GETTING THERE - TRANSPORTATION

ABOUT THE VENUE

The Bendigo Jockey Club is a historic and prominent horse racing venue located in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

TRAVELLING FROM MELBOURNE

By Public Transport (Train & Local Bus)

Train from Melbourne to Bendigo Station

• Take a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne's CBD to Bendigo Station.
• Frequency: Trains run approximately hourly.
• Duration: The train journey itself takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours.
• Tickets: You can use a Myki card for this journey (ensure it's topped up), or purchase a paper ticket from V/Line.

From Bendigo Station to Bendigo Jockey Club (Racecourse)

• The Bendigo Jockey Club is located at Heinz Street, White Hills, which is a few kilometers from Bendigo Station.
• Local Bus (Route 5): The most direct public bus option is to take the Route 5 bus from Bendigo Station towards Huntly.
• Alight at the Botanic Gardens stop (Hall St/Napier St, White Hills).From the Botanic Gardens stop, it's approximately a 15-minute walk to the racecourse.
• Special Event Shuttle Buses: For major race days (like the Bendigo Cup or Golden Mile), the Bendigo Jockey Club often provides dedicated shuttle buses from Bendigo Railway Station directly to the Racecourse
• Check the Bendigo Jockey Club's official website or their social media closer to your event date for specific shuttle bus timetables. For example, for the Golden Mile Raceday, buses have been known to depart Bendigo Railway Station at specific times (11:25 am and 12:15 pm) and return in the late afternoon.
• Taxi/Rideshare: A taxi or rideshare from Bendigo Station to the Racecourse would be a quick 5-10 minute drive.

By Car (Driving)

• Route: From Melbourne, the most direct route is to take the Calder Freeway (M79) directly to Bendigo.
• Duration: The drive is approximately 150-160 km and usually takes about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on traffic conditions.
• Directions: Use a GPS or mapping app (like Google Maps or Waze) and input the address: Bendigo Jockey Club, Heinz St, White Hills, VIC 3550.

TRAVELLING FROM SOUTHERN REGIONAL MELBOURNE

By Public Transport (Metro Train/Bus, V/Line Train & Local Bus)

The total journey time by public transport can range from 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on your exact starting point and connections.

Travel from Southern Regional Melbourne to Southern Cross Station

• If you are in an outer metropolitan suburb (e.g., along the Frankston, Cranbourne, or Pakenham lines): Take a Metro Trains service directly to Southern Cross Station. The travel time will vary significantly depending on how far south you are (e.g., Frankston to Southern Cross is about 1 hour).
• If you are in a more regional town south of Melbourne (e.g., Mornington Peninsula towns not directly on a train line): You might need to take a local bus service to the nearest major train station on a Metro line, or directly to Southern Cross Station if a regional coach service operates from your town.
• Use the PTV (Public Transport Victoria) Journey Planner (ptv.vic.gov.au) to find the best connection from your specific location to Southern Cross Station.

V/Line Train from Southern Cross Station to Bendigo Station

• From Southern Cross Station, take a V/Line train on the Bendigo Line to Bendigo Station.
• Frequency: Trains typically run approximately hourly.
• Duration: The train journey itself takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours.
• Tickets: You will need a Myki card for this journey. You can purchase and top up Myki cards at Southern Cross Station.

From Bendigo Station to Bendigo Jockey Club (Racecourse)

• The Bendigo Jockey Club is located at Heinz Street, White Hills, which is a few kilometers from Bendigo Station.
• Local Bus (Route 5): The most direct public bus option is to take the Route 5 bus from Bendigo Station towards Huntly.
• Alight at the Botanic Gardens stop (Hall St/Napier St, White Hills).From the Botanic Gardens stop, it's approximately a 15-minute walk to the racecourse.
• Special Event Shuttle Buses: For major race days (like the Bendigo Cup or Golden Mile), the Bendigo Jockey Club often provides dedicated shuttle buses from Bendigo Railway Station directly to the Racecourse
• Check the Bendigo Jockey Club's official website or their social media closer to your event date for specific shuttle bus timetables. For example, for the Golden Mile Raceday, buses have been known to depart Bendigo Railway Station at specific times (11:25 am and 12:15 pm) and return in the late afternoon.
• Taxi/Rideshare: A taxi or rideshare from Bendigo Station to the Racecourse would be a quick 5-10 minute drive.

By Car (Driving)

• Route: You will typically need to connect to one of Melbourne's major freeways that lead north, such as the Monash Freeway (M1), and then transition to the Calder Freeway (M79), which goes directly to Bendigo.
• Duration: The drive time will vary depending on your exact starting point in southern regional Melbourne, but generally expect it to be around 2 to 2.5 hours. Be aware that parts of CityLink (connecting to the Calder Freeway from central Melbourne) are toll roads.
• Directions: Use a GPS or mapping application (like Google Maps or Waze) and input the address: Bendigo Jockey Club, Heinz St, White Hills, VIC 3550.

