📍Is Ipswich QLD Worth Visiting In 2024? And 9 Reasons Why It Is From A Long Time Local.

WONDERING WHETHER IPSWICH IS WORTH VISITING?

Ipswich is a gorgeous place with half of it being a bustling small city and the other half being picturesque countryside. But being in the vicinity of heavyweight destinations such as Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coast, it often gets swept under the rug. But as someone who has lived here for the lion’s share of their lives, I know more than most just how much it has to offer and what a hidden gem it truly is.

From unique and unforgettable experiences like rally drives and old-school drive-in movie theatres to incredible attractions highlighting its prolific aviation, mining and railway heritage and outdoor spaces for picnics, BBQs, hiking, biking, swimming, boating and kayaking, here are all the reasons the answer to “Is Ipswich QLD Worth Visiting?” is it sure is!

NOTE: Colleges Crossing is still closed for renovation after the 2022 floods. *Updated 2024

Is Ipswich Worth Visiting For Adults & Couples?

Ipswich is a great destination for adults and couples. Outdoor spaces and hiking trails are great for solo time or bonding over exercise, picnics, BBQs and playful swims, whether that be just friends, family or as a couple. Speaking of couples, if you really want to impress your lover, there’s nothing more romantic than being in a hot air balloon ride together slowly drifting over the countryside with them and maybe even proposing… Nudge, nudge.

For a high-octane experience, rev heads will love an event or a rally experience at the Willowbank Raceway, while those into aircraft will want to visit the static displays at the Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre at the RAAF Amberley Base or hang around nearby and do some plane spotting.

The city also has a big drinking culture, so pub crawls are a great nighttime activity. You can also get cuddly with your partner in the car watching a movie at the Tivoli Drive-In Movie Theatre which is a great retro experience. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what Ipswich has to offer for adults and couples.

Is Ipswich Worth Visiting For Families?

The heritage city is also a fantastic destination for families, especially as there are many free or budget-friendly attractions.

Parents, grandparents or guardians with younger kids will love the interactive activities at the Ipswich Art Gallery or Workshops Railway Museum, or letting them run around at the numerous playgrounds and parks. A particular highlight is Queens Park which is amazing for its heritage value and all the play equipment there, plus it has the Nerima Gardens, which has ducks and water dragons roaming freely. Speaking of free-roaming animals, the road to the back gate of the RAAF Amberley Air Base almost always has kangaroos, so that’s a must-visit too.

As for older kids, the events at the Willowbank Raceway are sure to put a huge grin on their faces, and if they’re into aircraft, military aircraft spotting is a great way to see the war machines in action and visit the Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre at the RAAF Amberley Base will allow their to appreciate the marvels of aeronautical engineering up close.

Meanwhile, kids of all ages will love the swimming opportunities Ipswich has, from the resort-style Orion Lagoon to the beautiful parklands on the banks of the Brisbane River at Colleges Crossing, the biking trails at Castle Hill Blackstone Reserve and Hiddenvale Adventure Park and going to the drive-in movie theatre at Tivoli.

1. It’s Home To Some Unforgettable Experiences.

What makes Ipswich such a great place to visit is it has several fantastic unique things to do. For example, you can start the day gently floating above the countryside in a hot air balloon while the soft sunlight casts golden hues and long shadows across the landscape, then head to the Willowbank Raceway and get driven around a rally track at breakneck speed by a highly trained professional for what is the city’s most unbeatable adrenaline pumping experience.

Alternatively, you can get lessons on how to drive it like a crazy person yourself, or an unforgettable combination of both. Then, when darkness falls, head to the cemetery and spook yourself out of sleep that night by hearing the bone-chilling untold tales of the city’s unknown history. Or if you don’t fancy that, another great way to spend the night is by watching a movie from the comfort of your car at the Tivoli Drive-In, one of the few classic old cinemas for a walk down memory lane, all of which equates to a trip that’ll leave you with the fondest memories.

2. There Are Fantastic Museums And Heritage Sites.

Something Ipswich is more well known for is its cultural history. Most memorably, for me at least, is how it was slated to be the capital of Queensland. It was the frontrunner but lost out to Brisbane in 1904 because the river was too narrow for shipping. Wa-wa.

