We had just 48 hours, but Bendigo made every minute count.
When Fiesta Bendigo came calling, we packed our bags with wide eyes, empty stomachs, and plenty of curiosity. How could a celebration of Frida Kahlo transform this regional gem into a vibrant, city-wide playground of food, art, culture, and colour? Buckle up and find out. What followed was a whirlwind love affair with one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets: Bendigo.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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In 48 hours, we wandered through world-class galleries, stepped aboard vintage trams festooned with flowers, and followed a literal trail of tacos (and coffee) across the city’s historic laneways. We met artists, chefs, makers, growers and some passionate community members who all knew that Bendigo was something special. We stayed in a grand heritage suite that made us feel like royalty, complete with marble stairs and a bath fit for a queen. (Rumour has it, even Priscilla Presley once stayed here. We fact checked this, and this is 100% true)
We came for Frida—Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image, the exclusive-to-Bendigo exhibition now showing at Bendigo Art Gallery until July 13, 2025. But we quickly realised the art was just the beginning. Across the city and beyond, Fiesta Bendigo has taken over, with Frida-inspired installations, food, drinks, colourful street activations, and a deliciously chaotic Taco Trail featuring more than 20 specialty creations (yes, we voted for our favourite… and yes, we’re still dreaming about the dessert taco).
Love the tastes of Mexico? You’ll be in heaven.
Into art, culture, and a bit of flair? Then this one’s for you.
Once known for its gold, Bendigo has since struck a different kind of treasure: creativity, community, and a refreshingly unapologetic authenticity. From Frida’s fierce spirit to farm-fresh mushrooms, hidden cocktail bars, tacos served in trams, and serene stupas nestled in bushland, Bendigo packs a punch of delightful surprises at every turn. Two days was far too short to unearth it all, but those 48 hours were nothing short of unforgettable.
Frida: The Intimate, the Iconic, the Irresistibly Human
Our journey began where all good pilgrimages should: at the altar of art. The Frida exhibition, housed in the stately Bendigo Art Gallery, is a sensory marvel. It’s intimate without being invasive, reverent without being sterile. You’re not just looking at artefacts—you’re in her bedroom, her mirror, her corset. Her pain and resilience are stitched into her clothes, smeared into her lipstick, sewn into her medical braces—items locked away for fifty years after her death in the bathroom of La Casa Azul.
The show isn’t about Frida-the-artist. It’s about Frida-the-person. It’s haunting. It’s beautiful. It’s like reading a diary where every word has been underlined twice.
Sarah: 10/10
Elise: 10/10
And from there, things only got tastier.
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Taco Trails and Local Tales: Hoogah & the Golden Taco Tram
Lunch was a short stroll to Hoo-Gah, a spot as charmingly eccentric as its umlaut. Packed to the rafters with a lunch rush crowd, the place still felt relaxed—thanks to the warm smiles and buzz of the staff. We ordered the birria taco from their “Taco Trail” menu: slow-cooked beef, melted cheese, pickled onion and coriander in a tortilla so buttery, it practically flirted with us. Paired with fresh apple, orange, and pineapple juices, it was a midday fiesta of flavour.
Sarah: 9.5
Elise: 8.5
Combined vibe rating: 9/10
We considered ordering the Banoffee pancakes off someone else’s plate. Instead, we took the high road, directly to dessert.
The Golden Taco at the Tramways Café.
Set inside a 1916 N-Class tram (yes, a real one), this slice of history now serves sugar in the form of boysenberry and salted caramel ice cream tacos, beneath a floral Mexican-themed ceiling so extravagant, Frida herself would have loved. The boysenberry had Sarah’s heart, but the salted caramel had Elise’s soul. A perfect yin and yang moment.
We were also lucky to get the inside scoop from Josh and Jai, local legends who run events for the Tramways. “What makes the fiesta special,” Josh told us, “is that the whole community gets behind it. It’s fun. It’s full of heart.” This is one of the things that really stood out to us throughout our whirlwind 48 hours is that the community had passion pouring into each local business.
9/10
Cold Brews & Taco Pizzas: Bendigo Brewing and Beyond
Dinner took us to Bendigo Brewing, a newcomer making big noise with woodfired pizzas, craft beers and the kind of experimental brewing that makes beer nerds weep. Case in point: the Dragon City; a smoky raspberry number that felt like drinking a bonfire during berry season. Sarah politely swirled it. Elise bravely finished it. Verdict? We’ve renamed this “The Conversation Starter” because it is bound to get you talking. Other winners included The Plains (an easy 3.5% sipper) and Golden Hop (sweet and stonefruity). Paired with a Taco Pizza, a festival exclusive this was an immersive, unexpectedly delightful dinner.
8/10, if not for the beer, then for the audacity.