TRAVELLING FROM NORTHERN REGIONAL MELBOURNE

By Public Transport (Metro Train/Bus, V/Line Train & Local Bus)

The total journey time by public transport can range from 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on your exact starting point and connections.

Travel from Northern Regional Melbourne to Southern Cross Station

• If you are in an outer metropolitan suburb (e.g., along the Craigieburn, Upfield, or Mernda lines): Take a Metro Trains service directly to Southern Cross Station. The travel time will vary depending on how far north you are.
• If you are in a more regional town north of Melbourne (e.g., Wallan, Kilmore, or other towns not directly on a Metro train line): You might need to take a local bus service to the nearest Metro train station, or a regional coach service directly to Southern Cross Station.
• Use the PTV (Public Transport Victoria) Journey Planner (ptv.vic.gov.au) to find the best connection from your specific location to Southern Cross Station.

V/Line Train from Southern Cross Station to Bendigo Station

• From Southern Cross Station, take a V/Line train on the Bendigo Line to Bendigo Station.
• Frequency: Trains typically run approximately hourly.
• Duration: The train journey itself takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours.
• Tickets: You will need a Myki card for this journey. You can purchase and top up Myki cards at Southern Cross Station.

From Bendigo Station to Bendigo Jockey Club (Racecourse)

• The Bendigo Jockey Club is located at Heinz Street, White Hills, which is a few kilometers from Bendigo Station.
• Local Bus (Route 5): The most direct public bus option is to take the Route 5 bus from Bendigo Station towards Huntly.
• Alight at the Botanic Gardens stop (Hall St/Napier St, White Hills).From the Botanic Gardens stop, it's approximately a 15-minute walk to the racecourse.
• Special Event Shuttle Buses: For major race days (like the Bendigo Cup or Golden Mile), the Bendigo Jockey Club often provides dedicated shuttle buses from Bendigo Railway Station directly to the Racecourse
• Check the Bendigo Jockey Club's official website or their social media closer to your event date for specific shuttle bus timetables. For example, for the Golden Mile Raceday, buses have been known to depart Bendigo Railway Station at specific times (11:25 am and 12:15 pm) and return in the late afternoon.
• Taxi/Rideshare: A taxi or rideshare from Bendigo Station to the Racecourse would be a quick 5-10 minute drive.

By Car (Driving)

• Route: You will primarily use the Calder Freeway (M79), which runs directly from Melbourne to Bendigo. Depending on your exact starting point, you might join the Calder Freeway directly or via other major roads/freeways (e.g., Hume Freeway to Northern Highway, then to McIvor Highway, which connects to Bendigo).
• Duration: The drive time will vary depending on your exact starting point, but generally expect it to be around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.
• Directions: Use a GPS or mapping application (like Google Maps or Waze) and input the address: Bendigo Jockey Club, Heinz St, White Hills, VIC 3550.

TRAVELLING FROM INTERSTATE

To get to the Bendigo Jockey Club (Apiam Bendigo Racecourse) from interstate, your journey will primarily involve flying into one of Melbourne's airports or driving.

By Air & Public Transport (via Melbourne Tullamarine Airport - MEL)

This is the most common route for those flying into Victoria.

Fly into Melbourne Airport (MEL)

Book your flight to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL).

Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross Station (Melbourne CBD)

• The most efficient way is to take the SkyBus City Express.
• Location: SkyBus departs directly from outside the terminals at Melbourne Airport.
• Frequency: Buses run every 10-15 minutes, 24/7 (except 1 am - 4 am).
• Duration: Approximately 25-35 minutes, depending on traffic.
• Cost: Around $18 for a one-way ticket. You can buy tickets online, at kiosks at the airport, or using the SkyBus app.

V/Line Train from Southern Cross Station to Bendigo Station

• From Southern Cross Station, take a V/Line train on the Bendigo Line to Bendigo Station.
• Frequency: Trains typically run approximately hourly.
• Duration: The train journey itself takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours.
• Tickets: You will need a Myki card for this journey. You can purchase and top up Myki cards at Southern Cross Station.

