Family Fun in Cowra: Outdoor Adventures for All Ages
Written by Stassi Austin.
Family Fun in Cowra: Outdoor Adventures for All Ages
Looking for the ultimate family escape? We’ve rounded out the top 5 outdoor attractions to keep you and the kids entertained on your next visit! Whether you’re chasing an escape or just chasing the kids, Cowra is your backyard for adventure this season.
Cowra Nature-based Adventure Playground
Catering to little and big humans alike, the Cowra Nature-Based Adventure Playground is always a big hit! The playground includes a nine-metre climbing frame, hamster wheel, water play area, slides, swings, a flying fox and an Indigenous dance circle and amphitheatre. There are covered picnic and barbecue areas available, so pack a picnic and enjoy what the great outdoors has to offer. Set in Bellvue Hill Reserve (or Billy Goat Hill to the locals!), enjoy the picturesque views from atop the nearby town lookout. Just keep an eye out for snakes in summer, as the natural landscape is home to many slithery creatures. You may also see a kangaroo or two!
Admission and opening hours: Admission to the playground is free and accessible at all hours.
Directions: Cowra Natured Based Adventure Playground.
Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre
Discover 12.5 acres of manicured garden, serene lakes and cascading streams, with intimate views of the surrounding countryside and hills at the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre. Feed the koi fish or the resident ducks from the various viewing platforms dotted around the Garden, or walk across bridges, follow winding paths, and explore the waterfalls and streams. View the collection of Japanese artefacts and dolls in the Cultural Centre or wander through the Edo Cottage, open-air tea house, and the Bonsai house. Keep an eye out on the Garden website for special events such as tea ceremonies, bonsai workshops or origami classes, often held to coincide with annual events like Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) or Kōyō Matsuri (Autumn Festival).
Admission and opening hours: Please visit the Cowra Japanese Garden website for current admission prices and opening hours.
Directions: Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre
Wyangala Dam
A short 30-minute drive from Cowra, Wyangala Dam is an ideal haven for an action-packed family escape! Fishing, swimming, kayaking and water sports of all kinds. On land, kids can make use of the playground near the shaded BBQ and picnic tables, the pump track or the many walking trails in the surrounding bushland.
If you’re around in June, don’t miss the Wyangala Bonfire and Fireworks Spectacular at the Wyangala Country Club. It’s a great night out with food, live music, and a massive fireworks display!
Admission and opening hours: Wyangala Dam access is permitted through the Reflections Wyangala Waters Park, with their office open from 9:00am – 4:00pm Sunday – Thursday and 9:00am – 5:00pm Friday – Saturday. Admission prices, including day and annual passes, can be found on the Reflections Wyangala Waters website.
Directions: Wyangala Dam
*Image credit to RPP Creative.
Garrison Walk at the Cowra POW Campsite
Whilst the official start to this track is at the Garrison Gates on Amaroo Avenue, which sends you for a short walk through Cowra’s residential streets through London Drive, most people start this walk at either end of Sakura Avenue. Choose from beginning at either the Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre or the Cowra POW Campsite and weave your way through the picturesque Wiradjuri countryside.
The Garrison Walk is pram and wheelchair friendly and there are plenty of tables, chairs, and bins scattered along the route for rest stops or a family picnic. Whilst there are some beautiful big trees near the path, the track itself is very open with little shade, so be sure to bring hats, sunscreen, and plenty of water before you set off on your walk. Keep an eye out for wildlife as snakes and kangaroos are prevalent.
Admission and opening hours: Admission to the Cowra POW Campsite is free and accessible at all hours.
Directions: Cowra POW Campsite
Lachlan Valley Heritage Railway Centre
Wander through an extraordinary collection of historic engines, carriages and wagons at the Lachlan Valley Heritage Railway Centre.
Explore the roundhouse and walk through the historic 1923 Cowra Locomotive Depot, take a peek inside restored engines and dining cars or listen to the stories of days gone by as a knowledgeable volunteer guide recounts the vast history of Cowra’s railway operations. Train rides are also offered at the Historic Cowra Railway Station on the last full weekend of every month. Please visit the Lachlan Valley Railway website or social media channels for all updates, including running times and ticket costs.
Admission and opening hours: The Lachlan Valley Heritage Railway is open from Thursday to Monday, 10:00am – 4:00pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Admission Adult: $10pp, Concession: $8pp, Child: $6pp, Family : $20 (2A 2CH). Child under 16. Children under 5 are free.
Directions: Lachlan Valley Heritage Railway Centre
Getting here and around
Cowra is easy to reach, conveniently located at the intersection of three major highways:
- From Sydney: Take the Great Western Highway via Lithgow and Bathurst.
- From Canberra: Travel via the Barton Highway, Yass and the Lachlan Valley Way.
With nearby towns such as Bathurst, Orange, Grenfell and Young just an hour to one-and-a-half hours away, Cowra makes a great base from which to explore the surrounding region.
Plan your visit
For an easy guide to planning your trip, check out the Itinerary Planner (there are four day trips that cover Cowra, Canowindra, Woodstock, Wyangala Dam and further into the countryside), or view/download the Visitor Guide.
The Cowra Visitor Information Centre is an essential first stop for visitors to the Cowra region and is open from 8:30am – 5pm weekdays and from 8:30am – 3:30pm on weekends (closed Good Friday & Christmas Day). Don’t forget the 9-minute Prisoner of War Hologram that you can view for free!
Visit Cowra and discover what it means to escape.
