[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"flags:":3,"guide-things-to-do-bendigo":6},{"flags":4,"preview":5},{"catalogue_import_enabled":5,"meal_recs_v2_enabled":5,"owner_hub_enabled":5,"public_home_film_enabled":5,"public_home_v6_enabled":5,"studio_enabled":5},false,{"guide":7,"venues":66},{"author_bio":8,"author_name":9,"brand":10,"canonical_brand":10,"category":11,"content":12,"cover_image_url":13,"created_at":14,"excerpt":15,"id":16,"is_programmatic":5,"is_published":17,"published_at":14,"reading_time_minutes":18,"schema_faq":19,"seo_description":44,"seo_title":45,"slug":46,"subtitle":47,"tags":48,"title":55,"updated_at":56,"venue_slugs":57},null,"inBendigo Editorial","bendigo","top-picks","The best things to do in Bendigo are going underground at [Central Deborah Gold Mine](/venue/central-deborah-gold-mine-bendigo-6bce7f), riding the Vintage Talking Tram, seeing the dragons Sun Loong and Loong at the [Golden Dragon Museum](/venue/golden-dragon-museum-bendigo-5a95c0) and walking up to the Poppet Head lookout in [Rosalind Park](/venue/rosalind-park-bendigo-c63f0c). As of October 2026, Bendigo Art Gallery is showing its exhibitions at Bendigo Town Hall while its View Street building is closed for redevelopment. Most of the central sights are within about a 10-minute walk of the Bendigo Visitor Centre (approximate).\n\n## How we chose\n\nWe started with the attractions that official sites, the City of Greater Bendigo, Bendigo Tourism, heritage listings and recent travel writing keep pointing visitors to, then checked each fact against those sources on 20 October 2026. That day several official sites, including Central Deborah, Bendigo Tramways, the City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo Tourism, could not be loaded directly, so we have left out opening times and prices we could only see second-hand and named the site to check instead. We also point out where older guides have gone stale, such as listings that still give opening hours for the closed View Street gallery.\n\n## Bendigo Art Gallery, at the Town Hall for now\n\nBendigo Art Gallery was founded in 1887. Its View Street building closed on 1 December 2025 for redevelopment, which is expected to run until early 2028. As of October 2026, the gallery is running its exhibitions from Bendigo Town Hall at 189-193 Hargreaves Street, about 314 m or a 4-minute walk from the Visitor Centre (approximate).\n\nMany older listings still give View Street opening hours and admission details, and those describe the building before it closed. Check exhibition days, times and ticket prices on the gallery's pages at bendigoregion.com.au before you go.\n\n## Go underground at Central Deborah Gold Mine\n\nAt [Central Deborah Gold Mine](/venue/central-deborah-gold-mine-bendigo-6bce7f) on Violet Street you put on a hard hat and head down into a former working gold mine. The Mine Experience Tour takes 75 minutes, goes 61 metres down to the mine's Level 2 and is open to children from age 3. The Underground Adventure Tour takes about 2.5 hours and goes 85 metres down. It is meant for older children and adults and includes a miner's lunch or afternoon tea in the Crib Room, so check the minimum age when you book. The deepest tour goes to 228 metres.\n\nBack on the surface there is vintage mining machinery, gold panning, museums and a picnic area. A Vintage Talking Tram ticket includes entry to this surface area. The mine highly recommends booking underground tours, and the prices we found disagree between its own pages, so check session times and prices at central-deborah.com.\n\n## Ride the Vintage Talking Tram\n\n[Bendigo Tramways](/venue/bendigo-tramways-bendigo-abf8e1) runs the Vintage Talking Tram, a hop-on hop-off tour that starts at Central Deborah Gold Mine. The operator lists its stops as Central Deborah Gold Mine, Alexandra Fountain, Lake Weeroona and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, with the Tramways Depot as another place to board. You can buy tickets on board, at the mine, at the Bendigo Visitor Centre or online. We could not confirm current running times, and fares differ between the operator's own pages, so check bendigotramways.com on the day.\n\nThe Depot Discovery Tour runs on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30am and 12:30pm, as of October 2026. It is held at the tram depot on Tramways Avenue, which also has a tram museum.\n\n## Golden Dragon Museum and Chinese heritage\n\nThe [Golden Dragon Museum](/venue/golden-dragon-museum-bendigo-5a95c0) at 1-11 Bridge Street opened in 1991 to document, interpret and preserve Chinese heritage in Australia. Its permanent display includes Sun Loong, roughly 100 metres long, and Loong, described as the oldest imperial dragon, along with their regalia. Sun Loong was the dragon in Bendigo's Easter parade until Dai Gum Loong took over.