Day Tour 1: Heathcote - Drink & Delights

Just 35 minutes from Bendigo, Heathcote is a small town in a tranquil bush setting at the foot of the McIvor and McHarg Ranges. The town’s heritage streetscape reflects its gold rush past, but it is the area’s wineries and produce that make it an appealing day trip from Bendigo. The Heathcote wine region has a reputation for producing some of the finest shiraz in the world as well as other high-quality red wine varieties.

Delegates can taste the wines and meet the winemakers at cellar doors all year round or if your event happens in October, enjoy the Heathcote Wine and Food festival, when local winemakers gather to showcase some of their iconic wines. In the main street is Cellar and Store which showcases local produce and for those keen on bushwalking and photography there’s the Pink Cliffs Reserve, Devil’s Cave and Mt Ida to explore. The former township of Graytown is also worth a look.

Day Tour 2: Echuca & Elmore - Go with the Flow

While it’s only 60 minutes north of Bendigo, historical Echuca, with its graceful fleet of paddlesteamers and preserved Port precinct, is a world away; offering a relaxed and charming way for delegates to spend a day out of the city. Located right on the Murray River, Echuca is known as the world’s paddlesteamer capital thanks to the eight working paddlesteamers which drift along the river every day. A variety of trips for groups aboard the PS Pevensey, PS Adelaide, PS Canberra,

PS Hero, PS Emmylou, PS Alexander Arbuthnot, MV Mary Ann and the Pride of the Murray can be prebooked, Echuca also offers a myriad of other water-based and outdoor activities, such as fishing, canoeing, kayaking, water-skiing, golfing, walking, cycling, horse-riding, fourwheel driving, ballooning and camping. To get to Echuca from Bendigo, you pass through Elmore, which is home to the Campaspe Run Museum, which relives the early farming days of the region.

Day Tour 3: Daylesford - Indulgence Capital

A gently undulating 60 minute drive south from Bendigo brings you to Daylesford. The Swiss and Italian migrants who settled in the area after the gold rush left an architectural, culinary and cultural legacy which has seen Daylesford become one of the most popular destinations in the state; and the number one day trip pick from Bendigo.

Australia’s premier spa and rejuvenation centre, Daylesford has almost become a byword for relaxation and is the ideal spot for delegates to take some time out. They can sample the rejuvenating mineral waters, indulge in one of more than 50 different natural therapies, explore craft and antique shops, go boating on the lake, take part in the local lavender harvest or just relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the fine dining.

Day Tour 4: Castlemaine & Maldon - Arts, Atmosphere, the Rest is History

Linked by a picturesque steam train line, Castlemaine, 35 minutes from Bendigo by car, and Maldon, 30 minutes, offer distinct experiences; something entirely different to Bendigo for delegates. Renowned for its vibrant and progressive arts community, Castlemaine somehow balances a sophisticated vibe with country charisma, all in a stately 19th century setting. With vibrant cafes, eclectic shops, historic homes, gracious gardens and art galleries, Castlemaine is also home to Australia’s oldest continually operating theatre, the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum.

Maldon, on the other hand, with its intact heritage streetscape, is a quaint old gold mining town, with a metropolitian sensibility when it comes to amazing coffee and divine food. Delegates will find broad footpaths shaded by corrugated iron verandas, buildings and cottages made from local stone and old fashioned shop fronts, inside filled with homewares, books, gorgeous chocolates, herbal remedies and beautiful imported lace.