This past week has been a bit emotional for me. On Friday we remembered the events of ten years ago in Bali. I needed a break and Bron had very kindly organised a weekend away with her sons and me. The destination was to be Cowra with nothing specific planned except dinner at Tommy’s Bistro in the Imperial Hotel. We knew that Cowra was known for the Japanese Garden and the prisoner of war camp. The POW camp is the site of the Cowra Break out.
We stayed at the Vineyard Motel on Chardonnay Street in Cowra. This is a small but well presented motel. The best thing is the heated floor of the bathroom and main living area. This is so good on cold nights and mornings. I would recommend this motel as accommodation a little out of the town centre and in amongst grape vines.
For higher resolution views, click on the images and they’ll open up into bigger clearer images.
Vineyard Motel
In amongst the grapevines
Grapevines
Bird bath
In the Afternoon we went and headed into town to find a pie for lunch and then ate it in a local park.
Tomato and onion pie with coke
After lunch we ventured to the Japanese Garden. This is truly a delightful place to visit. It is so serene and tranquil. I would highly recommend visiting.
Bonsai
Water feature
After the garden we went to the Cowra POW Camp site.
The replica guard tower
The grounds where the site was
On Saturday evening we went and had dinner at Tommy’s Bistro in the Imperial Hotel.
Both Bron and I enjoyed the crispy crackling pork belly and scallops for an entrée and then a rare Scotch fillet steak on Paris mach for our main meal. For dessert I had a sticky date pudding with Queensland nuts and ice cream. The service was fast and friendly. The decor very warm and inviting. I would highly recommend Tommy’s Bistro for a dinner.
Garlic bread
Crispy crackling pork belly with scallops
Scotch fillet and prawns with Paris mashed potato
Sticky date and Queensland nut pudding
After a good sleep we enjoyed a motel breakfast. I had peanut paste and orange marmalade on whole grain toast.
Our intention for the morning was to go for a walk in a national park and then visit a winery for lunch.
The Wallaby Walking Trail in the Conimbla National Park is an easy walk of a couple of kilometres. The brochure from the Cowra Visitors’ Centre suggested the walk would take 30 minutes. The sign at the trail suggests 1 hour. In the end it took us about 40 minutes after a couple of water stops. You can see our route on my RunKeeper site.
In the end we didn’t get to a winery but we did find Taste Canowindra. A delightful venue for wine, art and music plus great food.
I had a chicken terrine made with crushed strawberries. It was really very good. I would recommend this place to anyone who wanted a good lunch on the way home to Canberra.
When I got to my place I made myself a chicken red curry with lychees and pineapple.
Tommy’s Bistro
Japanese Garden
Vineyard Motel
Edgell Park
Related articles
- Japanese gardens (weewonderfuls.com)
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The Japanese Garden looks lovely and the Wallaby Track too…you deserve all the good food after the walking 🙂
That was my thought exactly 🙂
whoops in my mind 🙂
Given how many food blogs I follow, like yours my mental obesity is bordering on fatal 🙂
How lovely and such good things to eat. I gain weight in my mnd every time I stop by 🙂
The gardens look amazing! So does the food! I still do not know how you can eat so much!
Hi Barb, the garden was a big surprise. I didn’t realise just how tranquil they are. So much in such a relatively small area.
Gaz — They can be amazing! Award time! I have nominated you for the super sweet bloggers award. http://salmonfishingqueen.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/thank-you-to-marcella-rousseau/ Congrats!
Wow thank you Barb. I will get onto this when I get time to ponder a baker’s dozen 🙂
Did you like the cupcakes that you can display on your blog? Love the colors!
They were great
What beautiful places to visit! You had a glorious weekend.
Loved everything, and I especially liked the Bonsai and the scotch fillet of prawns!!
As Bron tells me there are so many places around Canberra. We’ll be exploring more. Thank you for your kind comments.
You both are so lucky to be exploring. Please keep posting these beautiful settings; they are an inspiration. If I had a twitter I would follow you both because you both have it going! But time is a factor.
Kindly,
judy
Thank you Judy. This weekend worked well because Bron drove and I was the designated tweeter 🙂
I hope you have a great week of thinking about and creating such delicious morsels to eat.
what a fantastic weekend!
It was fantastic 🙂