School holidays in Bendigo: A local’s guide to keeping the kids busy

The winter school holidays are in full swing, and Bendigo families are looking for ways to keep the kids entertained without breaking the bank. With temperatures hovering around single digits this week, indoor options are proving popular, but a few outdoor adventures are drawing crowds too.

The Bendigo Visitor Centre on Pall Mall reports that the most-booked family activity this week is the Marong to Bendigo paddle-steamer ride on Lake Weeroona, which runs daily at 11am and 2pm until July 19. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children, with a family pass available for $40.

Hands-on fun for creative kids

At the Bendigo Art Gallery in View Street, the Mini-Makers drop-in program runs every Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to noon. Children aged 4-12 can try their hand at printmaking, clay modelling and collage, all free with gallery entry, which is free for locals with a Bendigo Library card.

Over in the Golden Square Shopping Centre, the LEGO Build-Off competition continues until July 17. Entries are $5 per child, with prizes from the centre’s toy store. Last year’s winning build, a replica of the Bendigo Town Hall, attracted more than 200 entries.

For families with teenagers, the Escape Room Challenge at the Bendigo Discovery Centre on Edwards Street is offering a 20% discount for school-holiday bookings. The 45-minute puzzles range from ‘Lost in the Goldfields’ to ‘Alien Invasion’, and the centre says slots are booking out quickly, especially on weekends.

Outdoor adventures (weather permitting)

If the rain holds off, the Bendigo Bushland Discovery Trail at the Greater Bendigo National Park is a free option that runs through the box-ironbark forest. The 2km loop is wheelchair- and pram-friendly, and the park rangers have set up a scavenger-hunt sheet available at the visitor centre.

The Bendigo Tramways Company is running its Heritage Tram Storytime tours on Saturday mornings at 10am until July 20. A storyteller reads picture books about the gold-rush era while the tram winds through the city’s historic streets. Tickets are $10 per family, and bookings can be made at the tram depot on Tramways Avenue.

For parents of toddlers, the Mini Movers session at the Bendigo Regional Tennis Centre in Strathdale runs every Friday at 9:30am. It’s a 45-minute introduction to racket sports for ages 2-5, costing $5 per child. The centre says mats and soft balls are provided, and no previous experience is needed.

This story was compiled using publicly available information from the Bendigo Visitor Centre (Pall Mall, Bendigo VIC 3550; phone 03 5434 6060) and from event listings on the City of Greater Bendigo website (www.bendigo.vic.gov.au). Readers are advised to confirm times and prices before travelling, as last-minute changes may occur.