With the Bendigo Easter Festival only a week away, now is the time to start planning your trip to the major event over the long weekend.
Several road closures and detours will be in place in the city centre to facilitate the staging of the region’s biggest homegrown community festival. Some of the closures and detours will be in effect from Wednesday April 1 to Monday April 6.
No unauthorised vehicles will be permitted within the Bendigo Easter Festival precinct/road closure areas during event times. These areas have been declared a temporary tow away zone.
Residents and visitors are strongly advised not to park or leave a car overnight in the tow away zone. Any unauthorised vehicle left in the road closure area during the event times will be towed to a location outside of the closure area if Victoria Police is unable to contact the owner to move the vehicle.
For the first time, Arnold Street (from Bridge Street to McCrae Street) has been included among the partial road closures where only local and emergency services access will be given, with residents and businesses needing to show proof. This comes into effect from 6am to 6pm on Saturday April 4 and 6am to 6pm on Sunday April 5. People travelling by car to the festival are advised to seek alternative route. Maps are available on the Bendigo Easter website with all the important information.
Works have begun on the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment with fencing and hoarding now installed around the site. This means there are some changes to pedestrian access on View Street and for some paths close to the rear of the gallery in Rosalind Park. There will be no footpath access or viewing area directly in front of the gallery on View Street, so this section will not be available for seating or for watching the two parades. For more details, please refer to the map on the Bendigo Easter Festival website. Footpaths remain open outside Dudley House, The Engine Room, The Capital, as well as on the opposite side of View Street.
City of Greater Bendigo Manager Economy & Experience James Myatt said it was important for people to be aware in advance of the road closures and the tow away zone.
“The road closures and the tow away zone across the festival precinct are necessary to meet the needs of staging Bendigo’s biggest community festival and accommodate thousands of people attending events and activities,” Mr Myatt said.
“The City would like to take this opportunity to thank residents and local businesses for their understanding and patience while these temporary road closures are in place.
“The festival’s many sponsors play an important role in the event’s success and the City would like to thank them all for their ongoing support, particularly premium sponsor Agnico Eagle and gold sponsors Sherridon Homes, Gold FM, La Trobe University and Bendigo Advertiser.
Event information
Accessible viewing areas for the La Trobe University Torchlight Parade and the Sherridon Homes Gala Parade remain the same as last year.
Along the parade route there will be designated viewing areas for people using motorised scooters and wheelchairs. These areas will be clearly signed:
- View Street (Mackenzie Street intersection)
- Alexandra Fountain (Pall Mall and View Street intersection)
- McCrae Street (Chapel/Bridge Street intersection)
The following accessible parking will be available for parade times only. Disability permits need to be always displayed in your car. You will be asked to present your permit to the traffic controller for access:
- McCrae Street (between Chapel and Baxter Streets)
- Mitchell Street (Pall Mall end)
- Mackenzie Street (View Street end)
- Bath Lane (access via Mitchell Street)
Other accessible parking bays during the festival are located on the accessibility map
Accessible toilets during the festival:
- Marveloo at McCrae Street Car Park
- Rosalind Park
- Mews Lane Way (behind Bendigo Visitor Centre)
- Queen Elizabeth Oval
- Tom Flood Sports Centre
- Changing Places at Hargreaves Street Multi storey car park
Scooter/wheel recharge points:
- Bendigo Library
- Hargreaves Street (near Bendigo TAFE)
For people unable to attend the festival, Bendigo Advertiser’s website will livestream La Trobe University’s Torchlight Procession on Easter Saturday (parade starts at 7.30pm). For the first time, the fireworks after the Torchlight Parade will also be live streamed. The Sherridon Homes Gala Parade on Easter Sunday (parade starts at 12.30pm) will also have a livestream. Gold Central Victoria will also be broadcasting live from 10am to 2pm on Good Friday, 6pm to 9pm on Saturday April 4 and 11am to 3pm on Easter Sunday.
A parent room, First Aid and Event Information and Lost Persons tent are in Rosalind Park, near the Sidney Myer Place Bridge. Wrist bands are available at the Bendigo Visitor Centre and the information/lost person tent. The wrist bands are often worn by dependants and young children and include the name and mobile number of a parent/carer.
Public toilets are located throughout the city centre and festival precinct. Locations are: Rosalind Park, Mews Laneway (behind the Bendigo Visitor Centre), McCrae Street car park, Queen Elizabeth Oval, Tom Flood Sports Centre and Hargreaves Street (near the multi storey car park).
