Bendigo is about 150 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, roughly two hours by car via the Calder Freeway (Western Ring Road to the M79). Traffic out of Melbourne can add time on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
By train, V/Line runs regular services from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne to Bendigo railway station, taking around two hours. The train service is frequent enough to make a day trip from Melbourne viable, though staying overnight gives you more time with the city. Trains arrive at Bendigo station on Mitchell Street, about a ten-minute walk from Pall Mall.
There is no commercial airport at Bendigo — the nearest airports are in Melbourne. Shepparton and Mildura have small regional airports but are not useful connections for Bendigo. If you are flying into the region, flying into Melbourne and taking the train or driving is the practical option.
Once in Bendigo, the city centre is compact and walkable. The Central Deborah Gold Mine is the only main attraction that requires a short walk from the Pall Mall strip; everything else is within easy walking distance of the centre.