Bendigo National Swap Meet 2026: Gates Open 6am Saturday and 7am Sunday, Parking on Holmes Road and Prouses Road, Gate 3 for Disability Parking (Bendigo, VIC)

The Bendigo National Swap Meet runs on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026 at the Bendigo Showgrounds on Holmes Road. The gates open to the public at 6am on Saturday and 7am on Sunday, entry is paid at the gate, and visitors park around the site, mainly on Holmes Road and Prouses Road, because the only public parking on the grounds is for disability access through Gate 3.

This guide uses the swap meet’s own visitor page, FAQ and 2026 site map, read on 27 October 2026. Victoria is on daylight saving time at this time of year, so all times are Bendigo local time.

What time do the gates open?

The visitor page lists the public gate times as 6:00am on Saturday and 7:00am on Sunday, and says there is no public entry on Friday. The organisers’ food vendor page adds that Friday is set-up day for site holders from 8:00am, that Saturday trading continues until about 5:00pm, and that on Sunday trading winds down around midday before pack-up. Those closing times are written for vendors rather than visitors, so treat them as a guide to when stalls pack up, not as a published closing time.

One answer in the FAQ still carries last year’s dates: it gives the gate times as “Saturday 15th November and 7am on Sunday 16th November”, which are the 2025 days. The visitor page, which is the one dated for 2026, gives 14 and 15 November, and the FAQ’s own answer on the event dates also says 14 and 15 November 2026.

Day	Public gates open	Entry
Friday 13 November	No public entry	Set-up day for site holders
Saturday 14 November	6:00am	$15
Sunday 15 November	7:00am	$5

Where do I park?

The FAQ says parking is available around the site, particularly on Holmes Road and Prouses Road, and asks visitors to follow all directional signs on the day. It adds that disabled parking is available on site at Gate 3 and that no other public parking is available on site. The 2026 map shows the main entrance on the Holmes Road side marked “no vehicle entry”, and site holder vehicle parking areas inside the grounds that are for site holders, not for visitors.

The organisers’ page for food vendors puts the average attendance at 15,000 to 20,000 people across the two main days, so expect the streets around the showgrounds to fill. The pages we read do not list temporary car parks or a park-and-ride, and there is no public transport information on the swap meet’s website. If you plan to arrive by bus or train, check the Public Transport Victoria journey planner for services to North Bendigo.

Which gate should I use?

The 2026 map, marked “correct as at 28/09/2026”, labels the entrances this way:

Gate	Label on the map
Holmes Road frontage	Main entrance, no vehicle entry
Gate 2	Pedestrian, public service, suppliers entry, site holders
Gate 3	Site holders main entrance; pedestrian, public, motorcycles

The map also marks two further access points for pedestrians and site holders. Disability parking, per the FAQ, is reached through Gate 3. Because this is a map rather than a written instruction, ask the organisers or follow the signs and marshals on the day if you are unsure which entrance suits your route.

What is on the grounds?

The visitor page lists over 1,700 sites, historic vehicles, barn finds, a survivor car display, and die-cast models and toys, with coffee vans, hot food and cold drinks on site. The 2026 map marks the following:

• Toilets at several spots, and showers, listed on the map key.
• First aid, at grid reference H7.
• Two ATMs, at F2 and E11. Entry is paid at the gates, so bring cash or check the gate’s payment options with the organisers.
• Five water stations, at E2, H8, L7, G12 and H3.
• Ice sales at A3 and a parts pick-up point at G13.
• Food and coffee locations spread around the oval and the sheds.

What does it cost, and what can’t I bring?

Admission is $15 on Saturday and $5 on Sunday, with no other concessions. The FAQ says entry tickets are only available at the gates during the event. The visitor page says children under 15 are free when accompanied by an adult, while the FAQ words the same rule as “children 15 and under”, so check with the organisers if your child is exactly 15. The visitor page lists scooters, skateboards, dogs, alcohol and pushbikes as prohibited. The FAQ says registered assistance dogs are exempt, and that motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters that meet Australian Standards and Victorian Road Rules may be used if you have a genuine need, at walking pace.

The organisers can be reached at info@bendigoswap.com.au.

Sources

• The Bendigo Swap Meet — Visitors (dates, gate times, admission, prohibited items; checked 27 October 2026)
• The Bendigo Swap Meet — FAQ (parking, disability parking, tickets at the gate)
• 2026 Bendigo National Swap Meet site map (PDF) (gates, facilities; correct as at 28 September 2026)
• The Bendigo Swap Meet — Food vendors (event schedule and attendance)

Featured image: a 1965 Holden EH at a classic car show in Kalorama, Victoria, not at the swap meet (photo: Matthew Paul Argall / CC BY 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Bendigo National Swap Meet or its organising clubs. Times, prices and rules can change; check the swap meet’s website before you go.