📍11 Best Day Trips From Ipswich, QLD Within 2.5 Hours Travel From A Road Trip Enthusiast. (2024.)
WONDERING WHAT THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM IPSWICH ARE?
One of the best things about living in Ipswich, QLD is that it sits at the edge of suburbia, so if you’re craving a change of pace and want to swap the hustle and bustle of urban life for the peace and serenity that nature affords, this heritage city is the ultimate gateway for it all.
From national parks featuring ancient rainforests, rugged mountains, sheer cliffs, and plunging waterfalls to serene lakes, these are my favourite scenic day trips from Ipswich for those seeking outdoor adventure, whether that be by yourself, with a friend, partner, or offspring.
Note: The shortest drive to some destinations goes through city areas, but I have written the most scenic route for that’s the way I always choose.
👉 My top 3 picks for the best Ipswich Day Trips:
- For Adventure: Lamington National Park.
- For Couples: Springbrook National Park.
- For Families: Mt Tamborine.
Planning Your Trip? Use My Favourite Resources!
Tours/Experiences: I recommend Viator.
Accommodation: I recommend Booking.com.
Flights: I recommend Aviasales.
Car Rental: I recommend economybookings.
Best Day Trips From Ipswich Within 1 Hour Drive.
1. Wivenhoe Dam.
One of the best day trip destinations from Ipswich also happens to be one of its closest. Wivenhoe Dam lies 44km northwest of the CBD and is South East Queensland’s largest lake, providing Brisbane and the greater Ipswich area with the lion’s share of its tap water. Capitalizing on its enormous size are 11 beautiful recreational areas, scattered around the shoreline allowing for just about every kind of lakeside or water-based activity you can think of! There’s virtually no limit.
Between them, visitors can learn about the lake, have picnics or BBQs, go birdwatching, hiking or mountain bike riding, play on the playground or do activities like cricket, soccer, or flying a kite on land. Meanwhile, on the water, it gets even better with swimming, sailing, boating, kayaking, waterskiing and jet skiing, being just a few of the things you can do here. It just depends on what you can bring to the party.
Note: On quiet days, Logan’s Inlet often lots of birdlife and kangaroos munching on the grass.
- Distance From Ipswich to Logan’s Inlet: 44km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 45min.
- Best For: Water-based activities. Picnics/BBQ. Everyone.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Twin Bridges.
2. Cunningham’s Gap.
Main Range National Park.
If it’s mountains you seek, the Scenic Rim, to Ipswich’s south, is full of breathtaking terrain. This is largely thanks to a significant portion of it being fringed by the Great Dividing Range, which includes the McPherson Range, the eastern spur that runs along the QLD/NSW border to the coast.
However, one of the highlights of this massive, continent-spanning geographical divide is Main Range National Park. This spectacular place has 4 sections with the historically significant Cunningham’s Gap being the standout. The trails to the summit of Mt Cordeaux, Bare Rock and Mt Mitchell are long but not to be missed they are home to the most unforgettable views in South East Queensland, showcasing the region’s rugged beauty in all its glory.
Although it’s not recommended, it’s even better in bad weather. Walking the Bare Rock trail with my dad and watching the clouds swirl around us and lightning strike in the distance before getting drenched from the subsequent downpour was and still is our most memorable hike together.
- Distance From Ipswich To Cunninghams Gap: 72km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1 hour.
- Best For: Hiking. Solo, Couples, Friends.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Lake Moogerah.
3. Wyaralong Dam.
The great thing about Ipswich is that there are plenty of beautiful lakes within day trip vicinity, However, none of them cater to as many outdoor adventures as Wyaralong Dam. Not only is it a lovely place for picnics and BBQs but kayaking, boating (electric motors only) and sailing are great on-water activities, while all along the hills on the northern side is a huge network of walking and mountain biking trails for people of every skill and fitness level, including to the summit of Mount Joyce.
Keen hikers, bikers and kayakers can even attempt going from one end of the lake to the other in a day or make an overnight adventure out of it by camping at the Ngumbi Remote Camping Area.
- Distance From Ipswich To The Meebun Picnic Area:
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 55min.
- Best For: Water-based activities. Biking. Overnight Hikes/ Kayaks. Picnics/BBQ. Everyone.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: -.
4. Lake Moogerah.
Another beautiful place well worth visiting for the tranquil ambience is Lake Moogerah. It’s one of the most popular destinations in the Scenic Rim because along with being incredibly picturesque with the water in the foreground and mountains in the background, making it the place for picnics, BBQs and family get-togethers, it is also open to a huge range of aquatic activities. This includes swimming, boating, kayaking, water skiing, wakeboarding, and jet skiing and just about any other calm water activity like hydro foiling and flyboarding.
