We Officially Tested the Best Things to do in Ipswich!
We officially tested the best things to do in Ipswich for families and came up with this ultimate list.
In case you’re wondering … Ipswich is located only 45 minutes drive south-west of Brisbane CBD. If you’re planning a trip to Brisbane, make sure you include Ipswich in your plans!
So here goes! Here are the best family-friendly things to do in Ipswich that both parents and kids will love….
Feed Adorable Farm Animals at Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm
Dave and Penny operate the family-friendly Ewe Nique Hobby Farm. Kids and adults can feed and pet adorable alpacas, lambs, sheep, goats, chicken and geese. I loved this just as much as the kids!
Here what to do … book in first. Numbers are limited to ensure that every family can have a great time and practise social distancing. When you arrive, order yourself a cuppa and morning tea on the way in but don’t forget to grab a few mini-buckets of carrots and grain for the farm animals.
Farmer Dave will give you a quick run-down in a shaded area with tables and hay bale seats. You will then be let loose to feed and pet the animals!
When looking for things to do in Ipswich with younger kids, this is a great option!
Solve Clues to Escape the Family-Friendly Room at Seraphim Escape Rooms
Escape rooms don’t have to be scary! We had a great time at the Seraphim Escape Rooms in the family-friendly Santa themed room. We had to solve a series of clues to get ourselves off Santa’s naughty list and escape the room. Of course, older kids may like to experience a scarier room!
Don’t worry, there is a hint buzzer if you need it and it’s a great opportunity for the kids to work together. We finished with only 9 minutes to spare. Can you do better?
This was one of the kids favourite things to do in Ipswich! Bookings are essential.
Assist Researchers to Track Koalas at Hidden Vale
Head out to the award-winning Homage Restaurant at Spicers Hidden Vale for lunch and afterwards … join in the Koala Safari Tour!
The Koala Safari tour begins with a tour of the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, a partnership between the University of Queensland and The Turner Family Foundation. You will then jump into a troop carrier and head out to the first ”koala hotspot”. This is where you will help Dr Tribe and his team of researchers locate the resident koala community.
This is a genuine eco-experience not to be missed! Numbers are limited and bookings are essential.
If you’re looking for things to do in Ipswich with a hand of luxury, consider booking into Spicers Hidden Vale for the whole weekend.
Relax With a Bell Tent Picnic at Soul Nook Collective
The Soul Nook Collective creates magical picnic experiences on the old church grounds in Marburg. This was one of my favourite things to do in Ipswich!
Picnics are available Wednesdays to Saturdays and can be as simple as a picnic rug set up under the trees to the full Bell Tent experience. There is a package to suit every budget!
For more information on this great family-friendly experience, check out our previous blog post on the Bell Tent Picnics!
Meet Hemu the Emu at the Ipswich Nature Centre
The Ipswich Nature Centre is a great option for families when looking for things to do in Ipswich! Located in Queens Park, admission is free however a gold coin donation would be appreciated.
You are free to wander the nature centre’s shaded walkways yourself (they’re stroller friendly) but consider booking in for the VIP guided tour. This will give you the opportunity to learn more about the animals.
We met Hemu the Emu on the VIP guided tour and fell in love with his quirkiness. Hemu didn’t cope well with Covid-19 restriction, falling into depression when he didn’t have any visitors. He is very pleased to be able to talk to people again!
The Centre is open between 9:30am – 4pm Tuesday to Sunday and daily during school holidays.
Browse Antique Stores in Marburg
Marburg is home to two of the most wonderful antique stores I’ve ever visited, Scotland Yard Antiques and The Black Museum. The kids, who have only ever seen mobile phones, were fascinated with the collection of old telephones and really enjoyed (in their words) .. ”finding the olden day stuff.”
The Special Branch Collective is right next door and all three stores are owned by members of the same family. This is where you go between browsing to grab a coffee and snack.
There is a little playground nearby for the kids and less than 2 minutes walk away is the Soul Nook Collective, one of my favourite things to do in Ipswich.
Explore the Workshop Rail Museum
Even if you’re not a die-hard rail fan, parents and kids of all ages will enjoy the Workshop Rail Museum.
I personally loved the historic steam engines and various displays of antique parts. The kids were enthralled by the interactive exhibits, particularly the ”How Cities Work” exhibition where they got to build things with pool noodles and connectors.
There is also a science centre exhibit and a Nippers’ Railway play zone that’s designed for younger kids. This Nippers’ play zone was unfortunately closed when we visited but I could see that out of all the things to do in Ipswich, it would have been hard to tear the kids away from this!
Bookings are essential and visits are timed for two hours to allow lower visitor numbers and cleaning between sessions.
Visit Queens Park and Play on the Playground
The large playground at Queens Park is conveniently located right near the Queens Park Cafe. Convenient, right? The cafe is which is chock full of both healthy options, treats and coffee. You won’t be disappointed!
The playground is awesome with multi-levels of equipment that include a flying fox, large slides and various other climbing and swinging things that kids love.
Nearby are the beautiful Nerima Japanese Gardens. Designed in consultation with Ipswich’s Japanese sister city, Nerima, you can stroll over an ornamental lake in this picture-perfect setting.
If you’re looking for wallet-friendly things to do in Ipswich, this is a great option!
Race Through the Orchards at Watercress Creek Olives and Limes
Ok, I didn’t actually do any racing here. But the kids did and they loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed my casual stroll through the Olive Grove and Lime Orchards with the owner, Bernard Mahon, a fourth-generation farmer in the area.
