Every Instagram-perfect Airbnb in Bendigo for a stylish escape

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Place yourself in proximity to memorable Central Victoria adventures with our map to every outstanding Airbnb in Bendigo.

On a mission to sniff out every dream accommodation, including the best Airbnbs, in Central Victoria? Savvy travellers should be, at least once in their lifetime. Upon research, you’ll find an impressive concentration in little old Bendigo, located 90 minutes from the hipster haven of Melbourne. From one-of-a-kind tiny homes to character-filled cottages oozing with heritage charm, we’ve found an Airbnb in Bendigo for every holiday style.

1. Goldmines Guesthouse

the Goldmines Guesthouse Airbnb with two beds in Bendigo
Sleep in a cosy bedroom near the CBD at Goldmines Guesthouse.

Best for: A family getaway.

Tucked away on a quiet street just outside of Central Bendigo, Goldmines Guesthouse is a modern one-bedroom retreat treated to ample sleeping space. With a fully equipped kitchen (including a coffee maker), HDTV with Chromecast, and a laundry with a dryer, the serene sanctuary sleeps up to six people. Cosy up for a night in on the six-seater couch watching Netflix over takeaway or head out for a pub meal at the longstanding Gold Mines Hotel, just a walk away and home to one of Bendigo’s oldest gardens.

2. Bendigo Lakeside

the exterior of Bendigo Lakeside accommodation with a bonfire setup
Bendigo Lakeside comes with a spacious garden and a bonfire setting.

Best for: Large groups.

Looking for something to fit you all? Bendigo Lakeside is a contemporary, split-level winner that can accommodate up to 12 guests (plus pets if your clan includes four-legged members). A short drive from the city, the Airbnb in Bendigo is close to a golf course and lakeside walking tracks, so soaking up that delightful country air is a cinch. When night falls, kick back on the deck with a beverage or cook up a feast in the well-equipped kitchen (there’s a dishwasher, thank goodness) before you settle into a family feast. Once the formalities are over, a backyard fire pit will prove all too welcoming, ensuring quality face time with your loved ones that’ll wind into the wee hours.

3. Renovated Cottage

the entryway at Renovated Cottage, Bendigo
The modern interior adds to the sophisticated, country-chic vibes.

Best for: A couple’s escape.

Find your two favourite couples and start splitting up the grocery grabs. This renovated cottage in Bendigo dials up country chic vibes with its white picket fence and ornate patio, making it an instantly impressive escape. Sleeping up to six people across three bedrooms, the Airbnb in Bendigo is within walking distance to soothing Lake Weeroona, pubs and eateries — not that you’ll need to leave given the gourmet kitchen is filled with all your necessary appliances and pantry staples. Additionally, there’s off-street parking and an outdoor area where a fire pit can be brought in upon request. Who’s saying no to that?

4. Grandview Apartment

Grandview apartment in Bendigo
The apartment is swathed in sumptuous red velvet.

Best for: Romance.

Grand by name, grand by nature. Grandview Apartment is an Airbnb in Bendigo with theatrical flourishes to help bring a sense of occasion to your next visit. With a red velvet lounge, clawfoot bath and reading room filled with books, this oh-so-romantic apartment is ideal for couples who appreciate the finer things in life. Use the kitchen to prepare a decadent dinner to enjoy around the dining table, savour a glass of local red on the wrought iron balcony or head out to explore the UNESCO Heritage-listed gastronomic scene – some of Bendigo’s best restaurants are just a short stroll away.

5. Hargreaves Cottage

the exterior of Hargreaves Cottage, Bendigo
Hargreaves Cottage welcomes guests with its charming facade.

Best for: Culture vultures.

Just a short walk to central Bendigo’s best galleries, Hargreaves Cottage evokes the quintessential period charm visitors flock to Bendigo to experience. Behind the white picket fence you’ll find two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, kitchen, renovated bathroom and a grassy backyard. Staying with the kids? A highchair and collection of children’s books and toys should do the trick. In the morning, wander across the road to Percy and Percy for your preferred AM elixir with a serve of Dr Marty’s Crumpets – a revered crumpet-maker based in Castlemaine.

6. Ravenswood Tiny House

scenic views from the Ravenswood Tiny House, Bendigo
The architecturally designed Ravenswood Tiny House opens up to scenic views.

Best for: Architecture fans.

Craving fresh air and wide-open spaces but don’t want to stray too far from the city? Drive south from Bendigo for 20 minutes and you’ll hit the rural idyll of Ravenswood, home to a sleek tiny house stay complete with special guest appearances from 14 resident alpacas. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to stay entertained for a weekend, including a collection of boardgames and a flat screen TV with streaming services. Want a bottle of wine to enjoy on the deck while taking in sweeping views of the valley? Visit the cellar door of Killiecrankie Wines nearby to source a drop of local red.

7. Grandview on Mitchell Bendigo Penthouse

the rooftop views from Grandview on Mitchell Bendigo Penthouse
Unwind on the rooftop deck with a local beer.

Best for: That rooftop life.