Nightcap & Nostalgia: Ms Batterham’s Bar
You know you’re somewhere special when your night ends in a cocktail bar inside an old schoolhouse basement. Ms Batterham’s is what you get if Southern Europe moved into an arts precinct and threw a moody, candlelit party. Cocktails? A classic margarita for Sarah, a Bloody Maria for Elise (a smoky, tomato-forward twist we’re still thinking about). Dessert? Crème Brûlée and a Pão de Mel, a spiced honey cake dipped in chocolate ganache and sent from the gods. A cocktail lounge this stylish could live comfortably in Fitzroy or Barcelona. Instead, it lives here, down a quiet Bendigo lane. And thank goodness for that.
10/10 – Don’t even think about skipping dessert.
A Suite Sleep in Villa Belgravia
Post-dessert coma set in at The Suites Villa Belgravia, a gold-rush era manor with a literal marble staircase in our room that deserved its own Instagram account. The kind of place where you wear a robe not out of necessity but out of reverence. Sarah slept like a baby. Elise dreamed in goldleaf.
Morning Glory: Peppergreen Farm
Our first stop was Peppergreen Farm, an absolute gem of a social enterprise tucked away on two hectares of picturesque Bendigo farmland just a stone’s throw (or a leisurely four-minute drive) from the heart of the city.
This isn’t just any farm; it’s where fresh produce meets purpose, where community thrives, and where the values of employment, environment, and ethics come together in a beautiful dance. Peppergreen has worked its magic, transforming this historic land into a vibrant hub for social events, cafe lovers, local businesses, and curious travellers alike. We were welcomed like old friends, and special mention must go to Yvette, whose infectious passion for gardening and local produce made us want to start growing things immediately.
Peppergreen is a multifaceted space bringing together tourism, the community and local businesses alike. it’s a living, breathing example of what happens when passion and purpose come together to create something far greater than the sum of its parts.
But what about the coffee? Well, it was a sip of heaven. So good, we’re already plotting our return. And here’s the insider scoop: Peppergreen is bringing back the Gold Rush Chinese Market to the grounds. Now, that’s something keeping an eye out for.
10/10
From Murals to Markets: Bendigo’s Streets Are Alive
After breakfast, we wandered. The giant Bendigo sign, painted in Frida-inspired motifs, drew selfies and laughter. Chancery Lane’s murals made alleyways feel like art galleries. View Street was a treasure trove of indie shopping. Highlights included:
Gathered Bendigo: homewares and objects with soul.
SB Libris: a bookbinding, a Harry Potter-esque gem.
Blumetown: a florist with a passion for sustainability.
Freddie the Rat: children’s clothing with serious charm for seriously cool kids.
Lunch with Legends: Goldmines & Empanadas
We drove to Goldmine Hotel for one final feast. This 19th-century beauty was rebuilt after a fire, and now boasts a lush one acre beer garden (yes, you have read that right… a one acre beer garden!) and with a taco trail twist: Empanada of the Earth, a playful homage to Kahlo’s “Fruits of the Earth” (well played!) With pickled chilli sauce and pastry seasoned with black garlic salt, these golden parcels had us whispering sweet nothings. Pair that with house-made gnocchi in burnt butter and a glass of Musk Lane Syrah, and you have one delicious lunch.
8.5/10
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An Unexpected Ending: The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
And then, just when we thought Bendigo had already thrown every surprise our way, we drove through the bush and stumbled upon this colossal 50-metre-high Buddhist monument. Yes, really. The Great Stupa is home to the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace—a jaw-dropping 4-tonne statue carved from the rarest jade on Earth, which toured 120 cities before finally finding its forever home in Bendigo. Inside, the air is thick with serenity as relics and thangka paintings glow softly in the stillness. Outside, the “Peace Park” fosters understanding between faiths from across the globe, offering a space for quiet reflection. It was unexpectedly peaceful, a moment of pure tranquillity.
And if you think that’s the end of the surprises, think again. In August 2025, the Great Stupa will unveil a monumental ceiling feature, adding yet another chapter to this already awe-inspiring experience.
10/10
Come for Frida, Stay for the Fiesta
Bendigo isn’t a place that shouts for attention. It doesn’t need to. Instead, it’s the kind of town that quietly pulls you in, offering surprises at every corner. Whether you’re drawn here by the art, the tacos, the rich history, or simply the desire to escape the city’s chaos, Bendigo weaves it all together in a glow of golden light and welcoming smiles. As mentioned, we only really scratched the surface of what this town had to offer. We will be heading back.
Come for Frida. Stay for the tacos, the trams, the treasures, and the tranquillity.
Stay for the fiesta. Stay, perhaps… forever.
Want more Frida, flavour and fiesta? Explore the full lineup of events, eats, and experiences at Fiesta Bendigo here.
(Trust us, you’ll want to follow the taco trail.)
