Cowra Breakout History Tour

Friday 28 October 2022 | Sydney – Canberra

Welcome to our very special tour! Today we depart Sydney at approximately 9am and begin our journey to Canberra. After some free time for lunch, this afternoon we will visit the Australian War Memorial, one of the world’s great military museums, where we will enjoy guided tours of the galleries and free time to explore. This afternoon we will attend the Last Post ceremony that marks the closing of the Memorial each day.

Saturday, 29 October 2022 | Canberra – Cowra

We will depart Canberra this morning and drive to Cowra. After free time for lunch, we will visit the POW Theatre, where a holographic display tells the story of the Cowra Breakout from a local perspective. We will then drive to the site of the POW camp, and spend the afternoon walking the ground where the Cowra Breakout occurred. This will be a moving experience, as we explore the former Japanese and Italian compounds and see the foundations of buildings that were destroyed during the Breakout. The most emotional part of our day will be walking in the footsteps of the Japanese who died during the escape attempt, and standing in the places where the Australians guards fought and died. We will then return to town, where our evening is at leisure to enjoy a traditional country dinner in one of Cowra’s restaurants or pubs.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Sunday, 30 October 2022 | Cowra 78th Anniversary

We will begin our day at the Cowra War Cemetery, where we will participate in a memorial service at the graves of the Australians and Japanese who died in the Breakout. The Japanese Cemetery is also the final resting place of every Japanese national who died in Australia during the war, including airmen shot down over Darwin, sailors whose ships were sunk in Australian waters and civilian internees. Later in the day we will visit the beautiful Japanese Gardens and spend time roaming through this living memorial to the men who died, and a symbol of peace and reconciliation. In the afternoon we will drive out of town to the place where Lt Harry Doncaster was killed while attempting to apprehend escapees on the evening of the Breakout. We will conduct a service at the memorial site in his honour. We will also visit the site of the former Army Training Camp, which played an important role in the Breakout. Our evening is free to enjoy dinner and reflect on a memorable day.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Monday, 31 October 2022 | Cowra – Sydney

This morning we will return to the beautiful Japanese Gardens, where we will enjoy breakfast. We will then depart Cowra for our drive to Sydney. En-route we will stop in the town of Blayney to visit the grave of Sergeant Thomas Hancock, the often forgotten fifth Australian who died as a result of the Cowra breakout. We continue to Lithgow, home to Australia’s most important arms manufacturing factory for more than a century. We will visit the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum and enjoy a guided tour of the museum’s extensive collection of firearms that chronicles the history of arms used by the Australian military since its earliest conflicts, as well as visiting the former factory with a fascinating collection of arms manufacturing equipment from the turn of the century. In the late afternoon we will arrive in Sydney, where our tour will come to an end.

Note: Every effort is made to adhere to the advertised itinerary, occasionally circumstances beyond our contract will force changes, modifications or amendments to the itinerary. In addition, your Historian may alter the sites visited on each day to suit local conditions. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.

The departure of this tour is based on a minimum number of passengers travelling.

1 departure only 28 - 31 October 2022

• Twin/Double Share price from $1599 per person
• Single traveller price from $1849

This tour commences and concludes in Sydney. We can assist you with flights, insurance and any other travel requirements. Simply contact our team on 1300 414 198 for a friendly chat with one of our consultants.

Comfortable 3 - 4 star standard hotels are used throughout this tour.

This tour departs from and returns to Sydney Central Station. It is recommended that pre/post accommodation is booked - your travel advisor can assist with airfares, accommodation and travel insurance.

Do I have to wear a mask on tour?

• Touring staff and passengers will be required to wear face masks where mandated by local regulations.

Supplier proof of COVID-19 vaccination for staff, passengers and in-country partners

• All Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours’ historians, guides, and coach drivers will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Passengers travelling with Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours are required to produce proof of COVID-19 vaccination. This will be requested by our reservations team at the time of final tour payment.