Here we have another city battle on our hands with Bendigo and Ballarat facing off against each other as Victoria’s best central city. These two cities are pretty isolated and nestled right in the heart of Victoria, Australia and both have a ‘rich history’ literally. I would describe them more as towns in appearance but they qualify as cities so let’s look into them both.
| Bendigo | Ballarat | |
| Size | 287.4 km² | 343.6 km² |
| Population | 103,818 | 101,588 |
| Age | 173 years | 186 years |
| Distance from Melbourne | 2 hours (North) | 1 hour 40 mins (West) |
Bendigo
Bendigo is the second largest city in central Victoria, Australia. Originally created from a gold rush, it’s home to the Central Deborah Gold Mine, which is now a main tourist attraction here. It has a tram system and some diverse museums. It’s a nice, relaxed city surrounded by greenery and is mostly based around one very long high street.
Ballarat
Ballarat is a city west of Melbourne in the Highlands of Victoria. As the third largest city in Victoria, it is well known as a getaway destination from Melbourne and also has a history based around gold. In 1851 when Victoria separated from NSW, gold was found near Ballarat, which really kicked off the local gold rush and built this place up fast. So as you can imagine, activities and attractions are mostly gold-orientated. This city has more of a grid layout system similar to Melbourne.
So let’s get into which city is better. Bendigo and Ballarat will be scored across 6 categories;
- Activities
- Nightlife
- For families
- Restaurants
- Scenery
- City life/culture
Activities
Bendigo’s main activities are gold orientated. You can pay for a tour to enter the Central Deborah mine and go down almost 230 metres underground to see how gold was mined back in the day. You get to experience some mock explosions and see gold in the rocks, which is impressive.
Rosalind Park right next to the centre has some impressive gardens and is a nice hilly walk too. See flying foxes in the trees and walk up the Bendigo highest point tower for a good 360 view of the area. The museums are another selling point for Bendigo with the famous Golden Dragon Chinese Museum and Bendigo Art Gallery being the main attractions.
Ballarat’s main attraction by far is the living museum that is Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum that actually replicates a 19th-century gold-mining town. Try some gold panning, view blacksmith demonstrations, and walk the streets lined with period buildings.
Ballarat Botanical Gardens and lake area is a great spot for walks and families. If you like some nature then you will enjoy Ballarat Wildlife Park where there’s plenty of Australian wildlife on offer.
Winner: Draw. Both offer a good, similar amount of activities for isolated, smaller cities
Nightlife
Although it might not seem like it, when the sun sets, Bendigo comes to life with an active nightlife scene. There are speakeasy bars like The Dispensary, housed in a former pharmacy. Catch live music performances at the cosy Handle Bar or have a dance down at The Cambrian Hotel which is a bit more lively.
Ballarat’s nightlife scene may be more subdued compared to Bendigo’s, but it still has a few good options. Enjoy a laid-back evening at The Lost Ones Basement Bar, has art, live music, and decent cocktails. The Mallow Hotel is a little more historic and a local pub offering a good selection of beers. 18th Amendment Bar is a good bar for a later option in the city centre. While Ballarat has a few good options Bendigo edges this one.
Winner: Bendigo
For Families
Bendigo is a good place for a family visit. There’s the mine tour here, which you will see me enjoying with the family below. Families can also try out the Talking Tram Tour through the city’s historic streets with entertaining commentary provided. The parks in the city give the centre a very green feel. The Science and Technology centre is another good visit and the new Bendigo swimming centre offers all sorts of sports and relaxed activities.
Besides the huge Sovereign Hill activity families can spend a medieval-themed day at Kryal Castle, with jousting tournaments, dragon experiences, and interactive shows. The Ballarat Botanical Gardens are a little out of the centre but offer a great retreat with playgrounds, picnic areas, cafes, and cool walking trails. The Nature reserve is another highlight for kids. Overall Ballarat claims a few more large family attractions for a day out.
Winner: Ballarat
Restaurants
When it comes to restaurants, Bendigo has a pretty diverse food scene with something for everyone. You can try some modern, locally sourced Australian cuisine at Masons of Bendigo. For an Italian vibe The Woodhouse has some good wood-fired pizzas. As Bendigo has an Asian influence there are plenty of options here too while Bendigo Wholefoods Cafe has some great options.
In Ballarat, there are also some good food options. Catfish Thai, offers authentic Thai cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. Harry Limes and Saigon Allee are good Vietnamese options. For fine dining Craig’s Royal Hotel Dining Room offers a bit more sophistication. The Forge Pizzeria is a local favourite featuring some creative toppings. That caps off some good local options in Ballarat but Bendigo takes the title in this one.
Winner: Bendigo
Scenery
Bendigo’s streets are filled with nice Victorian-era buildings, while its surrounding countryside is all rolling hills, vineyards, and rivers. The city parks are nice and Lake Weeroona is a good spot to relax too. The nearby Bendigo Bushland Trail offers some serene surroundings for a good walk.
While Ballarat doesn’t have the same charming streetscapes there are some nice old buildings such as the Town Hall and Old Colonists Hall. The city has a really nice lakeside. For panoramic views, head to the top of Mount Buninyong for a good hike with a view. While Ballarat has some nice scenery as you head further out, Bendigo has more in the city itself
Winner: Bendigo
City Life/Culture
Bendigo has a lively enough cultural scene, with an arts-led community and a calendar full of events and festivals. There’s an arts precinct with plenty of galleries, studios, and performance spaces. There are good Chinese cultural events with the Golden Dragon as a centrepiece. The transport is useful with both tram and long distance train options. The parking situation is annoying with them charging for most parking spaces even when the streets are near empty.
Meanwhile, Ballarat’s also has a good street art scene, with colourful murals seen on buildings throughout the streets. The Ballarat Heritage Trail takes you past landmarks and historical sites. Although some streets can appear quite repetitive there are some nice, unique spots in Ballarat. There are a number of cultural events and festivals throughout the year celebrating wine, food and everything related. Though it’s not quite the same as Bendigo’s art and events scene.
Winner: Bendigo
In conclusion, both Bendigo and Ballarat offer a good amount of unique experiences out in rural Victoria. They’re a good day out from Melbourne for a change of pace.
While each city has its own charm and unique things to do for me Bendigo is the winner in four out of six categories. However, both cities are deserving of exploration if you have the time. It wouldn’t be worth seeing both if you’re in Victoria for less than a week as there are more impressive sights such as the Great Ocean road to get around but if you want a piece of gold history and a nice day out it’s worthwhile.