Enjoying the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival At The Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre In Cowra

The small town of Cowra has a nice, traditional Japanese garden and every year they hold a spring cherry blossom festival. Will travel for blooms.

Flowers everywhere around the classic Japanese garden design.

Straining to see some fish. Hillside babbling waterfall stream.

For the festival, Japanese in traditional dress, including paper lanterns and umbrellas.

A little shade under a pavilion by the lake and some cultural entertainment.

Beyond the festival, the place has an iconic rock garden by traditional tea house architecture. Lovely.

Going Down the Coast In New South Wales

Canberra is a couple hours inland from the beach. Head East, cross the Great Dividing Range and you end up around Batemans Bay, gateway to all sorts of small towns along the Tasman Sea.

Good parking spot, good view. The waterside view in Narooma.

Fresh air makes one hungry. Alas, the local Chinese restaurant is closed. Score, fresh fish & chips and shrimp.

Mighty mural in Batemans Bay of heroic local Aboriginal folks.

Funky roadside attraction, pink plane at a gas station. Shady beach restoration at Malua Bay.

Naps are the best! Narooma has lots of lazy seals on its rocky jetty.