This Victorian Gold-Rush Town Is an Underrated Spot for a Girls’ Weekend

Due for a girls’ trip? Take this as your sign. Just under two hours from Melbourne, Bendigo hits the sweet spot: close enough for a weekend excursion, yet far enough to feel like you’re truly away.

From markets and gardens to standout coffee and meals, this regional city has plenty to fill a few days without ever feeling rushed. Here’s your guide to spending the weekend in Bendigo with the girls.

Stay

Skip the beige hotel room and go for something that feels like a proper getaway. Driving into Tasman Holiday Parks, you’ll be greeted by a mini village of sunshine-yellow, vintage-style caravans waiting for you close to the pool. Designed and built in the Gold Coast by Goldy Caravans, the fleet of four caravans strike a balance between novelty and nostalgia, retro charm and modern comfort. With big glamping energy and all the amenities you need, they make for a fab (and Instagrammable) place for a gals’ trip. Dubbed Patty, Selma, Thelma and Louise, their names are a clue to their vibe: fun, familiar, nostalgic and unapologetic.

Each caravan comes with a queen-sized bed, a private bathroom, a kitchenette and a cosy dining nook, plus a record player with a sizable selection of oldies.Outside, you’ve got an exclusive space for lawn games and your own firepit.

Beyond the caravans, there’s a resort pool, lounge areas, a putt-putt course and a handful of other low-key activities dotted throughout the grounds. It’s the kind of place made for slow mornings, late-night firepit chats, and early swims – perfect for friends who want a sense of community, not just a place to sleep.

Eat

Bendigo is a regional dining hub that punches above its weight. Start your mornings with coffee and treats at Awaken Coffee, a local favourite in a heritage brick building, serving Undercover Roasters beans, toasties and baked goods. Altius, a few blocks away, is another solid stop for Market Lane coffee, sandwiches and sweets.

For lunch or dinner, Ghosty’s Diner is your throwback fix. This American-inspired diner feels like stepping into a ’70s time warp, complete with wooden booths, pendant lights and a vinyl player spinning in the background. The menu draws on US classics like burgers, fried chicken, pastrami and club sandwiches.

For something closer to your accommodation, Gold Mines Hotel, around since 1872, offers a pub menu fusing Aussie and Asian influences – think Balinese roast duck leg with lion’s mane mushroom and sambal matah; beer-battered fish and chips; and Malaysian barbeque chicken with satay, gai lan (Chinese broccoli), and lap cheong (cured Chinese sausage).

For a more elevated evening, Le Foyer highlights local, seasonal produce cooked over fire, alongside a drinks list that has classic European cocktails alongside local and imported wines and spirits. If you’re looking for an excuse to get dolled up, this is it.

Do 

While there’s plenty to do on-site at the caravan park, there’s also no shortage of ways to fill your days beyond it. Peppergreen Farm, accessible via the Bendigo Vintage Talking Tram, is a social enterprise with markets, galleries and a garden offering free tours, plus an on-site cafe serving breakfast and lunch made with produce grown on the farm.

Held on the second Saturday of each month, the Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market is the spot to stock up on local produce and artisan goods. For a bit of boutique shopping, check out The Meadow in the arts precinct for unique clothing finds, or Green Chair Vintage for furniture, accessories and homewares. And for a slower, leafy escape, the Bendigo Botanic Gardens is ideal for wandering, picnicking or simply soaking up the day. But if you and your group would rather spend your weekend lounging by the pool or trying your luck at putt-putt, we don’t blame you.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Tasman Holiday Parks.