Bendigo with kids
Mine tours, dragons, playspaces and rainy-day picks for families
The best things to do in Bendigo with kids are the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, the Mine Experience Tour at Central Deborah Gold Mine, which takes children from age 3, and the dragons at the Golden Dragon Museum. For outdoor play, the council playspaces at FunLoong in Hargreaves Mall, Lake Weeroona and Eaglehawk Playspace are good bets, and Long Gully Splash Park has zero-depth water play in season.
How we chose
We picked places with details a parent can plan around, such as minimum ages, pram access and opening days, and checked them against official sites, council pages and family travel writing on 20 October 2026. Several official sites, including Central Deborah, Bendigo Tramways and the City of Greater Bendigo, could not be loaded directly that day, so where you need times or prices we name the site to check. We left out places where we could not find ages, prices or opening hours.
Discovery Science and Technology Centre
If you only plan one indoor stop, make it the Discovery Science and Technology Centre at 7 Railway Place. It is open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday in school term and every day in school holidays, and it is closed for all of February and on national public holidays.
As of October 2026, general entry is $22 for adults and $18 for children aged 3 to 17, and under-3s go free. A family pass is $72 and covers two adults and two children or one adult and three children, with each extra child $16. Planetarium shows cost extra: $12 for an adult or a child, or $40 for a family.
The centre is wheelchair and pram friendly, with ramps and accessible toilets on the ground floor, including a baby change room. Until 29 November 2026 it is hosting CURIOSITY: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO Bricks. It is about 340 m, or a 5-minute walk, from Bendigo railway station, and about 960 m from the Visitor Centre (approximate).
Central Deborah Gold Mine: going underground
At Central Deborah Gold Mine on Violet Street, children dress up in boots, overalls, a miner's hat and a lamp before heading underground. The Mine Experience Tour takes 75 minutes, goes 61 metres down and has a minimum age of 3. Children on this tour need an adult with them.
The Underground Adventure Tour takes about 2.5 hours and goes 85 metres down. It suits older children and includes a miner's lunch or afternoon tea in the Crib Room. Bookings are highly recommended, and check the minimum age when you book.
On the surface there is gold panning, vintage mining machinery, museums and a picnic area, with wheelchair access in some areas. Prices differ between the mine's own pages, so check current prices and session times at central-deborah.com.
Trams: the Talking Tram and the depot
The Vintage Talking Tram, run by Bendigo Tramways, is a hop-on hop-off tour that starts at Central Deborah Gold Mine and also stops at Alexandra Fountain, Lake Weeroona and the Bendigo Joss House Temple. A Talking Tram ticket includes entry to the mine's surface area. Fares differ between the operator's own pages, so check bendigotramways.com before you buy.
On weekends, the Depot Discovery Tour runs at 10:30am and 12:30pm, as of October 2026. The depot on Tramways Avenue also has a tram museum.
Golden Dragon Museum
The Golden Dragon Museum at 1-11 Bridge Street is home to Sun Loong, a dragon roughly 100 metres long, and Loong, described as the oldest imperial dragon. It is open 9:30am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, with last entry at 4:30pm, and it opens seven days a week during Victorian school holidays. The official site lists group prices only, so check ticket prices at goldendragonmuseum.org or call (03) 5441 5044.
Playgrounds and water play
FunLoong Playspace, Hargreaves Mall
FunLoong is a dragon-themed playspace in Hargreaves Mall, named after Sun Loong. It is about 300 m from the Visitor Centre and about 450 m from the Poppet Head area of Rosalind Park (approximate). Each year during National Children's Week, the council runs a FunLoong Fun Day in the mall.
Rosalind Park playspace
The playspace in Rosalind Park is open to the public only outside school hours. As of October 2026, the park's Poppet Head lookout is open to Level 1 only.
Lake Weeroona Adventure Playspace
The Lake Weeroona Adventure Playspace is fully fenced, with a large timber fort, swings, a toddler playground and water play. The council also describes a circuit path and picnic lawns at the lake, which is a stop on the Vintage Talking Tram.
