Cowra NSW

Set on the banks of the Lachlan River, Cowra is a charming town surrounded by vineyards, waterways and pretty countryside in the beautiful Lachlan Valley. It’s home to a fascinating piece of wartime history, as well as tranquil gardens and fine wines. 

Unshackled Adventures delved into the powerful POW history of the region, beginning with a visit to the Cowra Information Centre. Here, we were introduced to the story through the immersive POW Hologram Theatre, an incredibly moving experience that brought the past to life.

With this insight, we continued on to the POW campsite, the site of the dramatic events of 1944 when more than a thousand Japanese prisoners staged a mass escape—an event now known as the Cowra Breakout. We also visited both the Japanese and Australian war cemeteries, taking time to quietly reflect on the lives lost and the shared human cost of war.

Today, Cowra shares a deeply significant relationship with Japan, most beautifully reflected in the Cowra Japanese Garden, which was an absolute highlight of our visit. Covering five hectares, the garden stands as a living symbol of peace, reconciliation, and goodwill. It was established to acknowledge and nurture the historic and ongoing relationship between the people of Cowra Shire and the people of Japan—a place of calm, respect, and reflection that feels especially meaningful given the town’s history.

Cowra’s gold rush history is still clearly evident as we strolled through the town, revealed in its heritage streetscapes, historic buildings, and the quiet stories etched into old façades. Once a bustling stop for prospectors drawn to the Lachlan River in the 1850s, Cowra grew from a humble river crossing into a thriving service town. Today, remnants of that era linger in the architecture, the layout of the streets, and the enduring sense of resilience that defines the town—subtle reminders of the boom times that helped shape Cowra into what it is now.

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We took a short drive to the historic township of Canowindra, a place that feels wonderfully preserved in time. Dotted with quaint shops, art galleries, and welcoming cafés, the town invites you to slow down and linger a little longer. Beautifully restored heritage buildings hint at its rich past, while creative spaces and locally run eateries add a fresh, modern layer. Together, they create a charming blend of old-world character and contemporary delights, making Canowindra, a delightful stop for exploring, browsing, and simply soaking up the atmosphere.

While in Canowindra, we visited the Age of Fishes Museum, home to an extraordinary fossil collection dating back more than 360 million years to the Devonian Period. Unearthed right here in Canowindra, these remarkable fossils record a rare mass-kill event, preserving thousands of ancient fish in astonishing detail and offering a fascinating glimpse into life on Earth long before humans existed.

Cowra is well worth a visit, and for Unshackled Adventures—especially with our interest in POW history—it was deeply rewarding to experience the sites firsthand and place the story into a broader, more meaningful perspective.