Exploring our wonderful Western NSW country towns enables people to have a great break, a little adventure and see so many unusual things. With one of the nicest gateways to a town, the idyllic town of Cowra is welcoming from the moment you drive into the area. Full of unique places to visit, it’s also a perfect base from which to travel across the west. 

A visit to Cowra would not be complete without popping into the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre. Visually spectacular and calming there is more than five hectares of impeccably presented blossoms, lakes and paths. Not just for garden lovers, this centre is steeped in culture and history.

Each September the gardens host the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival celebrating all things Japanese, and you can see Taiko drummers, martial arts and Sumo displays and tea ceremonies.  

Then there is the Cowra prisoner of war site. In 1944, 231 Japanese prisoners of war and four Australians lost their lives in the Cowra breakout and you can walk a trail through through the camp ruins. Pop into to the Cowra Visitors Centre to see the haunting nine-minute holographic presentation. 

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Another must-see is the Cowra Regional Art Gallery which has hosted a wealth of wonderful art exhibitions, including the Archibald Prize.

To be right in the heart of town when you stay, book a bed at The Aalana Motor Inn. 

Cowra can also be a base if you are heading to any of the other unique festivals in the area such as Trundle’s ABBA Festival or the Parkes’ Elvis Festival. Accommodation fills up quickly in those towns and savvy music lovers often stay at the Cowra Motor Inn and commute to the event.