Bendigo Botanic Gardens playspace
The council describes the Botanic Gardens playspace as award-winning, with an Alice in Wonderland theme, garden rooms enclosed by hedges, a croquet lawn and a fort. The gardens are in White Hills.
Eaglehawk Playspace
Eaglehawk Playspace on Napier Street is shaped like an eagle-hawk and themed on Banjo Paterson's "Mulga Bill's Bicycle". It has a multi-level climbing tower with two tunnel slides and a straight slide, two human-sized hamster wheels, and a fenced toddler area with a sandpit, water play and a talking book station. There are picnic tables, barbecues, water taps and toilets with change facilities. Eaglehawk is a separate town north-west of Bendigo.
Long Gully Splash Park
Long Gully Splash Park on Cunneen Street in Long Gully has zero-depth water play and a dry play area. Kids press the pads on the crossing signals to start the water. There is shaded seating, picnic tables, barbecues, toilets and change rooms. It is seasonal and opening depends on the forecast, so check season dates and hours on the City of Greater Bendigo website before you go.
More for rainy days
Bendigo Golden Brick LEGO on High Street has a cafe, a build-your-own LEGO area and parties. We could not confirm its hours or prices, so check its listing on bendigoregion.com.au.
Faith Leech Aquatic Centre has a water slide that runs at selected times. Check current pool times and prices on the City of Greater Bendigo website.
What about Bendigo Art Gallery?
Older family guides still recommend Bendigo Art Gallery and its cafe on View Street. That building has been closed since 1 December 2025 for redevelopment, with reopening expected in early 2028. As of October 2026, the gallery's exhibitions are at Bendigo Town Hall, so check what is on and when at bendigoregion.com.au.
Quick picks
- Rainy day: the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, open every day in school holidays.
- Under-3s: general entry to the Discovery Centre is free.
- Under-5s: the Mine Experience Tour at Central Deborah takes children from age 3.
- Prams and wheelchairs: the Discovery Centre has ramps, accessible toilets and a baby change room on the ground floor.
- Toddlers who wander: the Lake Weeroona Adventure Playspace is fully fenced.
- Water play: Long Gully Splash Park, in season.
- LEGO fans: the CURIOSITY exhibition at the Discovery Centre runs until 29 November 2026.
- School holidays: the Golden Dragon Museum opens seven days a week.
- Tram-mad kids on a weekend: the Depot Discovery Tour.
- More ideas: our guide to things to do in Bendigo.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Discovery Science and Technology Centre good for toddlers?
Yes. Under-3s get in free, and the centre is wheelchair and pram friendly, with accessible toilets and a baby change room on the ground floor. It is closed for all of February and on national public holidays.
What age can kids do the Central Deborah Gold Mine tour?
The Mine Experience Tour at Central Deborah Gold Mine has a minimum age of 3, takes 75 minutes and goes 61 metres underground. The Underground Adventure Tour takes about 2.5 hours and goes 85 metres down. It is meant for older children, so check its minimum age when you book.
Is there a splash park in Bendigo?
Yes. Long Gully Splash Park on Cunneen Street, Long Gully, has zero-depth water play and a dry play area. It opens seasonally, so check season dates and hours on the City of Greater Bendigo website.
What are the best playgrounds in Bendigo?
Our picks are FunLoong in Hargreaves Mall, the fully fenced Lake Weeroona Adventure Playspace, Eaglehawk Playspace with its climbing tower and toddler area, the Alice in Wonderland themed Botanic Gardens playspace and the Rosalind Park playspace. The Rosalind Park playspace is open to the public only outside school hours.
Is Bendigo Art Gallery open?
Bendigo Art Gallery's View Street building has been closed since 1 December 2025 for redevelopment, with reopening expected in early 2028. As of October 2026, its exhibitions are at Bendigo Town Hall. Check days and prices at bendigoregion.com.au.
Can kids see the LEGO exhibition in Bendigo?
Yes. CURIOSITY: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO Bricks is on at the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, 7 Railway Place, until 29 November 2026.
Is the Golden Dragon Museum open in the school holidays?
Yes. The Golden Dragon Museum opens seven days a week during Victorian school holidays. In term time it is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30am to 5pm, with last entry at 4:30pm.
