Bendigo Town Hall Tours
Bendigo's Town Hall has great historic value as part of the legacy of the city's goldrush history.

The Town Hall has been described as one of the most remarkable boom time buildings in Victoria. It has a stunning interior featuring elaborate plasterwork, extensive hand painted decoration and delicate gold leafing.

Book at Bendigo Visitor Information Centre
51–67 Pall Mall, Bendigo
Tours on Tuesday and Sunday at 2pm
Ph 1800 813 153

Wine Bank on View
The Wine Bank on View is Bendigo's newest attraction, a wine bar with a difference. Housed in a restored 1870s heritage building formally known as Bendigo's Union Bank and located in the heart of the Arts Precinct, the Wine Bank offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine or a boutique beer in a beautifully restored historic setting. The Wine Bank's selection includes local, national and international wines, including precious and hard to find bottles of interest and some rare/old wines that can be bought by the bottle or case.

45 View Street, Bendigo
Ph 03 5444 4655
www.winebankonview.com

Central Deborah Gold Mine
Central Deborah Gold Mine offers the unique experience of exploring a real gold mine. Learn how to pan for gold. A guide will be on hand to demonstrate the art of gold panning and teach you the hidden tricks in striking it rich.

Whether it's touring the surface of the mine with its treasure trove of vintage mining machinery, gold panning or taking one of the spectacular underground tours, visitors will never forget a stop at Central Deborah.

76 Violet Street, Bendigo
Ph 03 5443 8322
www.central-deborah.com

The Great Dividing Trail
Bridget meets up with local hero and marathon runner Steve Moneghetti for a walk along The Great Dividing Trail. A community planned 260km public walking trail following the top of the Great Dividing Range from Bacchus Marsh to Bendigo, allows recreational walkers and tourists to savour central Victoria's unique combination of gold rush heritage and its natural beauty. The trail links the old gold rush towns at the heart of Victoria, as well as the forests, hills and lakes straddling the Great Dividing Range.

www.gdt.org.au

Montrose of Ballarat
Montrose of Ballarat offers a unique getaway experience bringing together the wonder and romance of Ballarat's goldrush era with the finest luxury accommodation. Montrose Cottage is classified 'A' by the National Trust and is on the Australian Heritage List so take the time to admire the rich history around the cottage that dates back 150 years to the city's golden era.

111 Eureka Street, Ballarat
Ph 0429 439 448
www.montroseofballarat.com.au

Talbot
Talbot is the southern gateway to the central Victorian goldfields, and less than two hours from Melbourne. With a rich history of gold, Talbot was proclaimed a township after Victoria's first unofficial gold was discovered there in 1848.

Today the small town of Talbot is home to around 300 people, with a further 600 people living in the immediate area. The Talbot Farmers' Market is the third Sunday of each month and is not to be missed, with over 100 stalls the market attracts several thousand visitors.

www.talbottourism.org

Amherst Reef
Amherst Reef Geological Reserve known as Quartz Mountain or the Big Reef, is a massive quartz outcrop in Paddy's Ranges between Amherst and Lillicur. The pure quartz masses stand over six metres above the surface level of the adjoining hill. In one section a magnificent 40 tonne boulder balances on top of the reef, the biggest remaining quartz reef in Victoria.

www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Vintage and Classic Car Club – Ballarat
Glen hitches a ride to Ballarat with The Classic Car Club, established in 1966. The current membership is 250 people. The club is targeted at people with motor vehicles over 25 years old and also has a large library facility.

Ph 03 5331 2666

Sovereign Hill
Bridget and Lawrence discover why Sovereign Hill was named Australia's Number One Major Tourist Attraction in 2005. Sovereign Hill has been wowing audiences for more than 35 years. Generations of Australians and overseas visitors have experienced the recreated 1850s goldfields township where real gold flows in the creek and history comes alive.

Bradshaw Street, Ballarat
Ph 03 5337 1100
www.sovereignhill.com.au

What's on

Melbourne Day
Where: Various city locations
When: 30 August 2006
More: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Saucony Australian Duathlon Championships and Duathlon Dash
Where: Federation Square
When: 20 August 2006
More: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Rembrandt 1606–1669 Prints and Drawings Collection
Where: NGV International
When: Until 24 September
More: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au