Be wowed by phenomenal city skyline views while staying in this chic heritage warehouse conversion. Located in the heart of the city, the Grandview on Mitchell Bendigo Penthouse is just a stone’s throw from some of Bendigo’s biggest drawcards including Bendigo Art Gallery and Rosalind Park. Unwind on the rooftop deck with a local beer, chill out in the lounge room with a good book or bliss out in the private hot tub – this is a space to enjoy a slice of the good life.

8. Stargazer by Tiny Away

a tiny vacation home at Stargazer by Tiny Away, Bendigo
Take some time off in this tiny vacation house.

Best for: Going off the grid.

A scenic 20-minute drive from Bendigo, this solar-powered home located on a 133-acre rural property is the ideal spot to get away from it all. Pack all your food and drinks before you arrive at Stargazer by Tiny Away – you’ll want to maximise your time in this remote spot without wi-fi. While small in stature, this space has everything you need for a comfy stay including a composting toilet, loft bed, pot-bellied stove and kitchenette with gas cooktop. After dark, get toasty around the outdoor fire pit while admiring the blanket of glittering stars above. BYO marshmallows for a quick campfire dessert.

9. Queens Loft

the dining area at Queens Loft, Bendigo
Stay in a modern and fully furnished NYC-like home.

Best for: A slice of NYC.

Yes, we’re nowhere near the bright light energy of New York City, but a stay at Queens Loft might just send you there spiritually. A loft-style apartment with exposed brick, located inside the historic (and exclusive) Webb and Co building in the middle of town, this Airbnb in Bendigo is filled with all the mod-cons — think high-speed wi-fi, a kitchenette with stainless steel appliances, lift access within the building and a 55-inch HDTV with multiple streaming services. A bedroom with a queen bed will also provide added privacy when it’s time to catch some shut eye.

10. Castle Studio

Bendigo Airbnb
Castle Studio mirrors a medieval castle’s facade.

Best for: Fantasy lovers.

Looking for something totally unique? Castle Studio is a quirky studio Airbnb in Bendigo that, throughout the exterior garden spaces, mirrors a medieval castle’s facade. Pet-friendly and located within the heart of town, the outdoor space is seriously creative, providing makeshift sets to help you reenact movie moments from every angle. Inside, however, it’s all very contemporary, complete with a little kitchenette, queen bed and ensuite bathroom.

Originally written by Jo Stewart with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Discover the best things to do while you’re in Benidgo

Jo Stewart
Jo Stewart is a freelance features writer who pens stories about nature, pop culture, music, art, design and more from her home in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria. When not writing, you can find her trawling through vinyl records and vintage fashion at op shops, antique stores and garage sales.
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Film lovers need to add these Victorian theatres to their bucket list

Theatres have always been a cornerstone of regional Victoria, reflecting the character and history of their local communities.

From grand, gold rush-era masterpieces to Art Deco wonders to repurposed prisons, we’ve rounded up four of Victoria’s best regional theatres to catch a show at next time you’re travelling through.

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat 
Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat has been standing for 150 years. (Image: Michael Pham)

A monument to the immense gold rush wealth flooding through Ballarat in the second half of the 19th century, Her Majesty’s Theatre (‘Her Maj’ to locals) celebrates its 150th anniversary as the city’s premier performing arts venue this year.

Built in a classical style and immaculately preserved (thanks largely to a recent $16-million restoration), this Lydiard Street landmark is the oldest continuously operating theatre in mainland Australia, notable for its double balcony and a stage that slopes towards the front, making it one of the most audience-friendly venues in the country to see a show.

The Capital, Bendigo

The Capital Theatre, Bendigo
The Capital in Bendigo was built in 1873 as a Masonic Hall. (Image: Michael Pham)

Denoted by its distinctive Corinthian columns, more reminiscent of ancient Greece than regional Victoria, The Capital theatre in Bendigo has been through several iterations since the first stone was laid in 1873.

Originally a Masonic hall, the renaissance revival-style building became a theatre in the 1890s, falling into disrepair for a time during the 1970s, before being restored and reopened (as the Bendigo Regional Arts Centre) in 1991. Today, the 480-seat venue hosts everything from comedy to cabaret to traditional theatre, dance, opera and live music.

 Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo

a look insideBendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre
Inside Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, a former prison. (Image: Michael Pham)

Bendigo has busted out as a regional performing arts hotspot, so it’s fitting that one of its newest venues is housed within a former prison. Meaning ‘meeting place’ or ‘gather together’ in the language of the local Dja Dja Wurrung people, the $26-million, 950-seat auditorium rose from within the red brick walls of the historic Sandhurst Gaol in 2015.

It’s an eerie feeling as you approach the imposing granite facade, pass beneath the old gallows and pick up your ticket from the box office occupying a repurposed cell block. With the building playing a main character in the show, this is performative architecture at its finest.

Rex Theatre, Charlton

the Rex Theatre in Charlton
The 1938-built Rex Theatre in Charlton is an Art Deco gem. (Image: Jenny Pollard)

Regional theatres don’t come more romantic than this Art Deco gem in the river town of Charlton, in north-central Victoria. Built in 1938, the 350-seat community-owned theatre provides an essential entertainment outlet for residents in the Wimmera Mallee region, as well as visitors making the trip up the Calder Highway from Melbourne.

The volunteer-run venue is the last remaining purpose-built cinema in regional Victoria, and hosts the Charlton Film Festival every February, plus three weekly film screenings (Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday).