Best of Bendigo
Day Trips from Bendigo: Goldfields, Wine and the Spa Country
Bendigo sits at the centre of Victoria's goldfields region and is well placed for day trips across the Victorian interior. Castlemaine and Chewton, about 40 minutes south, are heritage goldfields towns with well-preserved streetscapes, an active arts community and the Castlemaine Art Museum. Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, about 50 minutes south via Castlemaine, are Victoria's mineral springs and wellness hub, with bathhouses, cafes and accommodation popular on weekend escapes. Ballarat is about 90 minutes southeast and merits a full day for Sovereign Hill and the art gallery. The Macedon Ranges wine region, about an hour south toward Melbourne, has cellar doors and walking in the volcanic ranges around Mount Macedon.
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Castlemaine
A goldfields arts town 30 minutes south of Bendigo, with the Castlemaine Diggings heritage park, an excellent market and a growing arts and food culture.
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Ballarat
A sister goldfields city 100km south-west of Bendigo, with Sovereign Hill, the Eureka Centre and its own impressive Victorian heritage streetscape.
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Murray River, Echuca
Victoria's most historic river port, 1.5 hours north of Bendigo, with paddle steamers on the Murray and the Echuca wharf heritage precinct.
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Heathcote Wine Region
A rising shiraz wine region 45 minutes south of Bendigo, with boutique cellar doors and a biennial wine festival drawing national wine media attention.
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Melbourne
Two hours south by V/Line train, Melbourne is the natural big-city day trip from Bendigo, with the city's world-class galleries, markets and sport.
More Best of Bendigo
- Weekend Getaways from Bendigo: Castlemaine, Daylesford and the Goldfields Region
- Where to Stay in Bendigo: Accommodation Guide for Visitors
- Free Things to Do in Bendigo: Heritage Streets, Parks and Culture
- Best Cafes and Restaurants in Bendigo: Eating Well in the Goldfields City
- Bendigo Art Gallery: One of Australia's Best Regional Galleries
- Golden Dragon Museum Bendigo: Chinese-Australian Heritage and the Easter Festival