Five things to do this summer that won’t break the bank

WITH Christmas and New Year behind us there’s still a substantial stretch of summer to survive (and keep the kids occupied).

Luckily, there’s lots of budget-friendly things to do around town that will keep the smiles firmly on everyone’s dials.

Become a Bendigo Region Ambassador

The Bendigo Region Ambassador pass entitles the holder to free entry or special offers at a range of Bendigo attractions when they’re accompanying a full fee paying adult or when a family ticket has been purchased.

Attractions include the Golden Dragon Museum, the Bendigo Tramways Talking Tram Tour*, the Central Deborah Gold Mine Experience Tour*, the Discovery Science and Technology Centre and the Bendigo Military Museum.

Passes can be obtained on the Bendigo Region website.

*bookings recommended.

Discover Summer in the Parks

The City’s Summer in the Parks program is offering outdoor cinemas, live music, festivals and more across Bendigo’s parks and public spaces throughout the warmer months.

Highlights include mass Australia Day celebrations on 26 January and a Bendigo Youth Music showcase in Rosalind Park on 15 February.

Events happening in March include the Eaglehawk Dahlia and Arts Festival, the Bendigo Latin Festival and the Bendigo Sustainability Festival.

Find out more on the Summer in the Parks website.

Travel with your family for free

To celebrate the opening of the Metro Tunnel anyone can travel at no cost on the Public Transport Victoria network without a Myki on weekends until 1 February.

Victorian Seniors Card holders can also travel free statewide on weekends, in this case with no cutoff date on the horizon.

From 1 January Victorians under the age of 18 can also travel for free (ongoing) if they obtain a Youth myki card for around $5.

Lose yourself in the Library

An impressively eclectic summer program has been scheduled for libraries in the Goldfields region.

Highlights include two literary events at Bendigo Library – Summertime Crime: Introducing Geoff Parkes and Susi Fox (Tuesday 27 January) and the launch of children’s book Imagine a Place on Friday 20 February.

Natural history documentary Kangaroos: Faces in the Mob will also be shown at Kangaroo Flat Library on Thursday 26 February.

You can access the full program on the Goldfields Libraries website.

Shop smart at a local market

Upcoming markets include the regular Bendigo Showgrounds Sunday Market (every Sunday from 8.30am to 2.30pm) and the Bendigo Community Farmers Market, held on the second Saturday of the month from 9am to 12.30pm at the Bendigo FoodShare Food Hub in Breen Street, Golden Square.

Further afield, the Castlemaine Farmers’ Market takes place on the first Sunday of each month, generously making way for the Maldon market on the second Sunday of every month.