\n\nThe museum 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 Yi Yuan Gardens and Guan Yin Temple are open 9:30am to 4:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday. The museum's site lists group prices only, so for individual tickets check goldendragonmuseum.org or call (03) 5441 5044.\n\nThe Bendigo Joss House Temple was built by Chinese miners, is dedicated to Kwan Tai and is still used for worship. It is a stop on the Vintage Talking Tram. Its opening hours vary between listings, so check with Bendigo Tourism at bendigoregion.com.au before you go.\n\n## Rosalind Park, the Poppet Head and the Cascades\n\n[Rosalind Park](/venue/rosalind-park-bendigo-c63f0c) is on the Victorian Heritage Register as a place of State significance, and its heritage listing notes it was one of the largest government camps on the Victorian goldfields. The Poppet Head lookout is a former Garden Gully United mine headframe, moved to Camp Hill in 1931. As of October 2026 it is open to Level 1 only, because the upper levels closed for repairs after rust was found.\n\nThe water feature inside the park is the Cascades. They were designed by architect William Vahland and built in 1880. The park also has a playspace, which is open to the public only outside school hours. As of October 2026 the fernery is closed, and the Conservatory in the [Conservatory Gardens](/venue/conservatory-gardens-bendigo-a5bfbf) is closed for restoration. The Conservatory is described as the only surviving example of a 19th-century conservatory in a public park in Victoria.\n\nJust outside the park, the Alexandra Fountain stands at Charing Cross, where View Street meets Pall Mall, opposite the park's main entrance. It was designed by William Vahland, is named after Alexandra, Princess of Wales, and is on the Victorian Heritage Register. It is about 280 m, or a 4-minute walk, from the Visitor Centre (approximate).\n\n## Sacred Heart Cathedral\n\n[Sacred Heart Cathedral](/venue/sacred-heart-cathedral-bendigo-0cbb13) is the Catholic cathedral on Wattle Street. It is on the Victorian Heritage Register. We could not find visiting hours, so check with the Diocese of Sandhurst at sandhurst.catholic.org.au. It is about 774 m, or a 10-minute walk, from the Visitor Centre (approximate).\n\n## Lake Weeroona and the Botanic Gardens\n\nLake Weeroona sits north of the city centre, at the corner of Nolan and Napier Streets. It was commissioned in 1878. The council describes a circuit path for walking and cycling, lawns for picnics and a fully fenced playspace with a large timber fort, swings, a toddler playground and water play. It is also a stop on the Vintage Talking Tram.\n\nThe Bendigo Botanic Gardens in White Hills are described by the council as Bendigo's first public gardens. Their playspace has an Alice in Wonderland theme, with garden rooms enclosed by hedges, a croquet lawn and a fort.\n\n## Discovery Science and Technology Centre\n\nThe Discovery Science and Technology Centre at 7 Railway Place is our first pick for a wet day. 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, under-3s go free, and a family pass is $72. Planetarium shows cost extra. The LEGO exhibition CURIOSITY: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO Bricks runs until 29 November 2026. The centre is about 340 m, or a 5-minute walk, from Bendigo railway station (approximate).\n\n## Ulumbarra Theatre and the old Sandhurst Gaol\n\n[Ulumbarra Theatre](/venue/ulumbarra-theatre-bendigo-617386) is built within the former Sandhurst Gaol. Its name means \"gather together\" in the language of the Dja Dja Wurrung. Guided Sandhurst Gaol tours are run through the Bendigo Visitor Centre and need to be booked, and tour times differ between listings, so ask the Visitor Centre for the current schedule. For a night out, see what is on at Ulumbarra or at [The Capital](/venue/the-capital-bendigo-a618fb), another of the city's performing arts theatres.\n\n## Further out: the Great Stupa and Bendigo Pottery\n\nThe Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is a large Buddhist stupa in ironbark forest north-west of Bendigo. You will need a car, and opening times and entry details conflict between listings, so read stupa.org.au before you set out.\n\nBendigo Pottery on the Midland Highway at Epsom is described as Australia's oldest working pottery workshop. It is about 6.6 km, or a 9-minute drive, from the Visitor Centre (approximate). Listings disagree on its opening hours, so check its page on bendigoregion.com.au.\n\n## Quick picks\n\n- Rainy day: the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, where you can add a planetarium show to general entry.