The Warrnambool Miura Friendship Garden celebrates the sister-city relationship between Miura, Japan and Warrnambool.

Tucked away in north-east Warrnambool, the garden is a tranquil site well suited to quiet contemplation.

It was designed using Japanese garden design principles and built using indigenous plants and locally sourced materials.

The garden elements represent the geographical connection between Australia and Japan, starting with the elevated Allocasurina verticullatum forest.

From the “mendicant’s hut” you can view the dry Australian hinterland bounded partially by the wave shaped correa planting representing the ocean between the two countries.

The “desert” transitions into a typical Western District bush landscape with its eucalypts, banksias and callistemons.

The two stones set in the bordered quartz are “Crane and Turtle” rocks representing fidelity and longevity respectively and are accompanied by a single Banksia serrata, the first plant placed in the garden.

This site was blessed on May 4 1998 by Kannushi Yoneda, a Shinto Priest from Miura.

Located in the midst of Albert Park, the garden is best accessed by foot, though in dry weather cars can access the site via Grafton Road.