The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Greater Bendigo City Region
The Greater Bendigo City region is about two hours drive north of Melbourne and includes the towns of Bendigo, Axedale, Heathcote, Elmore and Goornong.
Bendigo is the fourth-most populous city in the state and also the fourth-largest inland city in Australia. The discovery of gold in Bendigo in 1851 transformed the area from a sheep station into one of colonial Australia's largest boomtowns. News of the finds intensified the Victorian gold rush, bringing an influx of migrants to the city from around the world, particularly Europe and China. Once the alluvial gold had been mined out, mining companies were formed to exploit the rich underground quartz reef gold. The wealth generated during this period is evident in the streetscapes and historic buildings.
Understand more about the past with a visit to the Central Deborah Gold Mine where you can take an underground tour, explore the sights on a Bendigo Tramways Vintage 'Talking' Tram, unearth the unique history of the Sunshine Harvester at Campaspe Run Rural Discovery Centre, discover more about the faith of the Chinese migrants who came to Bendigo in search of gold at the Bendigo Joss House Temple or visit Bendigo Art Gallery which is one of the oldest and largest regional galleries in Australia.
Bendigo is surrounded by a greenbelt of forest which puts on a amazing wildflower show each year and provides recreation opportunities for bushwalkers, orienteers, cyclists, birdwatchers and flower enthusiasts. Head out to Greater Bendigo National Park which protects some of the highest quality Box-Ironbark forest in north-central Victoria and has significant gold era and pioneering sites.
A map of the region is:
The best playgrounds in this region are:
Lake Weeroona Playground, Bendigo
Located beside Lake Weeroona on the Midland Highway which means that it is a convenient stopping off place for people passing through Bendigo.
Large wooden adventure style playground with lots of ramps, tunnels, levels, steps and ladders. Also has wave and tunnel slides, climbing frames, fireman's pole, walkways, climber, periscope, chain bridges and scrambling wall. Four swings. Shaded and unshaded seats within the playground area. Next to lake but enclosed by a fence with a safety gate. Nearby are shelters with tables and toilets.
Eaglehawk Mulga Bill Playspace, Eaglehawk
Shaped like a giant eagle hawk, the fantastic play space located on the shores of Lake Neangar, offers a unique and diverse range of play experiences for children of all ages. The playground is separated into different areas including a nature play area, fenced toddler area and active and adventure play areas.
It features custom-designed play equipment inspired by the famous Banjo Paterson poem "Mulga Bill's Bicycle", which starts with the line "T'was Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk" plus a butterfly-themed junior play area called "Where Angels Play" to celebrate the life of baby Zayden Veal Whitting.
Bendigo Botanic Gardens Playground, White Hills
The Play Space is set in the lovely Botanic Gardens which has a rock walled labyrinth, nice gardens, billabong, grassy areas dotted with trees and an aviary (which is open during the week but you can still see many of the birds from the outside on the weekend).
The Play Space has an Alice in Wonderland theme and a visit will be more enjoyable and interesting if the kids have a read of Alice in Wonderland before coming here. You can even play croquet on a bumpy lawn - equipment is provided although the balls are not live hedgehogs and the mallets are definitely not flamingos. Mum and Dad can sit on magnificent high wooden chairs set at the ends od the croquet lawn and shout "Off with their heads!" (or other similarly encouraging words).
The central wooden play structure has two metal slides, cubby area, disks on a vertical pole, walkway, steps, ladder and clanger to make beautiful music / noise. If it all becomes too demanding take a rest on the giant hammock or get active by bouncing on the two in ground trampolines, spring on a huge red and black ladybug, explore the house made from the spreading branches of a Kei Apple tree, spend time in the big sandpit or hop across the slices of trees spread across the grass. Behind a colourful picket fence is a natural area to explore with toadstool table and seats, water pump, rocks and logs.
Next to the playground area is a BBQ with shaded and unshaded tables beside a grassy area. Ball games should not be played in the Botanic Gardens.
