A Guide to a Colourful Spring Weekend Escape in Bendigo

With the chill lifting and days lengthening, the arrival of spring brings more colour back into our lives. If you’re eager to soak it up, a visit to Bendigo and its surrounding region is one of the best ways to do it. Celebrating everything that makes the season so wonderful, its spring festival Bloom brings together gardens, food, wine, art, culture and outdoor experiences from August to October.

The natural place to start is with the picturesque fields of flowers, as thousands of tulips bloom across Bendigo’s parks and heritage streets from mid-September. The region’s gardens and nature trails winding through parklands, wetlands and bush reserves are home to abundant native flora and fauna, and offer an escape where you can forget about the buzz of city life for a while.

If you’re planning a Bendigo region escape, here are a few things to add to the itinerary.

Nature

For your fix of florals, head to Cornella for its annual Canola Walk, where a sea of yellow blooms transforms the landscape. Closer to Bendigo, Pure Maiden Farm’s pick-your-own flower experience lets you wander through colourful seasonal flower fields to pick your own bunch to take home. There are also paper daisy fields to explore.

Running between Bendigo and Heathcote, the O’Keefe Rail Trail is one of the region’s most popular routes for walks, runs or a bike ride. It spans 50 kilometres but can easily be broken up into sections if you only have a bit of time or energy to spare.

Back in the city, the annual tulip display brings thousands of colourful florals to parks and gardens throughout the CBD. Come nightfall, Bloom After Dark takes things a step further, with light installations and activations bringing Bendigo’s gardens to life, including a glowing display in the Yi Yuan Gardens to celebrate the 175th anniversary of gold in Bendigo.

For something lower key, settle in for a picnic. The festival’s Bloomin’ Hungry picnic packs are filled with thoughtfully curated products from local eateries, including produce, regional wine, craft beverages and takeaway treats. Pick one up, find a patch of grass and enjoy the slowness of the surrounds.

Art and culture

While Bendigo’s gold rush history is a main attraction, there’s plenty beyond the grand 19th-century buildings and old mining stories. The city has arts and culture in abundance, from galleries to cultural festivals that would be equally at home in a major city.

Kicking off in October, Bendigo Open Studios offers a way to get a closer look at the region’s creative community, with studios opening their doors so you can meet local artists and explore work spanning ceramics, textiles, sculpture and more. For something hands-on, Bendigo Pottery, Australia’s oldest working pottery workshop, has demonstrations, working studios and opportunities to hone your own creative skills.

The city’s thriving arts scene is anchored around the Bendigo Art Gallery, which has temporarily moved into the Town Hall while the main building undergoes a major $45 million redevelopment. But even in its pop-up digs, exhibitions and installations by local and national artists make for an easy afternoon activity.

Meanwhile, Dumawul offers First Nations cultural walking tours exploring Dja Dja Wurrung Country and its connection to the landscape. The cultural hub also holds Malamiya Mang festival, which delves further into the history and culture of the region through events that highlight the stories and knowledge of Traditional Owners.

Food and wine

Beyond the heritage, the Bendigo region is Australia’s first Unesco Creative City and Region of Gastronomy, and its food culture makes a convincing case for planning your trip around meals just as much as the attractions.

The Heathcote wine region, around 40 minutes’ drive from central Bendigo, is a great place to start, with boutique cellar doors scattered around the area. Shiraz is the obvious draw, but there’s plenty more to explore. Visit in October to catch the Heathcote Wine & Food Festival, which brings more than 35 local wineries together alongside food, produce and live entertainment.

Spring is also when the Bendigo region’s seasonal produce comes into its own. During Bloom, Bendigo restaurants and cafes get involved in Lamb-fari, which showcases spring lamb in dishes ranging from skewers and pizzas to ragu and slow-cooked shoulder.

For a longer lunch, settle in at one of the region’s wineries or restaurants for the afternoon – and don’t be too quick to leave the cellar door. Some wineries are hosting live music as part of their spring programs, giving you an excuse to linger over another glass.

For something more city-bound, follow Bendigo’s Bloom Cocktail Trail, with venues around town serving limited edition drinks inspired by the colours and flavours of spring.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with The Bendigo Region. To plan your spring visit to the region, visit the Bloom website for the full program of events and experiences.