Bendigo’s Botanic Gardens are some of the oldest and longest-running of their kind in Victoria. As a matter of fact, they are nearly as old as the town itself, having been established in 1857 just six years after gold was first discovered here. The Gardens provide a lush, shady and welcome relief from the midday sun, and an afternoon spent exploring the wonderful plant collections is time well spent. Open daily from 7:30am to 9pm.