Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo Bendigo 2026: $10 a Day or $15 for the Weekend, Saturday 9am and Sunday 9:30am Starts, Under 12s Free (North Bendigo, VIC)

The Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo comes to the Bendigo Showgrounds on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026. A one-day pass is $10 and a weekend pass is $15 (sold online only), and children under 12 get in free with a paying adult. The sources disagree on opening hours: VRFish lists Saturday 9am to 3pm and Sunday 9:30am to 2pm, while the organiser’s own event list shows 9:00am to 3:30pm.

This guide uses the organiser’s website, its Trybooking ticket page and the VRFish events listing, all read on 27 October 2026. Victoria is on daylight saving time at this time of year, so all times are Bendigo local time.

When is the Bendigo fishing expo and what time does it open?

The organiser’s website says the expo is on 7 and 8 November 2026 in Bendigo. For opening hours, the two sources we found give different answers:

Source	Saturday 7 November	Sunday 8 November
VRFish events page	9am to 3pm	9:30am to 2pm
Organiser’s events page	9:00am to 3:30pm	9:00am to 3:30pm

The organiser’s page lists one entry for the expo covering both days, in the main exhibition building, so it does not separate Saturday from Sunday. Until the organiser clarifies, plan around the earlier start on each day (9am on Saturday, and 9am on Sunday if the organiser’s list is right), and expect the doors to close earlier on Sunday than on Saturday if the VRFish times are right. You can ask the organiser at info@tafoe.com.au.

Where is it held?

Trybooking lists the venue as the Regional Events Complex at the Bendigo Showgrounds, 42-72 Holmes Road, North Bendigo, Victoria 3550, and VRFish gives the same address. The organiser’s events page names the venue “Prince of Wales Showgrounds – Bendigo”, with the expo in the main exhibition building and the boat display in the main arena. We did not find a page that explains the difference between the two names, so use the Holmes Road address that Trybooking and VRFish give.

How much does it cost?

Ticket	Price	Notes
One-day pass (Saturday or Sunday)	$10	Booked on Trybooking
Two-day weekend pass	$15	Online only, according to VRFish
Children under 12	Free	With a paying adult

The organiser’s tickets page sends buyers to Trybooking and says there is one online door prize to be won each day, with terms and conditions applying. The page does not say whether tickets can be bought at the gate, so if you plan to pay on the day, ask the organiser first.

What is on at the expo?

The organiser describes the expo as a showcase for fishing, camping and outdoor brands from across Australia, with a focus on small lure makers and family-owned businesses. It says the event started in 2020 as the Regional Vic Fishing Expo and that it also brings in organisations such as the Victorian Fisheries Authority, VRFish, NSW Maritime, Fishcare and OzFish, along with guest speakers, demonstrations and hands-on “how-to” sessions. The 2026 exhibitor page was blank when we read it, so we cannot say which stands will be there.

The organiser’s events list shows two other items for Saturday 7 November:

• Fishing Boat Show n Shine, 10:00am to 2:00pm in the main arena, for owners to show their recreational fishing boats alongside some of the latest boats on the market.
• A Night with 2 of the Best, 6:00pm to 11:00pm at the Lakeside Hotel on Napier Street, Bendigo, with Merv Hughes and April Vokey. The organiser describes a two-course meal, guest speakers and a charity auction, and lists tickets at $70.

Who are the keynote speakers?

The organiser’s keynote speakers page names four speakers and gives a time for each on both days. The page does not say which room the talks are in.

Time	Saturday 7 November	Sunday 8 November
11:00am	Rod Mackenzie	Dr Taylor Hunt
11:30am	Merv Hughes	April Vokey
12:30pm	Dr Taylor Hunt	Rod Mackenzie
1:00pm	April Vokey	Merv Hughes

Rod Mackenzie (Codmac) is described as an authority on catching Murray cod. Merv Hughes is a former Australian fast bowler and host of the Merv Hughes Fishing Show. Dr Taylor Hunt is a fisheries manager with the Victorian Fisheries Authority. April Vokey is a fly-fishing writer and speaker who divides her time between northern British Columbia and Australia.

How do I get there, and where do I park?

None of the pages we read gives parking or public transport details for the expo. The organiser’s contact on its website is info@tafoe.com.au, so ask there before you travel. Other events at the showgrounds publish their own parking arrangements, and the Bendigo National Swap Meet on 14 and 15 November has its own; do not assume they apply to the expo.

What else should I check before I go?

• Opening times: the two sources above differ, so look at the organiser’s website again before the day.
• Ticket type: the weekend pass is described as online only, so buy it before you travel.
• The dinner: it is a separate ticket and a separate venue, the Lakeside Hotel, not the showgrounds.
• Children: under-12s are free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Sources

• The Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo — home page (checked 27 October 2026)
• The Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo — tickets
• The Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo — events (hours, Boat Show n Shine, dinner)
• The Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo — 2026 keynote speakers
• Trybooking — The Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo (venue and dates)
• VRFish — Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo (Bendigo) (hours, prices, address)

Featured image: Lake Weeroona, Bendigo (not at the showgrounds) (photo: Commons contributor / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with The Australian Fishing & Outdoor Expo, VRFish or the Bendigo Showgrounds. Times, prices and arrangements can change; check the organiser’s website before you go.