Hiking and Walking Near Bendigo: Reserves, Ranges and the Goldfields Trail

Bendigo's position in central Victoria gives it access to walking terrain across the Goldfields and nearby ranges within 30-90 minutes. The Goldfields Track runs 210 kilometres from Ballarat to Bendigo, following historic gold rush routes through central Victorian farmland and bush — day sections accessed from Bendigo at its northern end provide accessible walking through the Whipstick State Park. Mount Alexander Regional Park near Castlemaine (40 minutes south) has a 1,011-metre summit walk through box ironbark woodland rewarding with central Victorian panoramas. The Calder Rail Trail walking sections near Bendigo provide flat accessible walking through rural Victoria. The Heathcote-Graytown National Park east of Heathcote (50 minutes southeast) has walking through significant grey box woodland. Closer to the city, the Bendigo Creek Reserve trail network runs through urban green space accessible from the CBD. Whipstick State Park north of the city has informal walking through mallee and box ironbark habitat that supports significant biodiversity including populations of the nationally threatened squirrel glider.