It also has an incredible walking trail to the summit of Mt Edwards, where magnificent views of the gorgeous countryside awaits. And that’s just during the daylight hours. As Fred Haigh Park doesn’t close like most other places, it’s also an exceptional spot for doing short and long shutter astrophotography, which is why it is always one of the best places for day trips from Ipswich.
- Distance From Ipswich: 60km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 51min.
- Best For: Water-based activities. Hiking. Picnics/BBQ. Everyone.
- Other Places To Visit En Route:
Best Day Trips Within 2.5 Hours From Ipswich.
5. D’Aguilar National Park.
On the mountaintops between Lake Wivenhoe and Brisbane is the Queensland capital’s closest national park and another excellent day trip destination from Ipswich. What makes D’Aguilar National Park such a huge drawcard is that links the city with the country with a beautiful winding road perfect for scenic drives and has two sleepy towns, many accessible lookouts, numerous kid-friendly walking trails, several challenging hikes, plus walk-in campgrounds, making it a fantastic outing for all visitors. What’s best about it is that because it is a through road, it’s easy to turn it into a scenic round trip.
- Distance From Ipswich To Mt Nebo: 81km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 20min.
- Best For: Scenic drives. Lookouts. Hikes. Overnight hikes. Car & motorbike enthusiasts. Adults, couples, families, elderly and those with limited mobility.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Wivenhoe Dam.
6. Mt Tamborine.
Another great place for outdoor adventures is Mt Tamborine. This beautiful mountaintop escape has short walking trails, waterfalls, lookouts and several other fantastic attractions that make it an excellent outdoor escape.
On the nature side of things Curtis Falls and Cedar Creek Falls are two of the must-do tracks with the latter being home to one of the most beautiful wild swimming holes in South East Queensland. Meanwhile, Rob Sowter Park (Hang Gliders) is one of the most romantic places to watch the setting sun over the Scenic Rim.
For fun and adventure, Thunderbird Park is a excellent playground for people of all ages, with two of the highlights being the Tree Top Challenge, where the exhilarating Canyon Flyer tour, Australia’s largest zipline experience, and the Ropes Course, a physically demanding canopy adventure, and the Thunder Egg Crystal Mine, which allows visitors to fossicking for geologically striking Thunder Eggs which are smooth on the outside, but harbour gorgeous crystal formations inside them.
- Distance From Ipswich To Gallery Walk: 106km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 32min.
- Best For: Nature-escapes, short walks, nature-based attraction. Families, adults & couples.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Lake Wyaralong.
Lamington National Park.
One of the state’s most beautiful and revered wildernesses is Lamington National Park. Located along the border southeast of Ipswich, this breathtaking Gondwana World Heritage Area is full of incredible rainforest walks that no nature lover should miss. Split into two sections to cover the massive pristine expanse, each are well worth day tripping to for a beautiful scenic drive, and to walk some of the most lush and picturesque trails that range from short and sweet to long and challenging.
7. Green Mountain.
Green Mountain, or O’Reilly’s as it’s more commonly known, is the closer of the two sections, the biggest and the most popular. It is memorable for the full-scale replica of the Stinson, a plane that crashes into a remote area of the national park in 1937, for opportunities to feed the brightly coloured birds, such as the crimson rosellas and, of course, it’s walking trails.
One of the most unique is the family-friendly Tree Top Walk, which has a suspension bridge taking you up into the canopy and, mid-way along, there’s a ladder to climb higher up a tree to where a beautiful view of the rugged landscape awaits.
Other amazing walks doable in a day are the Python Rock & Morans Falls track which both have spectacular viewpoints, and Picnic Rock, Elabana Falls & Box Falls, which is a fantastic little trifecta of waterfalls at the intersection of several trails.
If you arrive early, are a fast walker and there’s been heavy rain recently, I recommend doing the 10.9km, grade 4 Box Forest Circuit, which is one of the most visually rewarding hikes that includes that trifecta along with several other gorgeous waterfalls and three creek crossings. But be warned, I did the trail after days of downpours and while the first two crossings (in a clockwise direction) were passable, I had trouble with getting past Picnic Rock.
- Distance From Ipswich: 115km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 2hr 10min. (The road between Canugra and Green Mountains is very windy and one lane, so allow extra time.)
- Best For: Casual hiking, full day & overnight hikes. Everyone.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Lake Wyaralong.
8. Binna Burra.
The much smaller and more peaceful Binna Burra also has its fair share of outstanding and unforgettable hiking trails. One of the short walk highlights is the Caves Track, which has a misleading name as there are no caves but rather, it features two stunning overhangs that you can walk under.
It’s worth noting that the through-track ends at a different point to the start, so you can opt to just visit the two landmarks and head back or go to the other side where the trail meets the road, and then walk along the asphalt to make it a circuit.
- Distance From Ipswich: 110km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 40min.
- Best For: Short and long hikes. Adults, couples, friends.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Lake Wyaralong.
