage and beyond. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a local looking to see the city with fresh eyes, there’s never been a better time to book a guided walk, a mine tour, or a cultural trail.

Walking tours and underground adventures

Central Deborah Gold Mine, on Violet Street, remains the city’s flagship underground experience. Tours run daily, taking visitors 61 metres below ground through original mine tunnels. The 90-minute ‘Mine Experience’ includes a ride in the original cage lift and a close look at the quartz reef that made Bendigo one of the richest goldfields in the world. Ticket prices start at $35 for adults, and bookings are essential during school holidays.

For those who prefer to stay above ground, the Bendigo Walking Company runs a daily ‘Heritage Walk’ through the historic centre, stopping at landmarks like the Alexandra Fountain, the post office and the former mining exchange on Pall Mall. The tour costs $30 per person and departs at 10am from the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre. Owner-operator Sarah Milne said the tour has become especially popular with interstate visitors wanting to understand the city’s architecture beyond the obvious boom-style buildings.

Food, wine and cultural trails

Bendigo’s emerging food scene is now the focus of the ‘Bendigo Bites’ walking tour, launched last spring. The tour takes in four venues within a two-block radius of View Street, from the Bendigo Wholefoods co-op to the wine bar at The Dispensary. Each stop includes a tasting, and the guide shares stories about the growers and producers behind the plates. The tour runs Fridays and Saturdays at noon, costs $75 per person, and has a strict limit of 12 guests to keep the groups intimate and the noise down inside the venues.

Further afield, the ‘Bendigo Wine Trail’ connects five cellar doors on the city’s outskirts, including Sutton Grange Winery and Balgownie Estate. The self-drive route is mapped out by the Bendigo Winegrowers Association, which reports a 15 per cent increase in cellar-door visitors this year compared to the same period in 2025. Many of the wineries have introduced cheese-and-wine pairings and extended their hours to 6pm on Saturday afternoons.

For those seeking a cultural lens, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation offers a ‘Country and Culture Walk’ on the first Saturday of each month. The tour explores the banks of the Bendigo Creek, where guides share stories about pre-colonial land use, the impact of mining on water systems, and the ongoing work to restore native vegetation along the waterway. The walk is free but requires advance registration through the corporation’s website.

If you’re planning a visit this winter, the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre has extended its opening hours until 5pm on weekdays to cope with demand. Many tours sell out midweek, so booking at least a week ahead is recommended. For the full list of operators and seasonal specials, check the ‘Experiences’ section of the city council’s tourism portal.