\n- Travelling with a toddler: general entry to the Discovery Centre is free for under-3s.\n- Mining history: the Mine Experience Tour at Central Deborah takes you 61 metres underground in 75 minutes.\n- Chinese heritage: the Golden Dragon Museum, home to Sun Loong and Loong.\n- A weekend morning: the Depot Discovery Tour runs on Saturdays and Sundays.\n- An easy walk: the circuit path around Lake Weeroona.\n- A Monday in school term: the Golden Dragon Museum and the Discovery Centre are both closed, so plan around them.\n- Two days or children in tow: see our [weekend in Bendigo itinerary](/guide/weekend-in-bendigo) and our guide to [Bendigo with kids](/guide/bendigo-with-kids).\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n### Is Bendigo Art Gallery open?\n\nBendigo Art Gallery's View Street building has been closed since 1 December 2025 for redevelopment and is expected to reopen in early 2028. As of October 2026, the gallery is showing exhibitions at Bendigo Town Hall on Hargreaves Street. Check days, times and prices at bendigoregion.com.au.\n\n### How long is the Central Deborah Gold Mine tour?\n\nThe Mine Experience Tour at Central Deborah Gold Mine takes 75 minutes, goes 61 metres underground and is open to children from age 3. The Underground Adventure Tour takes about 2.5 hours and goes 85 metres down.\n\n### What are the Golden Dragon Museum's opening hours?\n\nThe Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo is open 9:30am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, with last entry at 4:30pm. It opens seven days a week during Victorian school holidays.\n\n### Can you climb the Poppet Head in Rosalind Park?\n\nAs of October 2026, the Poppet Head lookout in Rosalind Park is open to Level 1 only. The upper levels closed for repairs after rust was found, and the timing of repairs depends on approvals and funding.\n\n### Where is the Alexandra Fountain in Bendigo?\n\nThe Alexandra Fountain stands at Charing Cross in central Bendigo, where View Street meets Pall Mall, opposite the main entrance to Rosalind Park. The water feature inside the park itself is the Cascades. The Cascades were built in 1880 to a design by William Vahland.\n\n### Is there a lake in Rosalind Park?\n\nNo. Lake Weeroona is a separate reserve north of Bendigo's city centre, at the corner of Nolan and Napier Streets.\n\n### What is there to do in Bendigo when it rains?\n\nGood wet-day options in Bendigo are the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, the Golden Dragon Museum and an underground tour at Central Deborah Gold Mine. The Discovery Centre is closed for all of February.\n\n### How does the Bendigo Vintage Talking Tram work?\n\nThe Vintage Talking Tram 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 ticket includes entry to the mine's surface area. Check running times and fares at bendigotramways.com.","https://images.inbendigo.app/images/central-deborah-gold-mine-bendigo-6bce7f/google_maps/12e4187a82f759f0.jpg","2026-10-20T08:29:36.549286+00:00","The best things to do in Bendigo, from going underground at Central Deborah to the Golden Dragon Museum, and where the Art Gallery is showing now.",5,true,10,[20,23,26,29,32,35,38,41],{"answer":21,"question":22},"Bendigo Art Gallery's View Street building has been closed since 1 December 2025 for redevelopment and is expected to reopen in early 2028. As of October 2026, the gallery is showing exhibitions at Bendigo Town Hall on Hargreaves Street. Check days, times and prices at bendigoregion.com.au.","Is Bendigo Art Gallery open?",{"answer":24,"question":25},"The Mine Experience Tour at Central Deborah Gold Mine takes 75 minutes, goes 61 metres underground and is open to children from age 3. The Underground Adventure Tour takes about 2.5 hours and goes 85 metres down.","How long is the Central Deborah Gold Mine tour?",{"answer":27,"question":28},"The Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo is open 9:30am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, with last entry at 4:30pm. It opens seven days a week during Victorian school holidays.","What are the Golden Dragon Museum's opening hours?",{"answer":30,"question":31},"As of October 2026, the Poppet Head lookout in Rosalind Park is open to Level 1 only. The upper levels closed for repairs after rust was found, and the timing of repairs depends on approvals and funding.","Can you climb the Poppet Head in Rosalind Park?",{"answer":33,"question":34},"The Alexandra Fountain stands at Charing Cross in central Bendigo, where View Street meets Pall Mall, opposite the main entrance to Rosalind Park. The water feature inside the park itself is the Cascades. The Cascades were built in 1880 to a design by William