Anyway, it officially became a city in its own right in the same year and retains many of its old heritage buildings and parks pre and post-promotion, such as the beautiful landmark of St Mary’s Cathedral on Elizabeth Street, Ipswich Central Church/Central Mission on the corner of Limestone and Gordon Street, which were both built in 1858 and Queens Park, the state’s oldest park, which dates back even further to 1864.

Before all that, Ipswich was a sandstone mining settlement from 1827 before becoming a coal mining town in 1843, where the railway line came through in 1865 for a more effective and efficient way to move the unrefined goods out. These days, both of those industries have gone to the back burner and are less a prolific part of the city’s identity as it is now known as being the home to the Amberley RAAF Base, the largest military air base in Australia.

Some examples of places people can visit to explore the city’s heritage are the Workshops Rail Museum, Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, Ipswich Art Gallery, and the Box Flat Memorial.

3. There Are 2 Beautiful Swimming Locations.

Another great thing about visiting Ipswich is it’s swimming opportunities. College’s Crossing is a favourite with its gorgeous parklands perched on the banks of the Brisbane River providing one of the best places in the region to enjoy recreational activities with a river setting. It’s great for picnics, BBQ’s and get togethers with two of the best things to do splashing around in the drink, and going paddling.

If swimming in the natural environment is not for you, the Orion Lagoon at Springfield is a fantastic alternative. The resort-style pool is a world class facility with different sections and depths, making it the perfect place to take children of all ages. Best of all it’s free, lifeguard patrolled, is beside Robelle Domain, a gorgeous park with picnic tables, BBQ’s and playgrounds and within walking distance of the shops and restaurants, providing plenty of things to see and do for everyone.

4. And Many Great Hiking & Biking Trails.

For those who like to explore the natural environment on foot or on two wheels, Ipswich has some great opportunities for that too. Places like Denmark Hill Conservation Park and the Haig Street Quarry have pleasant kid-friendly walks. But for more challenging and rewarding hikes, my favourites are White Rock at the Spring Mountain Conservation Park, combining the Rocky Knoll & Goolman Lookout tracks into a circuit at Hardings Paddock, Mt Blaine and Flinders Peak at Flinders Plum and the trails at Lake Manchester.

Meanwhile, the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and Castlehill Blackstone Reserve are suitable for both walking and biking, while the Hiddenvale Adventure Park is a great dedicated mountain biking playground.

5. Plus, Plenty More Beautiful Outdoor Spaces.

Along with the places already mentioned in the previous two points, Ipswich has tonnes more beautiful parks, perfect for picnics, BBQs, get-togethers and play dates with the kids. Two of the best are the sprawling Queens Park in the city, which, as the state’s oldest park, has been a family favourite for well over a century and a half and also has the tranquil Nerima Gardens, Kholo Gardens on the northwestern outskirts on the banks of the Brisbane River and has a pond and beautiful walking trails.

6. It’s The Perfect Mix Of City Meets Country.

All of this is what makes Ipswich such a great place to visit. It’s the perfect mix of city-meets-country. The city has and is easy to get to and it’s well serviced with shops, it has many fantastic attractions, but also half of it is in the country, with picturesque scenery and a relaxing atmosphere, plus some of its most incredible experiences await out there, so visitors can enjoy the countryside but still have all the creature comforts the city provides.

7. The City Is Surrounded By Incredible Destinations.

What’s even more fantastic about Ipswich is that it’s within one to two hours’ drive of some of South East Queensland’s most incredible destinations. Not including the bigwigs of Brisbane and the Gold Coast most people already know about how incredible they are and will likely be visiting them anyway, I want to highlight what the countryside has to offer.

Surrounding Ipswich are several picturesque lakes. Wivenhoe is the closest and also the largest in scale and is the primary supplier of the region’s water, but there’s also Lake Wyaralong, Lake Somerset, Moogerah Dam, Maroon Dam and the Hinze Dam so boaties, sailors, and paddlers, picnickers and BBQers are spoilt for choice. Some also have walking tracks and biking tracks.