Cooinda Park Playground, Golden Square
The highlight is a huge four lane wave slide on the side of the hill. A tip from the locals is to bring along a towel and increase the speed and thrill factor. The original slides were destroyed by a fire and the slides have now been replaced and an extra line added.
The equipment at the bottom of the slide has also been upgraded. This area has a swing which slides along a horizontal pipe, birds nest swing, standard swings, little see-saw, climbing frame with net and hanging steps, a big multi-sided ball with climbing holds, spinning cone net and a structure with dual wave slides, spiders web rope climbing frame, firemans pole, steering wheel and hanging disks.
There are plenty of unshaded tables, toilets, tennis wall (with a huge target on the back), unshaded seats, BBQs, water tap and big grassy area with football posts.
Strathdale Park Playground, Strathdale
A big fun playground which has areas for different age groups. The area for older kids has a big structure with a spiral slide, steep rope bridge, high fireman's pole, rope net bridge, rope climbing nets, shop front, wave slide, ladder, inclined step bridge, flying fox, monkey bars and a climbing cube with climbing wall, suspended ladder, hanging ropes and the side and top have a rope net. There are also some log stumps with climbing holds, some unusual swings, beautiful wooden hollow orbs and a lovely cubby with walls made from wooden blocks.
At the bottom end of the playground is a Liberty swing and area with soft base, lovely walls set with colourful tiles, a disc to sit on and spin around, stumps and rocks to step across, a little seating area and a carousel to stand on and spin around.
Beside this is an area for younger kids which has a structure with curved slide, twisted climbing sheet, panel showing how gears work, tic-tac-toe, steering wheel and fireman's pole. There is also a music panel, standard swings, car springer, fish springer and train springer in this area.
There is a shaded BBQ, unshaded table, water tap, unshaded seats and toilets near the playground area. The big grassy area has plenty of BBQs and unshaded tables. The area is bordered by the McIvor Highway and a creek.
The playground has a design to cater for all levels and abilities and is located next to the Strathdale Community Centre with plenty of parking.
Barrack Reserve Playground, Heathcote
A fun play area based around the theme of Heathcote, especially their barrels. The centrepiece of the fully fenced playground is a huge wooden barrel which has a wave slide, spiral ladder, spiral slide, fireman's pole and a structure on the side. The structure has steps, disks on a vertical pole, walkway, curved climber with half circles, pipe ladder and monkey bars.
There is a flying fox with disk seat, hammock, lots of stepping and balance areas using barrels (upturned or on their side), spinning seat with hand wheel, in ground trampoline, purple balls in a pile to climb over, xylophone, cute shop front with calculator and scales, springer, three swings including one with a harness and a water play area with hand-pump where you can pump water into a big bucket and the water flows out the bottom into a rocky stream.
There are unshaded tables and seats. Outside the fenced area next to a grassy area with shady trees is a shelter with BBQ and a table, a water tap and unshaded table.
The best skate park in this region is
Eaglehawk Skatepark
Excellent park with has a street course and a lovely bowl with pool coping and roll in. There are split level quarter pipes, spine, euro gap, grind rails, hubba ledge and flat banks. This park caters for all levels of skater.
There are other skate parks in the region at Bendigo Skatepark, Heathcote Skatepark, Axedale Skatepark and Elmore Skatepark.
The best BMX track in this region is
Eaglehawk BMX Racing Track
Excellent race track with nice hard surface and about twenty jumps of various heights, three banked turns including one huge turn. Home of the Bendigo BMX Club.
There are other BMX tracks in the region at Spring Gully, Strathfieldsaye, California Gully, Kangaroo Flat, Long Gully, Strathfieldsaye, Flora Hill, Sebastian, Heathcote and Goornong.
Reviews of all playgrounds, skate parks and BMX Tracks in the Greater Bendigo City council region are here:
Family activities in the Greater Bendigo City region include:
Bendigo City and Suburbs
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Elmore
Heathcote
Other Locations
Web Links
→ www.bendigo.vic.gov.au
→ Pioneers, Poppetheads & Prosperity Historical Brochure (PDF)