9. Springbrook National Park.
One of my all-time favourite places to visit and photograph is Springbrook National Park. Also a Gondwana World Heritage Site, this gorgeous rainforest expanse, wedged between Lamington National Park and the outer suburbs of the Gold Coast, is a waterfall heaven as there are upwards of ten and just about all of the trails goes to at least one, most which dramatically drop off towering escarpments! Better yet, each track is doable in a day!
Starting with the Springbrook Plateau, where all but two of the walks are, the circuit to the iconic Purling Brook Falls is one of most breathtaking as visitors can watch it plunge 106m over the bare escarpment from along the clifftop and also from a suspension bridge at the bottom. For those who are fast walkers or arrived early, the branch track to Warringa Pool is also a great side-adventure, with an gorgeous unnamed waterfall and the rock pool itself making this is a fantastic addition to the main trail.
As much as I love that track, my favourite on the plateau is the 4/4.2km Twin Falls Circuit. What makes it the best is that along the western escarpment are many beautiful viewpoints, including the stunning Canyon Lookout (which is also one of the starting points), before it goes down to the trickling Blackfellow/Poondahra Falls then follows the base of the cliff to the towering Twin Falls, which you can walk behind!!!
After that unforgettable experience, the trail goes through a small-through cave before reaching the intersection to head back up the top. Only don’t go that way just yet. Follow the Warrie Circuit for a short distance to Rainbow Falls to get showered on by that walk-behind waterfall too. And if you happen to come at the right time (mid afternoon on a sunny day), you can see why its called what it is.
Off the plateau lies another unmissable walk that is the most magical and memorable part of Springbrook National Park. The Natural Bridge is unique in that the waterfalls plunges through the roof of a dark cave. The trail allows you to go inside and feel the intensity of the water rushing in which is both incredibly nerve-wracking and humbling. And if you don’t mind getting back to Ipswich late, I recommend staying until dark when the glow worms starting emitting light, which combined with the aforementioned is an amazing outdoor experience.
- Distance From Ipswich To Springbrook Plateau: 146km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 2hr.15min
- Best For: Outdoor Adventure. Hiking. Waterfalls. Adults, couples & friends.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Wyaralong Dam, Advancetown Lake/ Hinze Dam
10. Mt Barney National Park.
Adding to the robust list of national parks that make the perfect for day trips from Ipswich is Mt Barney. Mt Barney National Park lies on the border, and is home to South East Queensland’s second highest peak and some of its most formidable mountain climbing terrain. Hiking to the summit involves a high level of fitness, navigation skills and self-sufficiency, but the physical challenge is incredibly visually rewarding with breathtaking views you won’t soon forget.
For those who aren’t quite up to that, the wilderness area has several other tracks that the average walker can undertake. Two of my favourite short trails are to Yellow Pinch, a beautifully scenic spot that overlooks the rugged, rocky peak of Mt Barney and the Lower Portals, which leads to a stunning small gorge with a beautiful, albeit absolutely freezing cold creek running between it.
- Distance From Ipswich: 100km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 30min.
- Best For: Challenging remote hikes. Casual hiking. Adventurous types. Adults, couples & friends.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Boonah, Maroon Dam.
11. The Falls Drive.
Main Range National Park.
For those who are mostly after a scenic drive, none are quite as spectacular as the Falls Drive through Main Range National Park. This gorgeous winding road goes up into the mountains of the Great Dividing Range and has plenty of breathtaking viewpoints along the way. From the rugged crags carving through the gently undulating landscape to the dramatic peak of South East’s Queensland’s tallest mountain, Mt Superbus, to the striking entrance of the Condamine Gorge, it is a visual feast for the eyes.
And that’s just if you don’t get out of the car! If you do, there’s even more to discover, namely waterfalls. The highlight is the breathtaking walk to the 40m high Queen Mary Falls, with the roadside stop for Daggs Falls being another stunning landmark. Meanwhile, Carrs Lookout is one of the most picturesque places to stretch the legs and enjoy the scenery from a standstill, making it a great drive for hikers and photographers too.
If that wasn’t enough, the drive to get to the Falls Drive is also incredibly scenic, with the peaks and mountains of Ipswich and the Scenic Rim making getting there and coming back beautiful from start to finish.
Note: You can also do this as a through drive and visit Warwick.
- Distance From Ipswich: 109km.
- Minimum Time To Traverse: 1hr 47min.
- Best For: Scenic drives, hiking, photography. Adults couples, families, friends, elderly, and those with limited mobility.
- Other Places To Visit En Route: Boonah.
Conclusion: Best Ipswich Day Trips.
From rainforests, cliffs, mountains, lakes, Ipswich has a great variety of day trips for those looking to escape the city atmosphere and bask to the beauty and serenity of nature.
If you are planning to visit Ipswich, consider looking at these other posts.
