On a recent holiday to Cowra, Australia we visited the Japanese Gardens. They were spectacular and so serene even in Australia’s hot weather. The day we went it was 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 Fahrenheit). So hot. Yet somehow because of the gardens design, we weren’t hot. There was plenty of wind and shade to keep us cool.

The Japanese Gardens cover five hectares and are on the site of the World War two prisoner of war camp. They were established to recognize and develop the historic and ongoing relationship between the people of Cowra and Japan.

These authentic Japanese Gardens are the largest in the Southern hemisphere and contain a traditional Edo cottage, an authentic open air tea house as well as a Bonsai house. I loved the Bonsai and was fascinated by how small these otherwise really big trees were. Kids could feed the Koi carp in one of the lakes and did because they were huge. I loved that they had left some of the original gum trees in the area to show the connection with Australia.