Bernard and his wife, Lorraine have operated Watercress Creek Olive and Limes since 1998 and are happy to let you taste test their products and show you around the property.
Parents can enjoy a relaxing visit and stroll and kids can enjoy a game of chasey among the Tahitian Lime Orchard. This is a nice, relaxing thing to do in Ipswich in sunny weather!
Set Up Camp or Rent-A-Tent at Ivory’s Rock
Ivory’s Rock Caravan and Camping ground is one of the most spacious we have ever visited. Combine this with the option of a private bathroom in the toilet block, and social distancing has become easy!
If you don’t have the gear, or just can’t be bothered, Ivory’s Rock do a hassle-free Rent-A-Tent experience where you arrive to a fully set up tent complete with gazebo, tables and chairs. There is even WiFi!
Ivory’s Rock is a great weekend escape with family and friends involving freedom, fresh air, campfires, the outdoors, and the nightime sky.
The kids loved the cute wallabies around the campsite and the novelty of the rent-a-tent. Combining this with a visit to nearby Summerland Camels make for a great weekend in Ipswich.
Join in a Tour at Summerland Camels and Learn Why Camel Milk is the Ultimate Ingredient in Skin Care
Book into the Camel Farm Experience Tour at Summerland Camel Farm and learn all about their ”smart tech farming” operations, why camel milk is the ultimate ingredient for skin care, and why it’s ideal for those who are lactose intolerant.
Both the kids and myself loved feeding the camels before the tour and spotting the baby camels throughout the tour. At the end, you will have the opportunity to try delicious smelling skin products made from camel’s milk, fetta cheese and the camel milk itself.
You can also book in for a camel ride and visit the onsite cafe and retail store to try out their cheese, gelato, chocolate and famous ”camelccino” … all made from camel milk!
Take a Llama for a Walk at The Llama Farm
The Llama Farm is 80 acres of glorious rural land containing Queensland’s largest herd of Llamas. Visiting the farm is an experience like no other.
Not only are there friendly Llamas, there are also adorable donkeys, miniature ponies, stunning peacocks, lively maremmas and a giant Flemish rabbit.
Shane from The Llama farm offers two different experiences to guests in either a farm visit or a guided llama walk, in which you can choose your own llama to walk on a lead along a purpose-built trail on the farm.
The Llama Farm doesn’t have set opening hours so both experiences are by appointment only. If looking for a new experience or thing to do in Ipswich, walking a llama is a great option!
Take a Picnic by a Lily-Pond at Kholo Gardens
Kholo Gardens are a beautiful place to take a simple family picnic! Here you can just sit down and relax while the kids kick a ball around on the grass.
There is an established lily pond, defined walkways, wide-open spaces, bush walking tracks and beautiful giant Hoop Pines and Kauri Trees.
The gardens are located within a short distance from The Llama Farm so its a great opportunity to visit the farm first and follow it up with a picnic lunch at Kholo Gardens.
This is a great free thing to do in Ipswich!
Looking for More Ipswich Family Holiday Inspiration?
For more information on great places and awesome activities to do as a family in and around Ipswich, head on back to our Ipswich page. Head back to the home page for inspiration around Australia and world-wide.
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Getting to Ipswich and Places to Stay
Getting to Ipswich
Ipswich is conveniently located just 45 minutes drive south-west of Brisbane CBD, 45 minutes from the Brisbane airport and an hours drive from the Gold Coast.
If you don’t have your own wheels, or are flying into Brisbane first:
- Grab a great deal on flights with I Want That Flight
- Grab a great deal on car rentals with Discover Cars
Where to Stay in and Around Ipswich
Quest Ipswich
Stay here to explore Ipswich City!
Quest Ipswich Apartments are only 1km from Ipswich CBD, making it the ideal base for exploring the region. They are serviced, comfortable and have plenty of room. The kids loved the free unlimited WiFi and I loved the kitchenette which allowed me to cook breakfast and dinner, saving a tonne of money in the process. It’s a fantastic option for families!
Tallavalley Farm B&B
Stay here to explore Marburg or for a peaceful getaway in a rural setting!
Located out in the beautiful rural area of Tallegalla, Tallavalley Farm is utterly charming and memorable. It’s three-bedrooms and two-bathrooms make it ideal for families. You can even bring your horse and dog!
It has all the comfortable features of a house with the added bonus of a fireplace and being able to sit on the roomy front verandah and watch the sun set over the rolling hills surrounding the 50-acre property.
Spicers Hidden Vale
Stay here for a luxury experience in a beautiful rural setting!
Staying at Spicers Hidden Valley is an experience in itself. Perched on top of a ridge with sweeping mountain views, the accommodation (airconditioned heritage cottages with one to four bedrooms) overlooks 12,000 acres of Australian bush.
There are heaps of activities for families including mountain bike riding, bush-walking, swimming, croquet and the animal farm. Make sure to tour the onsite animal research facility and join in their Koala safari.
Ivory’s Rock Convention and Events
Stay here for caravanning / camping and to visit Summerland Camels!
Set on the entrance to the stunning Scenic Rim area of South East Queensland, this picturesque property is perfect for those with a caravan or wishing to camp.
If you don’t have your own camping gear, try out their Rent-a-Tents or Bunkhouses. We loved the convenience of showing up to a tent that was already set up, complete with beds, outdoor gazebo, table and camp chairs.
More Information
Visit the official Discover Ipswich website for more information!
