Beechworth is beautiful. You’ll find it by peeling off the highway between Sydney and Melbourne, in the Victorian high country. Not far from Albury-Wodonga.
It’s a town born from the 1852 gold rush and made famous by the Ned Kelly Gang trials. That era has been preserved with such respect that the Australian National Heritage acknowledged that Beechworth has UNESCO knocking on the door.
It’s a great spot to drop by for a few hours, escape to on a romantic weekend away, or dig in for a week of relaxation with the kids in some of Australia’s most gorgeous countryside. So, what are the best things to see and do while you’re there?
Beechworth the Place to Bee
There are two institutions you may have already heard of before arriving in Beechworth, and both are worth a visit. Beechworth Honey and the Bridge Road Brewers.
Beechworth Honey populates many of Australia’s supermarkets, and you’ll find its headquarters perched at the edge of the town’s centre. There’s a lot more going on than honey, of course, with the wonderfully decorated space offering a mind-blowing number of honey-related products and bee merchandise to peruse.
However, it’s the education initiatives aimed at helping preserve bee ecosystems that seal the deal. Especially during the Pollinate festival that runs through November. In 2025, this included an art gallery, a display of love letters to bees, and limited-edition honey jars, whereby the proceeds go towards putting bee education kits in Australian primary schools.
Just down the road, you’ll also find the famed independent brewery by Bridge Road. Hidden behind the shopfronts, you’ll find an open, immersive beer garden with a small kids’ playground. While inside, amongst the giant metallic vats, there is a huge selection of beers and a diverse menu. The generous tasting paddle takes you on a voyage, and you’ll be surprised by the unique pizzas on offer.
Beechworth Historic Precinct
If you’re fascinated by the gold rush era and the indelible impact it had on white Australian culture, it’s hard to top Beechworth. The Historic Precinct isn’t a large space, as you can walk from one corner to the other in less than 15 minutes, but it’s jam-packed with spectacular sites.
At the north end, you’ll find Beechworth Gaol, where tours run four times during the day. Tours take you into a prison that struggled to deal with a region known in the mid-1800s as the lawless north-east. Many of the figures involved with the Ned Kelly gang spent time there.
Just down the road, a run of buildings constructed in the shadow of the gold rush can be found in pristine condition. This includes the gold exchange, the telegraph station, the police station and the famous courthouse.
A tour of the latter is highly recommended. Much of the original furniture remains, and you can see the very seat that nestled a bullet-riddled Ned Kelly’s butt as he was sentenced to the trial that would ultimately take his life. As well as an impressive documentary broadcast against the historic walls, you’ll find the law library, pistols and armour, and more.
Across the road and down past the old Town Hall, which houses the tourist information centre, is the Bourke Museum. It’s named after Robert O’Hara Burke, the renowned explorer, famous for that Bourke and Wills expedition that cost him his life. But before that, he was a beloved police superintendent in Beechworth.
The museum features a stunning and rare glass window and multiple exhibits, including an animals display starring a Tasmanian Tiger. There’s a recreation of the old Beechworth gold rush era streets to walk down, too, complete with props, building fronts, guns, tools, and more.
Other things to do in Beechworth
Beechworth has plenty more to see, too. Start your day at Beechworth Bakery, where you can not only get a coffee but also try the delicious Ned Kelly Pie.
If the weather is warm, heading over to Sambell Park for a swim off Sandy Beach is enjoyable. There’s a pontoon to jump off, and if you’re looking for things to do with kids, there’s a great playground, a mountain bike track nearby and free barbecues.
If you’d prefer to explore nature, the 5km walking track that runs from the Powder Magazine past some waterfalls, over a historic bridge and eventually to the Beechworth Gorge gets the heart rate pumping. Alternatively, just out of town, you’ll find the Woolshed Falls and – just a bit further down the road – Mount Pilot, where a short walk can lead to stunning 360-degree sunset views.
While in the Mayday Hills, not only will you find a beautiful open space dotted by glorious trees, but also the old lunatic asylum. Brave souls can take on the ghost tour at night.
Does that all sound like a good weekend to you? There’s certainly plenty to see and do in Beechworth.
