There are plenty of things to do in Bendigo during the school holidays, and Bendigo Pottery offers a creative hands-on activity that gives kids something real to take home. Families can choose from two pottery classes for kids in Bendigo: a Decorating Workshop, where children paint their own plate, mug or bowl, or a Wheel Throwing Workshop, where they learn to shape clay on a pottery wheel with guidance from an on-site potter.
These school holiday workshops in Bendigo for kids are held at Bendigo Pottery in Epsom, around 10 minutes from Bendigo's city centre.
This guide covers the workshop options, age requirements, session times, what is included and what to know before booking.
What School Holiday Workshops Are Running in Bendigo?
Two workshops are available at Bendigo Pottery, both for $30 per person and fully guided by skilled potters and artists on site. Sessions run Monday to Friday, with no classes on Tuesdays, public holidays, or weekends
| Workshop | What Kids Do | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Decorating Workshop | Paint a plate, mug, or bowl with their own design. | No age restriction |
| Wheel Throwing Workshop | Shape real clay on a pottery wheel. | 6 years and up |
Once your child's piece is finished, we glaze and fire it, then contact you to arrange collection or postage.
Why Hands-On Kids Workshops Beat Most Bendigo Attractions
Most things to do in Bendigo are worth your time. But there is a difference between what kids see and what they actually remember.
Pottery classes for kids in Bendigo work because the child makes the decisions. They are not watching a demonstration or moving through an exhibit. They are choosing a design, feeling the clay respond, and solving small problems in real time. Research consistently shows that hands-on creative experiences build stronger memory in children than passive or observational activities.
Every piece is also completely unique. No two mugs, plates, or pots come out the same, which means every child leaves with something that is entirely theirs, not a fridge magnet or a showbag, but something they actually made and can use at home.
What Each Pottery Class for Kids at Bendigo Pottery Involves
Decorating Workshop
Your child selects a piece of bisque-fired pottery, a plate, mug, or bowl, and paints it with their own design using brushes and sponges, guided by an on-site artist. The session runs for approximately one hour with a maximum of 20 participants. The piece is glazed and fired after the class and made ready for everyday use.
Wheel Throwing Workshop
Children sit at a real pottery wheel and learn to shape both an upright and an open piece of clay with a skilled potter working alongside them. The session runs for 30 minutes with a maximum of four people, so every child gets focused, individual attention. Finished pots can be glazed and fired for an additional $10 per piece.
Please arrive 10 minutes before your chosen session time!
How to Book Your Bendigo School Holiday Workshop
Booking is online at bendigopottery.com.au. Select your workshop, choose a session time that suits your family, and pay the $30-per-person fee. The price covers one piece of pottery, with extra pieces available to add during the class.
A few things to note before you book:
- The Wheel Throwing Workshop is for ages 6 and up. The Decorating Workshop has no age restriction
- Classes do not run on Tuesdays, public holidays, or weekends
- The Wheel Throwing Workshop is capped at four people per session, so booking in advance is recommended.
What to Know Before You Visit Bendigo Pottery
Here are some things to keep in mind before going to the pottery workshop:
- What to wear - Both workshops involve clay or paint. Dress your kids in something comfortable that you do not mind getting dirty.
- How long to allow - Most families spend two to three hours at Bendigo Pottery in total. Beyond the workshop, the Village of Artisans, Antiques and Collectables Centre, and ceramics shop are all worth exploring while you are there.
- Getting there - Bendigo Pottery is at 146 Midland Highway, Epsom, around 10 minutes north of Bendigo's CBD. Parking is available on site. From Melbourne, Bendigo is just under two hours by car, easy for a Victorian family day trip.
- Collecting finished pieces - Your child's finished work is glazed, fired, and ready for collection in the days following your visit. If you are travelling from out of town, postage can be arranged.
- If you need to cancel - Get in touch through bendigopottery.com.au as early as possible. With limited spots per session, an early cancellation gives another family the chance to book in.
Conclusion
The school holiday experiences kids actually carry with them are the ones where they did something, not just saw something. Bendigo Pottery's kids workshops in Bendigo give families exactly that, a short, guided, genuinely creative session that ends with your child holding something they made themselves.
Spots are limited, and sessions are small, particularly the Wheel Throwing Workshop, which takes a maximum of four people per class. Book a spot now at bendigopottery.com.au!
FAQs
Q1: What can kids do at Bendigo Pottery during school holidays?
Bendigo Pottery runs a Decorating Workshop, where kids paint their own plate, mug, or bowl, and a Wheel Throwing Workshop, where they shape clay on a real pottery wheel with a skilled potter. Both cost $30 per person.
Q2: How much does a pottery workshop at Bendigo Pottery cost?
Both workshops are $30 per person and include one piece of pottery. Extra pieces can be added during the class. Wheel-throwing pieces can be glazed and fired for an additional $10 each.
Q3: Is Bendigo Pottery suitable for young kids?
Yes. The Decorating Workshop has no age restriction, making it suitable for toddlers with a parent. The Wheel Throwing Workshop is for ages 6 and up. Neither workshop requires any prior experience.
Q4: Do I need to book Bendigo Pottery school holiday workshops in Bendigo in advance?
Yes, and it is strongly recommended, especially for the Wheel Throwing Workshop, which holds a maximum of 4 people per session. Book online at bendigopottery.com.au to secure your preferred date and time.
Q5: What else can families do at Bendigo Pottery?
Bendigo Pottery, Australia's oldest continually operating pottery, established in 1858, has plenty beyond the guided workshops. Families can also try Clay Play, a relaxed session where kids get hands-on with clay at their own pace, or Paint a Piece, where you pick a pottery piece and decorate it yourself, no instructor, no time limit. The Village of Artisans features working artists and makers, the Antiques and Collectables Centre is a favourite with adults, and the on-site shop carries Australian-made ceramics.
Q6: Where is Bendigo Pottery and when is it open?
146 Midland Highway, Epsom, about 10 minutes north of Bendigo's city centre and just under two hours from Melbourne. Open six days a week, 10 am to 4 pm, closed Tuesdays.
Q7: Are the kids' workshops in Bendigo suitable for beginners?
Completely. Both workshops are designed for first-timers and are fully guided from start to finish. No experience is needed for either session.
Q8: How long does a pottery class for kids in Bendigo take?
The Decorating Workshop runs for approximately one hour. The Wheel Throwing Workshop runs for 30 minutes. Plan for two to three hours on site if you want to explore everything Bendigo Pottery has to offer.
Q9: Can adults join the kids' workshops in Bendigo?
Yes. Both workshops are open to adults. The Decorating Workshop has no age restriction, and the Wheel Throwing Workshop is open to anyone aged 6 and up, a good option for families who want to do the session together.
Q10: What should my child wear to a pottery class in Bendigo?
Casual, comfortable clothes that you do not mind getting a little dirty. Both workshops involve clay or paint. Aprons may be available on the day, but it is worth coming dressed for it.
Q11: What is the best thing to do in Bendigo with young kids?
For families with young children, the Decorating Workshop at Bendigo Pottery is one of the standout kids' workshops in Bendigo. It has no age restriction, runs for about an hour, costs $30 per person, and kids leave with a real piece of pottery they painted and decorated themselves.