From Bendigo Station to Bendigo Jockey Club (Racecourse)

• The Bendigo Jockey Club is located at Heinz Street, White Hills, which is a few kilometers from Bendigo Station.
• Local Bus (Route 5): The most direct public bus option is to take the Route 5 bus from Bendigo Station towards Huntly.
• Alight at the Botanic Gardens stop (Hall St/Napier St, White Hills).From the Botanic Gardens stop, it's approximately a 15-minute walk to the racecourse.
• Special Event Shuttle Buses: For major race days (like the Bendigo Cup or Golden Mile), the Bendigo Jockey Club often provides dedicated shuttle buses from Bendigo Railway Station directly to the Racecourse
• Check the Bendigo Jockey Club's official website or their social media closer to your event date for specific shuttle bus timetables. For example, for the Golden Mile Raceday, buses have been known to depart Bendigo Railway Station at specific times (11:25 am and 12:15 pm) and return in the late afternoon.
• Taxi/Rideshare: A taxi or rideshare from Bendigo Station to the Racecourse would be a quick 5-10 minute drive.

By Air & Public Transport (via Avalon Airport - AVV)

Avalon is a smaller airport closer to Geelong, primarily serving Jetstar domestic flights from Sydney, Gold Coast, and Brisbane.

Fly into Avalon Airport (AVV)

Book your flight to Avalon Airport.

Avalon Airport to Geelong or Melbourne

SkyBus Avalon City Express:‍

This service connects Avalon Airport directly to Geelong or Southern Cross Station in Melbourne.

To Geelong:

• Approximately 20-25 minutes.

To Southern Cross Station (Melbourne):

• ‍Approximately 90 minutes.
• Cost: Around $25 (to Geelong) or $26-$30 (to Melbourne).
• Taxi/Rideshare: Available from the airport, offering a direct but more expensive ride to Geelong (approx. 18 mins, $45-$55) or Melbourne.
• MyBus Geelong: Offers pre-booked transfers to various locations in Geelong and the surrounding area. Bookings are essential.

(if via Geelong): V/Line Train from Geelong to Bendigo (via Ballarat)

If you choose to go via Geelong, you can take a V/Line train from Geelong Station to Bendigo Station. This route typically involves a transfer in Ballarat.

• Duration: The train journey from Geelong to Bendigo (including transfers) can take around 3 hours 15 minutes.

(if via Melbourne): V/Line Train from Southern Cross Station to Bendigo Station

If you take the SkyBus to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne
From Southern Cross Station, take a V/Line train on the Bendigo Line to Bendigo Station.

• Frequency: Trains run approximately hourly.
• Duration: The train journey itself takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours.
• Tickets: You will need a Myki card. You can purchase and top up Myki cards at Southern Cross Station.

From Bendigo Station to Bendigo Jockey Club (Racecourse)

• The Bendigo Jockey Club is located at Heinz Street, White Hills, which is a few kilometers from Bendigo Station.
• Local Bus (Route 5): The most direct public bus option is to take the Route 5 bus from Bendigo Station towards Huntly.
• Alight at the Botanic Gardens stop (Hall St/Napier St, White Hills).From the Botanic Gardens stop, it's approximately a 15-minute walk to the racecourse.
• Special Event Shuttle Buses: For major race days (like the Bendigo Cup or Golden Mile), the Bendigo Jockey Club often provides dedicated shuttle buses from Bendigo Railway Station directly to the Racecourse
• Check the Bendigo Jockey Club's official website or their social media closer to your event date for specific shuttle bus timetables. For example, for the Golden Mile Raceday, buses have been known to depart Bendigo Railway Station at specific times (11:25 am and 12:15 pm) and return in the late afternoon.
• Taxi/Rideshare: A taxi or rideshare from Bendigo Station to the Racecourse would be a quick 5-10 minute drive.

By Car (Driving from Interstate)

If you prefer to drive from another state, here are approximate driving times and routes:

From Sydney, NSW:

• Distance: Approximately 800-900 km.
• Time: Around 8.5 to 9.5 hours.
• Route: Primarily via the Hume Motorway (M31) and then connecting to the Calder Freeway (M79) directly to Bendigo.

From Adelaide, SA:

• Distance: Approximately 600-700 km.
• Time: Around 7 to 8 hours.
• Route: Primarily via the Western Freeway (A8) and then connecting to the Calder Freeway (M79) or other major highways to Bendigo.
• Directions: Use a GPS or mapping application (like Google Maps or Waze) and input the address: Bendigo Jockey Club, Heinz St, White Hills, VIC 3550.

General Tips

Myki Card:

Essential for all public transport within Victoria (Metro trains, trams, buses, and V/Line services on the Bendigo line). Purchase and top up at major stations or 7-Eleven stores.

PTV App/Website:

For real-time public transport information, journey planning, and service updates, use the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) website (ptv.vic.gov.au) or their mobile app.

Traffic:

If driving, be aware of potential traffic delays, especially around Melbourne's CBD during peak hours.

Bookings:

For V/Line trains, especially long-distance services, it's advisable to check timetables and consider booking in advance, though Myki can be used for the Melbourne-Bendigo line without a specific seat reservation.