Cowra, Sakura Matsuri & Mayfield
Days:
3 Days
Activity:
2. Moderate
$1,045.00
Tour description
Celebrate the beauty of spring in regional New South Wales on this colourful journey to Cowra for its much-loved Sakura Matsuri Festival. As the countryside awakens with blossoms and mild sunshine, Cowra becomes a picture of tranquillity and vibrant colour. The highlight of the season is the Cowra Japanese Garden — one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere — where carefully sculpted landscapes, flowing streams and peaceful ponds provide the perfect setting for cherry blossoms in full bloom. During the Sakura Matsuri Festival, the gardens come alive with traditional performances, tea ceremonies, cultural workshops and stalls offering tastes of Japan. With soft pink sakura petals overhead and cultural celebrations all around, it’s an experience that delights the senses and captures the spirit of spring.
Beyond Cowra, the tour continues through some of the Central West’s most enchanting landscapes. A visit to the extraordinary Mayfield Garden reveals one of the world’s great cool-climate gardens, with sweeping lawns, intricate parterre designs, hidden pathways and vibrant spring blooms at every turn. Travelling via the Bells Line of Road, guests explore the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden before settling in for two nights at the 4-star Rydges Mt Panorama Resort in Bathurst. The return journey passes through Oberon and the Blue Mountains, showcasing the seasonal colours of Blackheath, Leura and Wentworth Falls. With visits to heritage towns like Millthorpe and attractions such as the Australian Fossil & Mineral Museum, this beautifully paced tour blends nature, culture and springtime serenity — all with the warm hospitality and thoughtful inclusions you expect from OCT.
Itinerary
This morning, we set off on a scenic journey along the Bells Line of Road, taking in the beautiful landscapes of the Blue Mountains. Our first stop is at Mt Tomah Botanic Garden, where we’ll enjoy a lovely morning tea while surrounded by cool-
climate plants and breathtaking views.
From here, we continue to Bathurst, where we’ll pause for lunch before visiting the Australian Fossil & Mineral Museum, home to an incredible collection of fossils
and minerals, including a complete T. rex skeleton! Then, it’s time for a tour of Bathurst, where we will discover the city’s rich history and even take a drive around the Mount Panorama motor racing circuit.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll check in at Rydges Mount Panorama Bathurst, where we’ll settle in for a comfortable night’s stay with dinner at 7pm.
Overnight: Rydges Mount Panorama Bathurst
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
After a hearty breakfast, we head to Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre for a truly special experience— The Sakura Matsuri Festival is an annual celebration of spring and Japanese culture, showcasing the beauty of cherry blossoms alongside cultural traditions. Enjoy captivating performances such as martial arts displays, origami, calligraphy, bonsai demonstrations, and traditional tea ceremonies. We will have plenty of time to wander through the magnificent gardens, admire the delicate cherry blossoms in full bloom, and enjoy lunch at our own leisure, with a variety of food stalls and a café on-site.
In the afternoon, we travel to Millthorpe, a beautiful historic village where time seems to stand still. We’ll visit the Millthorpe Museum, filled with fascinating displays, before heading out to explore the town on foot. We’ll have time to browse the boutique shops and take in the charm of this little gem before we return to Bathurst.
Back at Rydges Bathurst, you can relax and unwind before enjoying another delicious dinner.
Overnight: Rydges Mount Panorama Bathurst
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, we make our way to Mayfield Garden, one of the largest cool-climate gardens in the world. Here, we’ll have plenty of time to wander through its stunning landscapes, featuring a rose walk, rhododendron walk, maze, croquet lawn, water garden, aviary, conservatorium, and more. It’s a garden lover’s paradise!
After exploring the grounds and soaking up the fresh country air, we’ll take a break for a relaxed lunch in the garden café, the perfect way to refresh and recharge before continuing our journey home, passing through the scenic landscapes of Blackheath, Leura, and Wentworth Falls.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Activity Levels
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1. Easy
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2. Moderate
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3. Active Moderate
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4. Adventurous
Testimonials
Hooray for our great On Course tours We are old and grey With John to drive us all around On our 5 days away The zoo was great The stars shon bright We’ve really had a ball We ate and drank, enjoyed ourselves We think we’ve seen it all And so until we meet again Thanks John, you are a Gem.
Regards, DK
Re: Batemans Bay Hi Debbie, We have just returned from a 4-day trip to Bateman’s Bay with with Jimmy as our driver. I wanted to email to tell you how good he was. He was so friendly and pleasant, nothing was too much trouble, and his help / support of our older Ex-Servicemen and their wives was outstanding. He was also very interested in out stories which was lovely. I know we always get that level of service from OnCourse, and wanted you to know that it continued with Jimmy. He was so articulate on the microphone and always had some interesting bits of information about where we were or where we were near. The weather on our trip could have been better, but he did his best, moved things around, found places for us to stop in the rain, and always with a smile on his face and made the trip so enjoyable. His handling of the coach was also something we all commented on. Once again, another lovely trip away, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go on any trip Jimmy was involved in.
