By the time we left Canberra at 9am., it was sunny & the temperature was 12C. We re-fuelled at Yass, then set off for Cowra, which was 121kms away. It was a pretty drive, spoiled only by a lot of blood on the road from a large number of recently killed kangaroos.
On arrival in Cowra, we settled in at the Cowra Van Park, which was a lovely leafy site on the Lachlan River. We had a quick lunch, then set off to find the Japanese Garden, which was the main reason for our visit - it had been recommended & sounded well worth looking at.
Cowra had been thrust into the headlines for what became known as "The Cowra Breakout", when 235 soldiers lost their lives. On Aug 5, 1944, 1104 Japanese prisoners launched a mass escape from the P.O.W. Camp just outside the town. Many of them, as well as four Australian soldiers, were killed in the attempted escape & the town's RSL members have maintained the graves ever since. This care & respect has resulted in a special relationship between Cowra & Japan and the Garden is just one of the ways in which the town has contributed toward world peace.
What a beautiful place! It is tranquil, peaceful & exquisitely maintained. There are lush gardens, cascading streams & fish-filled lakes, all of which have been designed to represent the landscapes of Japan. Exploring this delighful place is a memorable experience & one which we were glad we'd taken the time to enjoy.
From the Garden, we continued on to the P.O.W. Camp & Guard Tower, the Cowra & Japanese War Cemeteries, Australia's World Peace Bell & the beautiful Rose Garden. All in all, it was a perfect day. We loved the town & would like to have stayed longer but this is a big country & we still have a lot of kilometres to cover!
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