Lake Weeroona, Bendigo: What are the best things to do?

The best things to do at Lake Weeroona, Bendigo, include the round-lake walk, the Boardwalk Café and the children’s playground.

Lake Weeroona in Bendigo looks mighty pretty for something that was once a charmless, dusty mining area.

History of Lake Weeroona, Bendigo

In the 1870s, the decision was made to beautify the area, with a man-made lake as the centrepiece. The director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens was roped in to give Bendigo a public space it could be proud of. The result was the Nolan Street Reserve – now called the Lake Weeroona Park.

The park and lake have been Bendigo’s go-to recreation spots for more than a century.

Lake Weeroona in Bendigo, Victoria. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Lake Weeroona walk

Lake Weeroona is about five minutes north of central Bendigo. It’s not a massive lake, and the walk around it is only about 1.5km. It takes about 20 minutes to stroll around the lake, but it can be included as part of the longer, 18.7km Bendigo Creek Trail through the city.

Even though the lake is small, different parts of the lake have different vibes. The main action hub is on the eastern side, where the public toilets and children’s playground are. There are several hotels on the other side of Napier Street, which makes Lake Weeroona a very handy escape for visitors.

Boardwalk Café, Mick’s Fish and Favourite Flavours

At the southern side of the lake is the Boardwalk Café, perfect for a coffee, snack or light lunch. Alternative food options include Mick’s Fish – a fish and chips takeaway – and the Favourite Flavours ice cream shop. These are across Nolan Street, next to the Centenary Oval.

The western side of Lake Weeroona is the quietest. So if you just want a bit of piece and quiet, stick to the chunk of the park between Bendigo Creek and the lake.

The northern side of Lake Weeroona is home to the Bendigo Rowing Club. The rowboats you’ll more than likely see on the lake come from here.