Vahland.","Where is the Alexandra Fountain in Bendigo?",{"answer":36,"question":37},"No. Lake Weeroona is a separate reserve north of Bendigo's city centre, at the corner of Nolan and Napier Streets.","Is there a lake in Rosalind Park?",{"answer":39,"question":40},"Good wet-day options in Bendigo are the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, the Golden Dragon Museum and an underground tour at Central Deborah Gold Mine. The Discovery Centre is closed for all of February.","What is there to do in Bendigo when it rains?",{"answer":42,"question":43},"The Vintage Talking Tram 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 ticket includes entry to the mine's surface area. Check running times and fares at bendigotramways.com.","How does the Bendigo Vintage Talking Tram work?","Go underground at Central Deborah, see Sun Loong at the Golden Dragon Museum and find Bendigo Art Gallery's temporary home. Checked October 2026.","Things to Do in Bendigo, Victoria: A Local Guide","things-to-do-bendigo","Mine tours, dragons, trams and heritage parks, checked against official sources",[10,49,50,51,52,53,54],"things to do","attractions","gold mining","chinese heritage","rosalind park","victoria","Things to do in 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3550","ChIJXyAfX_dZ12oRgJFT4bF9ZMI","-36.75455800","144.28943100","Bendigo Tramways",{"Friday":74,"Monday":76,"Saturday":77,"Sunday":78,"Thursday":79,"Tuesday":80,"Wednesday":81},[75],"9:30 am–4:30 pm",[75],[75],[75],[75],[75],[75],"+61344442810","https://images.inbendigo.app/images/bendigo-tramways-bendigo-abf8e1/google_maps/fc235adc63891691.jpg","4.6",1011,[87],"Tourist attraction","http://www.bendigotramways.com/",{"address":90,"booking_enabled":5,"google_place_id":91,"latitude":92,"live_busyness":8,"longitude":93,"name":94,"opening_hours":95,"phone":82,"place_id":91,"popular_times_scraped_at":8,"price_range":8,"primary_image_url":13,"rating":103,"review_count":104,"slug":58,"types":105,"website":106},"76 Violet St, Bendigo VIC 3550","ChIJXyAfX_dZ12oR2Dq4KZH5YAE","-36.76492100","144.27030300","Central Deborah Gold Mine",{"Friday":96,"Monday":97,"Saturday":98,"Sunday":99,"Thursday":100,"Tuesday":101,"Wednesday":102},[75],[75],[75],[75],[75],[75],[75],"4.7",914,[87],"http://www.central-deborah.com/",{"address":108,"booking_enabled":5,"google_place_id":109,"latitude":110,"live_busyness":8,"longitude":111,"name":112,"opening_hours":113,"phone":8,"place_id":109,"popular_times_scraped_at":8,"price_range":8,"primary_image_url":122,"rating":84,"review_count":123,"slug":62,"types":124,"website":8},"19 Park Rd, Bendigo VIC 3550","ChIJtWVFNetZ12oRzGmF5OaiJh0","-36.75687400","144.28110900","Conservatory Gardens",{"Friday":114,"Monday":116,"Saturday":117,"Sunday":118,"Thursday":119,"Tuesday":120,"Wednesday":121},[115],"8 am–6 pm",[115],[115],[115],[115],[115],[115],"https://images.inbendigo.app/images/conservatory-gardens-bendigo-a5bfbf/google_maps/7e34646258ca3cff.jpg",394,[125],"Garden",{"address":127,"booking_enabled":5,"google_place_id":128,"latitude":129,"live_busyness":8,"longitude":130,"name":131,"opening_hours":132,"phone":142,"place_id":128,"popular_times_scraped_at":8,"price_range":8,"primary_image_url":143,"rating":144,"review_count":145,"slug":59,"types":146,"website":148},"1/11 Bridge St, Bendigo VIC 3550","ChIJP6r3aZVZ12oRv7HbRFUm5Yg","-36.75501400","144.28250100","Golden Dragon 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hours",[157],[157],[157],[157],[157],[157],"+61354346000","https://images.inbendigo.app/images/rosalind-park-bendigo-c63f0c/google_maps/979c0db1db4c0d97.jpg",2680,[168],"Park","http://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/",{"address":171,"booking_enabled":5,"google_place_id":172,"latitude":173,"live_busyness":8,"longitude":174,"name":175,"opening_hours":176,"phone":186,"place_id":172,"popular_times_scraped_at":187,"price_range":8,"primary_image_url":188,"rating":189,"review_count":190,"slug":63,"types":191,"website":193},"80 Wattle St, Bendigo VIC 3550","ChIJk3AAJO5Z12oR0efl5SWxvmk","-36.76004900","144.27405100","Sacred Heart Cathedral",{"Friday":177,"Monday":179,"Saturday":180,"Sunday":181,"Thursday":183,"Tuesday":184,"Wednesday":185},[178],"10 am–4 pm",[136],[178],[182],"12–2 pm",[178],[136],[178],"+61354434400","Tue, 20 Oct 2026 07:23:39 GMT","https://images.inbendigo.app/images/sacred-heart-cathedral-bendigo-0cbb13/google_maps/54727cca36336bb1.jpg","4.8",1259,[192],"Catholic 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3550","ChIJKXOhwOpZ12oRW-eCF-yp1Dc","-36.75405700","144.28032800","Ulumbarra Theatre","https://images.inbendigo.app/images/ulumbarra-theatre-bendigo-617386/google_maps/7966fbf35b9e611a.jpg",1000,[204],"http://www.ulumbarratheatre.com.au/"]