Golden Dragon Museum & Gardens, Bendigo
The Golden Dragon Museum is one of the best family-friendly attractions in Bendigo, best known for its famous imperial dragons, the oldest and longest in the world! We visited the museum and gardens during our Bendigo trip over the school holidays, great way to spend the morning with the kids.
Golden Dragon Museum Bendigo review
The Golden Dragon Museum is a great place to visit if you want something cultural and interesting that still works well with kids. I have been wanting to come here for years, but it is a little far for us as a day trip from Melbourne so it made sense to come and spend a few days.
Inside the museum, you can explore exhibits on Bendigo’s Chinese history, see traditional costumes and cultural objects, and get up close to the museum’s famous dragons and regalia.
The museum is famous for its collection of processional dragons, including Loong (the oldest, from 1892), Sun Loong, and the modern Dai Gum Loong (the world’s longest, measuring 125m). It was impossible to photograph the whole thing as it runs around all parts of the room but it is seriously impressive!
The staff are really lovely and will give you an introduction about the museum and what you can see. They are also happy to answer any questions you have too.
After visiting the museum, a walk through the Chinese gardens is a must. They are really beautiful and and make the visit feel more than just a quick look through a museum.
We found one to two hours was about right to explore both the museum and the gardens at a relaxed pace.
If you are visiting Bendigo over Easter, this is also an especially good place to include on your itinerary. The Golden Dragon Museum is closely linked to the Bendigo Easter Festival, and this is when the famous dragon comes out as part of the celebrations.
Details
Golden Dragon Museum
1–11 Bridge Street, Bendigo VIC 3550
Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30am to 5.00pm
Open daily during Victorian school holidays.
More things to do in Bendigo with kids
If you are planning a family trip to Bendigo, you can easily combine the Golden Dragon Museum with more fun activities including:
- Central Deborah Gold Mine
- Bendigo Pottery
- Talking Tram
- Rosalind Park
- Lake Weeroona
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