WORLD-CLASS exhibitions, spectacular cultural experiences, parks and gardens, a booming food and wine scene, rich gold-rush history and heritage architecture have combined to see Bendigo crowned one of the best travel destinations in Australia.

The central Victorian town this month won silver in the 2024 Top Tourism Town category, up against the top destinations from Australia’s seven other states and territories. The national accolade came after Bendigo was last July crowned Victoria’s Top Tourist Town, having placed first and second in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Earlier this year, it was also named Aussie Town of the Year by travel website Wotif based on online user reviews.

The town, Victoria’s fourth-largest with a population of only 120,000, last year attracted more than four million visitors to the town and surrounds, while its recent Paris: Impressions of Life exhibition alone attracted tens of thousands of visitors, continuing the town’s reputation for punching well above its weight.

City of Greater Bendigo’s Tourism Marketing Manager Glenn Harvey says it’s particularly pleasing that the Victorian award was based not solely on the city’s own submission, but also on online reviews and public voting of the town’s attractions, hospitality and accommodation by visitors themselves.

Harvey says much of Bendigo’s success has been in providing a wide array of quality events and attractions spread throughout the year, appealing to a broad cross-section of passions and pursuits.

The town’s annual Bloom festival, effectively encompassing the best of Bendigo and surrounds, is a shining example. Spanning three months, the festival is a celebration of nature, music, food and wine, history, art and culture from Bendigo and the wider region.

Now in its 21st year, the festival’s signature tulip display – this year comprising an astonishing 43,000 bulbs – blooms for around three weeks through to early October. It’s just one of more than 80 attractions , events and activations in the Bloom festival that runs from early September to late November.

Next week Victoria’s Grand Final Day public holiday (September 27), too, will see the town celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival – a free, family event showcasing the city’s rich Chinese heritage through food, entertainment and culture in the city’s Dai Gum San precinct.

Another Bloom crowd-puller is the Vegecarian Festival– a unique combination of food, cooking demonstrations, craft stalls, family-friendly activities, music and Buddhist blessings for your pets – held at the stunning Great Stupa of Universal Compassion on the outskirts of Bendigo, beauty and benefits of a vegetarian diet. The festival this year will feature popular Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis sharing his insights on sustainable living, and 2017 MasterChef winner Diana Chan and 2011 contestant Dee Williams, both doing cooking demos.

Bendigo also benefits from being home to one of Australia’s largest – and arguably most innovative – regional art galleries, proving to be a potent people-magnet for the town. Hard on the heels of the sold-out Elvis: Direct from Graceland which attracted 219,000 visitors, the gallery secured the prized Paris: Impressions of Life collection which saw tens of thousands of people through the doors this winter. And in another huge coup for the town, the gallery recently announced an Australian-first with the Frida Kahlo: In her own image exhibition. The collection includes a variety of the world-famous artist’s personal effects, clothing, make-up, accessories, and medical items, which will be on loan to the gallery from Mexico’s Museo Frida Kahlo for four months from March 15, 2025.

Gastronomy is another ingredient in the Bendigo recipe for success, with the current Bloom festival, for example, featuring almost 20 events and attractions showcasing the region’s vibrant food and wine scene, including Bendigo Wine Week (October 11-20), the Heathcote Wine and Food Festival (October 5 and 6) as well as the Bloomin’ Good Market (September 29 and October 7) – a market with myriad foods, the best of Bendigo’s coffee and live music, all held among the stunning tulip display.

The town’s food and beverage scene saw the city designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy in 2019 – the first in Australia – making it a genuine destination for foodies.

The City of Greater Bendigo’s Bloom festival runs until November 29. For the full program of the more than 80 events, go to  www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/bloom