Bring a drink bottle as three Coliban Water Hydration Stations will be in available in the festival precinct:
- At the View Street entrance to Rosalind Park
- In Rosalind Park, near the Sidney Myer Place Bridge
- Dai Gum San precinct
Public Transport will operate over the Easter weekend. Some bus services will be impacted by road closures during the festival. Visit the Public Transport Victoria website for times and details.
V/Line trains and coaches will run to a weekend timetable for the Good Friday and Easter Monday public holiday. For more, visit the V/Line website.
Bendigo Tramways Park ‘n’ Ride Tram shuttle service will run from Good Friday to Easter Sunday is a great option to travel to and from the city centre and avoid parking woes. Tram stops are at Central Deborah Gold Mine, Lake Weeroona and Bendigo Joss House Temple and tickets are valid for the full day of purchase (children 15 and under are free). The shuttle will run every 20 minutes from 9.30am to 5pm from Good Friday to Easter Sunday.
Bicycle parking is available in Rosalind Park at the View Street end (please bring your own bike lock).
During the event, two multi storey car parks will be open for extended hours and will provide free parking.
Hargreaves Street multi storey car park:
- Friday April 3 from 7am - 11.30pm
- Saturday April 4 from 7am - 11.30pm
- Sunday April 5 from 7am - 8pm
Edward Street multi storey car park:
- Friday April 3 from 7am - 11pm
- Saturday April 4 from 7am - 11pm
- Sunday April 5 from 7am - 8pm
The following car parks will be closed during the event:
- McCrae Street Car Park, 6pm Thursday April 2 to 6am Tuesday April 7
- Queen Elizabeth Oval Car Park, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5
- Tom Flood Sports Centre Car Park, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5
Partial road closures (local resident access only):
- Baxter Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (McCrae Street to Bridge Street)
- Havelock Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Bendigo Creek to Baxter Street)
- Joseph Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Bridge Street to Baxter Street)
- Arnold Street, 6am-6pm on Saturday April 4 and 6am to 6pm on Sunday April 5 (from Bridge Street to McCrae Street)
- Lyttleton Terrace, 6am Thursday April 2 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Williamson Street to St Andrews Avenue – library side only)
Full road closure (no access):
No vehicle access will be permitted to the designated streets during the times listed below. Vehicles parked within these areas must be removed one hour prior to the closure date and time.
- Sidney Myer Place, 6am Wednesday April 1 to 6am Monday April 6 (Pall Mall to Rosalind Park)
- Mundy Street, 6am Thursday April 2 to 6am Monday April 6 (Pall Mall to Myers Street)
- Lyttleton Terrace, 6am Thursday April 2 to 6am Monday April 6 (St Andrews Avenue to Mundy Street)
- William Vahland Place, 6am Thursday April 2 to 6am Monday April 6 (Pall Mall to Rosalind Park)
- Bull Street, 6am Thursday April 2 to 6am Monday April 6 (Pall Mall to Hargreaves Street)
- Hargreaves Street, 6am Thursday April 2 to 6am Monday April 6 (Multi storey car park to Mundy Street)
- Farmer Lane, 4pm Thursday April 2 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (McCrae Street to Park Road)
- Easter Fair Way, 4pm Thursday April 2 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (McCrae Street to Park Road)
- Bridge Street, 4pm Thursday April 2 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Howard Place to Park Road)
- Bridge Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (McCrae Street to Arnold Street)
- Park Road, 4pm Thursday April 2 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Bridge Street to Gaol Road)
- Park Road, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Gaol Road to Barnard Street)
- Pall Mall, 6am Friday April 3 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (View Street to Mundy Street)
- Pall Mall, 6am to 6pm on Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Forest Street to Mundy Street)
- McCrae Street, 6am Friday April 3 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Mundy Street to Chapel Street)
- McCrae Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Mundy Street to Baxter Street)
- Williamson Street, 6am Friday April 3 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Pall Mall to Hargreaves Street)
- High Street Northbound, 6am Friday April 3 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Forest Street to View Street)
- View Street South/East Bound, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Barnard Street to Rowan Street)
- View Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Rowan Street to Pall Mall)
- Mitchell Street North/West Bound, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Hargreaves Street to Queen Street)
- Mitchell Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Pall Mall to Hargreaves Street)
- Bath Lane, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Edwards Road and Mitchell Street)
- Chapel Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (McCrae Street to Hargreaves Street)
- Bridge Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (McCrae Street to Arnold St)
- Water Street, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (Bridge Street to Uley Street)
- Gaol Road, 6am Saturday April 4 to 6pm Sunday April 5 (QEO Car Park to Park Road)