Best Places to Visit in Bendigo (And Why You'll Love It)

So you're thinking about a trip to regional Victoria? Look, if you haven't considered Bendigo yet, you really should. Most people default to the coastal towns, but heading inland brings a totally different vibe. It's about a two-hour drive from Melbourne (roughly 150 kilometers up the Calder Freeway), making it a really easy weekend trip. And honestly? The drive is pretty straightforward. Once you roll into town, you instantly notice the architecture. Massive stone buildings everywhere. They threw a ton of money around during the 1850s gold rush, and it shows. But it's not some dusty old relic. The town has completely reinvented itself over the last decade. It's packed with cool cafes, weird little alleyways, and enough solid places to visit in bendigo to fill three or four days easily.