Toowoomba – Garden City

Toowoomba enjoys the reputation of being a garden city. High up in more temperate Queensland, sitting on volcanic soil, plants thrive and so do the many gardens. We visited three possibilities but you should visit at least one. Our favourite was the –

Toowoomba Japanese Garden – Ju Raku En

The beautiful Toowoomba Japanese Garden located at the University of Southern Queensland, also known as Ju Raku En, is well worth a visit and a relaxing stroll around its paths. From the moment you (and any four legged friends) pass through the huge orange gates you could be in any similar garden in Japan, or more specifically Kyoto, the city which has made this peaceful garden project in conjunction with the university.

Brightly coloured orange bridges cross narrow sections of the central lake at varying locations.

A variety of water birds enjoy the lake.

The Japanese penchant for topiary is evident in the way many of the shrubs are sculptured.

Even though it was winter a few camelias were beginning to flower.

Japanese lanterns could be found around the garden.

Lighting was even in this style.

At one end of the lake the water was tranquil enough for a reflection to appear.

Further on a small stream entered the lake.

On further investigation we found the small cascade that fed the stream.

We were able to hop over the stream using the stepping stones.

A wooden pergola with dormant vines climbing over it provided me with a frame for this shot.

After a while we sat on one of the benches and relaxed, taking in the beauty and serenity.

Crossing back over another bridge we followed the path to another water feature, the small Dragon Gate Falls.

Our time in these delightfully peaceful gardens had even calmed Mel down as we looked at and listened to the water tumbling down these falls.

It was only a short walk to the car from there. If you are in Toowoomba we would highly recommend the short drive from the city centre out to the university to enjoy these gardens.

Toowoomba Queens Park and Botanic Gardens

Right in the city itself you can find Queens Park and Botanic Gardens. Based on the number of autumn leaves on the ground, autumn would be a better time to visit than winter.

Having said that in the Botanic Gardens there are an impressive number of mature trees. Here’s a Bunya pine

and a huge Laurel tree.

There are flower beds and rose beds which provide colour at various times.

Mel also enjoyed a run around in the leash free section in the main park before we returned to the caravan for lunch.

Picnic Point Lookout

Mid afternoon we drove out of the city centre and up to the suburb of Rangeville to the Picnic Point Lookout. It is found at the top of the Great Dividing Range. Views in most directions are possible

but the view over Tabletop Mountain is one of the best.

We also took Mel for a walk along the trail around the area just below the lookout through lovely parkland.

We even passed an attractive man made cascade, Carnival Falls.

With the light fading we made our way back to the Toowoomba Motor Village for a quiet dinner in our caravan.

Next post we drive down the Lockyer Valley and through the western suburbs of Brisbane to our next destination, Scarborough in the Moreton Bay region.