The City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo Tourism have launched the new 2020 Bendigo Dining and Shopping Guide with plenty of ideas for the holiday season.

City Tourism and Major Events Manager Terry Karamaloudis said the free pocket-sized booklet was a fantastic guide that showcased Bendigo and the surrounding area.

“The Bendigo Dining and Shopping Guide features great restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, boutiques, handmade or locally produced items, and celebrates the region’s vibrant arts and cultural scene,” Mr Karamaloudis said.  

“The guide is a perfect resource if you’ve got family and friends visiting during the holiday season who are be keen to explore the region and enjoy unique experiences.

“It has great ideas and tips, including a planner for ‘24 hours in Bendigo’, unique selfie spots, public art tours and a calendar of events.”

Eaglehawk is a new addition to the nine precincts featured, which are Bath Lane, Chancery Lane, Hargreaves and Williamson Streets, Lyttleton Terrace and Queen Street, Mitchell Street, Pall Mall, High Street and View Street. The guide also promotes other local businesses close by in a ‘Minutes Away’ section.

City research found that when shoppers spent $100 in a local business, nearly $70 stayed in the community. When people purchased goods from online shops located outside of Greater Bendigo, only $3 remained in the local community.   

Mr Karamaloudis said the City was promoting a shop local campaign in the region to encourage more people to support local businesses.  

“If you shop local, it stays local and your dollars go a lot further to help support local businesses and jobs.

“The guide will inspire people to shop locally, make the most of our food and drink culture and experience exciting trends that make our city so vibrant.”

The Bendigo Dining & Shopping Guide is available from the Bendigo Visitor Centre on Pall Mall or the Heathcote Visitor Centre between 9am-5pm, seven days, or you can visit www.bendigotourism.com for an online version.