Speaking of walking tracks, the offerings are even better. D’Aguilar, Main Range, Mt Tamborine, Lamington, Springbrook, Ravensbourne and Crows Nest National Park provide a huge range of visually stunning short to long hikes and even some overnight treks that will satisfy everyone’s likes and capabilities.

Better yet, the routes to all these places are incredibly scenic and great if you’re just looking for a picturesque mountainous or country drive.

8. It Can Also Be An Affordable Place To Visit.

Another thing that makes Ipswich worth visiting is that it can also be an affordable place to visit. While hot air ballooning and a rally car experience are the most expensive things to do, many attractions and experiences fall well under that price range with most of the rest being free.

Some of the best cheap places to visit are the Tivoli Drive-In Movie Theatre, the Workshops Railway Museum, Willowbank Raceway Events, and Hiddenvale Adventure Park.

Meanwhile, some of my top picks for free things to do along with visiting the parks and walking the trails are going to the RAAF Amberley Heritage Centre on Open Day, plane spotting, wild kangaroos watching, swimming at Colleges Crossing and the Orion Lagoon and visiting the Ipswich Art Gallery.

9. There Are Some Great Festivals & Events.

If you need more incentive to visit the heritage city, perhaps its festivals and events will be the deciding factor to settle the question “Is Ipswich Worth Visiting?”

Willowbank Raceway is iconic for its huge lineup of car racing events, so it doesn’t matter what time of the year you come, there is always something loud and screeching around the tracks, perfect for an exhilarating day or night out!

Also held at the Willowbank Raceway is the famous CMC Rocks Country Music Festival. As Australia’s biggest international event of its kind, it goes hand in hand with being Ipswich’s largest annual event too, drawing in over 20,000 revellers per day across the 3 days it held annually in March.

Highlighting the city’s heritage and love for vehicular engineering is the Planes, Trains and Autos event which showcases heritage trains, classic cars and agile planes with displays, shows and demonstrations allowing visitors to see these beautiful machines at the finest

Another great festival is the CBD-wide Ipswich Spark festival. Taking place across 11 days in June, it’s a fun showcase of music and performances, plus interactive shows and activities, along with my favourite, the art projections on some of the city’s most prolific buildings, such as the St. Mary’s Cathedral, making it a fun and immersive experience for people of all ages.

Who Would Ipswich Appeal To?

Ipswich is a city and region that would appeal to many people, such as those who like:

• Places that are the perfect blend of the city and country.
• Peaceful rustic escapes.
• Walking trails.
• Wild swimming.
• Outdoor picnics and BBQs.
• Day drives into the countryside.
• Car racing events!
• Military aviation history & planespotting.
• Railway heritage.
• Old architecture.
• Places that have many affordable or free attractions.

Who Would Ipswich Not Appeal To?

There are also a few people who may not be interested in the city such as:

• People who aren’t fond of the country.
• Folks that don’t enjoy heritage sites.

There are numerous ways of reaching Ipswich, depending on where you are starting from. Domestic and international flights land at Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s airports, while regional and luxury trains go to Roma Street in the state capital, and cruise ships nearby from Pinkenba, on the outskirts of the city. From there, trains, trams/light rail and buses are public transport options for the rest of the journey. Alternatively, you can hire a car, or take ride-sharing services such as Taxis, Ubers or Didis.

Mid-late spring (October-November) is the best time to visit Ipswich as that’s when the weather is warm outside which is perfect for being outside, swimming the Orion Lagoon and the rivers and waterways are pleasant, the jacaranda trees and the flowers are in bloom and it’s beautiful everywhere. Plus, it’s the start of storm season, so you might get an awe-inspiring late afternoon or nighttime lightning storm to cap off the day.

Depending on what you like to see and do and how thoroughly or speedily you tend to go, 3-4 days will be a satisfying amount of time for most people to visit the attractions they’re most interested in, and a good benchmark for helping you decide how long you would like to spend in Ipswich.

With its heritage charm, railway and aviation attractions, resort-style lagoon, wild swimming holes and hiking trails, Ipswich is the perfect blend of city-meets-country, making it a worthwhile destination for day trips, weekend escapes and road trips.

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