Walk in the footsteps of Bendigo’s Chinese miners, a courageous community that helped shape a city and inspire the world. On this small-group cultural journey, you’ll trace the story of Dai Gum San (“Big Gold Mountain”), where thousands of Chinese diggers endured hardship, prejudice, and triumph during one of the greatest gold rushes in history. Led by a passionate local guide, this immersive tour reveals the hidden history of Bendigo’s Chinese community through rare heritage sites including the 1850s Chinese Diggings, the 19th-century Chinese Cemetery, and Bendigo’s historic Joss House Temple, the oldest Chinese temple on its original site in regional Australia.

Along the way, you’ll hear stories of perseverance, community, and faith with tales of miners who crossed oceans and deserts to seek fortune and freedom, and whose legacy continues to shape the character of Bendigo today.

The journey also includes morning tea at Omari Café, nestled within the serene Larni Garingalang Gardens on the banks of Bendigo Creek, where guests can enjoy freshly baked scones and locally roasted coffee or tea amid the tranquillity of native bushland.

Free Pick Up and Drop Off in Bendigo available.

What to Expect

Step into the story of Dai Gum San “Big Gold Mountain” on this immersive 3.5-hour journey through Bendigo’s Chinese heritage. Travelling in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with short, easy walks at each stop, you’ll explore authentic gold-rush sites, sacred resting grounds, and cultural landmarks that tell the story of Bendigo’s earliest Chinese pioneers. Expect a relaxed pace, plenty of photo opportunities, and moments to connect with the spirit of resilience that helped shape the city.

Highlights

• Walk among the Chinese Diggings at White Hills – explore one of Bendigo’s few remaining goldfield sites and try your hand at panning for real gold on the historic diggings.
  
  

• Visit the historic Chinese Cemetery – step into one of Australia’s most significant Chinese burial grounds, a peaceful landscape of carved headstones and symbolic offerings that honour the lives, hopes, and journeys of those who came seeking fortune and found belonging.
  
  

• Discover the Chinese Joss House Temple – visit the oldest Chinese temple on its original site in regional Australia, built in 1871 to serve as a sacred place of worship and community. Admire its brilliant red walls, intricate carvings, and ornate altar dedicated to the god of war and protection.
  
  

• Morning Tea at Omari Café – relax at this hidden gem nestled within the Larni Garingalang Gardens beside Bendigo Creek, where you’ll enjoy freshly baked scones served with jam and cream, accompanied by locally roasted coffee or tea.
  
  

• Explore the Golden Dragon Museum and Chinese Gardens – admire exquisite artefacts, silk regalia, and processional dragons including the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, Dai Gum Loong then stroll through the adjoining gardens celebrating friendship and cultural harmony.

Each stop brings Bendigo’s Chinese legacy vividly to life — from the red earth of the diggings to the enduring symbols of culture, spirituality, and community that continue to thrive today.

10:00am – Visitor Centre:
Meet your local guide and begin your journey into the story of Dai Gum San — “Big Gold Mountain.”

White Hills Chinese Diggings:
Walk among the remnants of 1850s diggings where Chinese miners once toiled and try your hand at panning for real gold on this historic site.

Chinese Cemetery – White Hills:
Visit one of Australia’s most significant and best-preserved Chinese burial grounds. Discover its beautifully inscribed headstones, symbolic offerings, and the remarkable 19th-century burning tower still used in traditional ceremonies today.

Chinese Joss House Temple:
Step inside Bendigo’s historic Joss House, built in 1871 to serve as a spiritual refuge for the city’s early Chinese miners. Marvel at the intricate craftsmanship, symbolic architecture, and the enduring presence of a living place of worship that continues to connect past and present.

Omari Café – Larni Garingalang Gardens:
Relax with morning tea featuring freshly baked scones and locally roasted coffee or tea, surrounded by tranquil gardens beside Bendigo Creek — a peaceful reflection of the renewal that has followed the gold rush era.

Golden Dragon Museum & Chinese Gardens:
Step inside Bendigo’s world-renowned museum dedicated to Chinese heritage. See intricate artefacts, silk regalia, and the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, Dai Gum Loong. Then stroll through the peaceful ornamental gardens that celebrate friendship between cultures.

1:30pm – Return to Visitor Centre.

Practical Information

Duration: 3.5 hours
Travel: Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle and short guided walks
Start & Finish: Bendigo Visitor Centre (51–67 Pall Mall, Bendigo)
Inclusions: Professional local guide, all transport, morning tea at Omari Café, and entry to the Golden Dragon Museum.
What to Bring: Comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, water bottle, camera, and a sense of curiosity.

Why Choose This Tour?

Authentic heritage experience – Walk the same ground once worked by Bendigo’s Chinese pioneers.
Meaningful storytelling – Hear powerful stories of faith, endurance, and community that shaped a city.
Cultural depth – Visit one of Australia’s oldest surviving Chinese temples and historic goldfield sites.
Local hospitality – Enjoy fresh local food and genuine warmth at Omari Café by the creek.
Small-group comfort – Travel in a modern 8-seater vehicle with time to ask questions and connect.

? Book your place today and experience the living history of Bendigo’s Chinese community — a story of hope, resilience, and belonging.