Tucked behind Queens Park’s historic caretaker’s cottage lies a secret garden. A place of peace and tranquility, a place to meet nature and to calm the spirit.

We are in Ipswich City, but you wouldn’t know it. Our companions are water dragons, a myriad of birdlife and timid turtles, and everyday life seems a universe away. We have entered another zone, a quiet, contemplative nature retreat.

We have discovered the beautiful Nerima Gardens, which opened in Ipswich’s Historic Queens Park in 2001 to commemorate the Sister City Relationship between Ipswich City and Nerima City in Japan.

The aim of a Sister City relationship is to forge goodwill between cities of different countries, cultures and experiences.  Nerima Gardens celebrates this relationship and helps to share cultural knowledge for the benefit of all.

A morning wander over the Garden’s winding paths takes us through the walled entry gates, over bridges, through forested walks, to serene ponds, waterfalls and a secluded Japanese tea house nestled within its own peaceful paradise.

As we explore further, the landscape reveals pockets of both Japanese and Australian native flora. Nerima Gardens has captured the elements of a Japanese style garden whilst still retaining a distinctly Ipswich identity. This has been achieved through the retention of local plants, some of which are rare and endangered species, and a host of traditional design elements which combine harmoniously within the landscape.

In the lower section of the Gardens, peaceful ponds portray the ocean and Moreton Bay, while in the upper area, the undulating landscape, vegetation and river represent the many faces of the Ipswich region. The addition of two stone lanterns – Yukimi and Misaka – gifts from Nerima City, adds simplicity of form and a subtle detail which is so integral in Japanese garden design.

Other traditional design elements include the raked garden, a fish scaled beach made of pebbles, the Tsukubai Stone Water Basin with Kekehi (bamboo), and a Black Pine Tree – considered the epitome of bonsai – planted by Nerima’s Mayor, Saburo Iwanami.

Ipswich City Council is proud of the Gardens’ beauty and its dynamic landscape, and looks forward not only to the colourful changes throughout the seasons, but also to the garden’s significance in the years ahead.

“As a garden of this nature is considered young at 500 years, we do not presume that it will reach its full potential for many years to come. However, as the two cities of Ipswich and Nerima grow, so too will this garden.”

And to truly immerse yourself into this Japanese Garden experience, a Japanese Tea Ceremony in Nerima Gardens’ authentic Tea House is a must. Here you will experience this beautiful, cultural activity with a Japanese host who will take you on a journey of discovery, and treat you to the delicate art of a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony.

After removing shoes and seating yourself on the tatami mats, you will have the opportunity to participate in the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha (powdered green tea). If you prefer to just observe, bench seating is provided with easy views of the ceremony. Light refreshments conclude the tea experience, and with a guided interpretive tour of Nerima Gardens’ key design elements included, the experience runs for about 2 hours.

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Nerima Gardens is the perfect place to visit if you are in need of a well-earned break. Call in when travelling through the region on a Queensland road trip, or if you live in Brisbane and just need to get away from the big city.

Why not make a day of it? Stay for lunch at Queens Park Cafe, then stroll through Queens Park’s 12 hectares of grounds, at your own leisurely pace.

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Tea Ceremony Info:

Tea Ceremony tours run from March through to October at the following session times:

9:00am last Saturday / month
11:00am last Saturday / month
1:00pm last Saturday / month (available when morning sessions are booked out)

Book via Discover Ipswich or call 07 3281055 for more information.

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Getting There

Ipswich is just a 45 min drive from the heart of Brisbane, and 1 hr 20min from the Gold Coast.

To find Ipswich Accommodation: Click here