Ok, so you’ve found yourself in the ‘Switch. Or you’re in the ‘Switch and you’ve found yourself… very bored. Do not be fooled, there is a hive of culture, food and things to do hidden behind the long southbound drive to Ipswich, and consider us your guide through all of them. Here are 13 of the best things to do in Ipswich.
Scope Out The Ipswich Central Street Art Trail
Like an exciting game of eye-spy, follow the street art trail to discover a larger-than-life outdoor gallery of street art. With 13 stops, walk your way through the streets of Ipswich to track down all of the installations. Artists featured include homegrown creative powerhouses such as first nations artist Rachel Sarra, Deb Mostert, Fintan Magee, Emily Devers, Mike Shankster and many more. To download the Street Art Trail map head over here.
Explore Queens Park And Nerima Gardens
Who would've thought, Queens Park was the first park to be developed in Queensland, first being surveyed way back in 1842. Its original architectural design dates back to 1862, though you can’t tell with modern playground equipment, barbecues, impressive lookouts and proper leafy foliage throughout the park these days. There's also Nerima Gardens, a Japanese-styled garden to meander your way through. Pack a picnic, because you’ll want to linger.
Indulge In A Degustation At Homage Restaurant
Ipswich is firmly situated in the perfect pocket of the Scenic Rim, ensuring easy access some of the best produce in the country. This is undeniably highlighted at Homage Restaurant. Located at Spicers Hidden Vale, a gorgeous spot for a weekend getaway, you can head to Homage for a proper degustation of delicious bites from the region. The retreat’s own market garden supplies an abundance of interesting fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits, while the duck supplier is just minutes down the road, as is the fish supplier. With two firepits, a wood oven and a smokehouse, you can only imagine the delicacies being whipped up here. Head over here to book and find out for yourself.
Hike To White Rock
Lace on your best hiking shoes and trek through the bush to discover White Rock in the Spring Mountain Conservation Reserve. Located just 20 minutes from the Ipswich CBD and 35 minutes from the Brisbane CBD, Spring Mountain Conservation Estate features the distinctive, sculptured, rocky outcrops of White Rock and Spring Mountain. Covering over 2,500 hectares of proper Aussie bushland, the conservation area also features extensive forested ridges, escarpments and valleys that are home to an amazing array of plant and wildlife species—so keep your eyes peeled.
Sample Gins At Imbibis Distillery
Locals of the ‘Swich’ are hard to impress. They like what they like, and normally these are proper institutions that have been around for at least a decade. But a surprising newcomer has captured their gaze (and their grasp) and that is Imbibis Distillery. With their cellar door open every Friday from 10am-6pm, here you can sip your way through a gin-tasting board, a few G&Ts or even their artisan brandy. Imbibis’ gins have earned multiple gold medals from all over the country and have turned even the most gin-adverse into superfans and return visitors.
Get Hands On At The Workshops Rail Museum
Got a train-obsessed little one in the family? Workshops Rail Museum is the perfect day trip to keep them busy and excited all day—for an ultra-silent drive home. Located at Australia’s oldest railway workshops still in operation, make history come alive with hands-on exhibits, multi-media encounters and colourful stories coupled with huge steam locomotives and massive industrial machinery. There's also a cafe on-site with a cracking good brew awaiting you.
Ride The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
Dust off that bike you dropped an obscene amount of money on and cycle on out to the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Currently the longest rail trail in Australia, the 161 kilometres-long Brisbane Valley Rail Trail follows the disused Brisbane Valley rail line up the Brisbane Valley, travelling through farmland, forests, picturesque rural settings and country towns. It’s a scenic and varying-in-difficulty bike ride not to be missed.
Grab A Pint At Pumpyard Brewery
Housed in a heritage-listed building, the use of Pumpyard used to be supplying the town with water—now, its purpose is supplying the town with A1 brews, and epic food in a kid and dog-friendly atmosphere. A distinctly industrial vibe makes for excellent function spaces, not to mention the outdoor area with a shaded garden and chilled-out acoustic live music on Sundays.
Get A Meaty Feed At Phatboyz Smokehouse
Southern-style barbecue is elite and never up for debate. In Australia though? We are normally experts in the ol’ snag on the barbie—that is, except for the legends at Phatboyz Smokehouse & Kitchen. One stalk of their Instagram and your mouth is insanely watering at their BBQ feasts and it's damn hard to resist yeeting said phone and zooming straight there. They are of course dishing up the best low and slow ultra-tender barbecued and smoked meats like pulled pork, buttery soft brisket, ribs, cheeseburgers and even creations like the Smokehouse Parmi, an innocent chicken parmi topped with delicious wagyu brisket, bacon, onion and cheese. It’s seriously insane.
Get Spooked On A Ghost Tour
If you're game, head out to the creepiest areas in the ‘Switch for a bonafide ghost tour. With stories of restless residents in haunted houses, reviled mental asylums, creepy country pubs and lonely cemeteries, Ipswich is one of the spookiest cities in Australia. By night tour through the city, the Ipswich cemetery or the Goodna Cemetery for a healthy dose of adrenaline. There’s also a haunted mansion over in Marburg that offers guided tours if cemeteries are a bit too creepy for you.
Head Out For Brunch
Ipswich has a surprisingly delightful sleepy country-town feel that you kind of don't pick up unless you're squinting over a delightful cup of coffee and looking at the streets around you. We’ve eaten our way through almost every single one and put all the best ones in a nice collated collection. From healthiest to most dog friendly, they’re all in here—though this writer has a sentimental bias towards Rafter & Rose and their rotating range of goodies.
Scoop Up An Ice Cream At Ungermann Brothers
Worked up a sweat after the street art trail? Or perhaps your hike? Make a beeline for the gourmet ice cream at Ungermann Brothers. The ice cream connoisseurs here don't just buy store-bought, they make everything from scratch. All their ice cream is made in Ipswich from locally grown ingredients and fused by their team to make the freshest desserts available. They also have a well-thought-out burger menu that all go down deceptively well with one of their decadent milkshakes.
Take To The Skies In A Hot Air Balloon
Date night is sorted with ease thanks to Floating Images Hot Air Balloon. Yes, you read that right, a hot air balloon ride over Ipswich of all places. Floating Images is the first and only balloon company to offer a unique city and country flight in the South-East Queensland region, taking in views of Ipswich, Scenic Rim and Somerset in Greater Brisbane. A world of tranquillity, gentle streams, lovely lakes, picturesque forests, plains, valleys, World Heritage-listed national parks, and historical country towns plays on a panoramic view below you as you steadily glide across the sky (no need to worry about feeling airsick). Head over here to book and find out more.
Looking to venture even further afield? Check out our guide to the Scenic Rim here.
Image credit: TEQ, Homage, Workshops Rail Museum, Phatboyz, Ungermann Brothers