Bendigo is Victoria's fourth largest city, located around 150 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.

Bendigo has a rich and prosperous heritage dating back to the days when gold was discovered in the area in the 1850s. Since then, Bendigo has been the second highest producing goldfield in Australia and remains the seventh largest in the world.

Bendigo's rich gold history has produced a city of unparalleled opulence and grandeur. Stunning architecture and manicured gardens are all symbolic of Bendigo.

One of Bendigo's most elegant streets is Pall Mall in the city centre. At its southern end stands the grand Alexandra Fountain which was built in 1881 out of granite. Further along Pall Mall is the elaborate old post office (built between 1883 and 1887) which now houses the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre, and next door are the law courts (built between 1892 and 1896), also of similar architecture. On the corner of Pall Mall and Williamson Street is Bendigo's most famous hotel, the lavishly adorned Shamrock, which was built in 1897.

Bendigo's shopping precinct extends along Pall Mall, Hargreaves Street (including the Hargreaves Mall), Queen Street, Williamson Street and tree-lined Mitchell Street.

Attractions for visitors include the Central Deborah Mine complex which offers underground mine tours and the Talking Tram which takes passengers on an almost 5 kilometre journey passing many of the city's attractions. Rosalind Park, in the city's centre, features a lookout tower offering impressive views across Bendigo, while Bendigo's Sacred Heart Cathedral, built in 1896, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the southern hemisphere. Other attractions include several art galleries and the Golden Dragon Museum which is a tribute to the city's long history with Chinese people and culture.

Bendigo city is situated in a fertile valley, surrounded by a number of hilly suburbs featuring wide tree-lined streets, bushland, and a several large reserves, creating a pleasant and green environment for residents and visitors. In fact, with natural bushland entirely surrounding Bendigo, it has been referred to as "a city within a forest". A number of lakes and reservoirs are located within the city, including the most central, Lake Weeroona, which is features gardens and parkland.

An interesting suburb of Bendigo is Eaglehawk, located in the north-west. Originally a gold mining town in its own right during the Gold Rush days, the growth of Bendigo eventually extended out to and surrounded Eaglehawk. Historic landmarks in Eaglehawk include the opulent town hall (built in 1901), the red-brick courthouse (1869) and the old Bank of Victoria (1881). Canterbury Park, once a barren ruin of alluvial gold workings, has been transformed into botanical gardens and recreational facilities overlooking picturesque Lake Neangar.

Bendigo was the city in which penniless Russian immigrant Sidney Myer opened the first Myer store in 1900. Today, Myer department stores can be found throughout Australia's capital cities and regional centres.

	Bendigo Pottery Tourist complex depicting Bendigo pottery history, pottery demonstrations and sales, gardens
	Bendigo Tramways Take a 4 kilometre trip on Bendigo's vintage "Talking Tram" and visit the tram museum situated at Australia's oldest operating tram depot
	Central Deborah Complex Located at the terminus of the vintage "Talking Tram", this attraction allows visitors to explore a real gold mine on an underground tour
	Confectionery Capers Located in Junortoun (10 kms east of Bendigo), this tourist attraction includes hundreds of mechanical & language displays which have hidden or oblique meanings, dozens of crazy machines, old internal combustion engines, model trains, and indulges the taste buds with a range of tasty confectionery
	Science & Discovery Centre Hundreds of hands-on exhibits and discovery activities, including a planetarium, designed to appeal to a broad range of visitors

	Bendigo Art Gallery Established in 1887, the gallery hosts an outstanding collection of permanent displays and exhibitions
	Golden Dragon Museum Uncover the heritage of Bendigo's Chinese people at this museum which is home to the 100 metre long Sun Loong imperial dragon
	The Capital Bendigo's Performing Arts Centre is a hub for shows, exhibitions, events and functions

	Bendigo Marketplace Open 7 days a week, it is located in the centre of Bendigo and features large retailers plus over 40 speciality stores
	Strath Village Shopping Centre Situated 4 kilometres from the centre of Bendigo and close to La Trobe University, it features 2 large supermarket and 28 other speciality shops

	Great Dividing Trail The 58 km "Leanganook Track" section of this walking trail starts at the Bendigo railway station and ends in Castlemaine
	Greater Bendigo National Park Spanning 17,007 hectares and featuring abundant spring wildflower displays, the park features relics from gold mining activities, forestry and eucalyptus oil production
	O'Keefe Rail Trail A 19 kilometre walking and cycling trail between Bendigo's Lake Weeroona and the town of Axedale to the east, passing through areas of native woodland and wildflowers

	Australian Sheep & Wool Show Showcasing sheep, goats and alpacas as well as offering a great variety of general interest exhibits including fashion clothing, food, wine plus competitions and demonstrations
	Bendigo Agricultural Show Society Hosting a number of events including the Agricultural Show, National Beef Show and a weekly market
	Bendigo Easter Festival Celebrating Bendigo city's history, arts, culture and lifestyle and including childrens shows and activities, fireworks and a gala parade with floats, clowns, marching bands and the Sun Loong dragon

Bendigo Tourism Activities, attractions, services, accommodation and dining presented by the Bendigo Visitor Centre

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