📍Romantic, Fun & Exhilarating Things To Do In Ipswich For Couples.
LOOKING FOR THE BEST ROMANTIC THINGS TO DO IN IPSWICH?
Ipswich is an underrated Australian city and region that is often overlooked by visitors to the southeast corner of Queensland. And it’s easy to see why. It’s located amongst two of the country’s biggest cities, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, plus several world-class national parks, such as Lamington, Springbrook and the Glass House Mountains, along with a few breathtaking sand islands, like North Stradbroke and Moreton Island, thrown in just for good measure.
But as a long-time local of the city and region, I’m here to prove that just because this heritage city isn’t anywhere near as prolific as these famous top-tier destinations, that doesn’t mean it’s not a great place to take your significant other, so here are the absolute best romantic things to do in Ipswich that’ll sweep them off their feet.
👉 My top 3 picks for the most romantic things to do in Ipswich:
- Hot Air Balloon Ride.
- Romantic Picnic At Kholo Gardens.
- Sunset from Lions Lookout.
Unforgettably Romantic Things To Do In Ipswich.
1. Start The Day Floating Like A Cloud Across The Landscape.
Hot Air Ballooning. – $.
Is there anything that says I love you more eloquently than watching the world go by from a slowly-moving airship (that’s basically what hot air ballooning is, right?) while it is drifting over a gorgeous heritage city and the picturesque countryside that surrounds it while it’s bathed in warm golden sunrise light. I think not.
Even if your significant other isn’t a morning person (because let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good sleep in!), there is no way on planet Earth that anyone, even those afraid of heights, will want to miss out on a magical once-in-a-lifetime experience like this, making it the perfect way to earn lots of brownie points on your super romantic Ipswich weekend adventure.
2. Watch A Movie The Old-Fashioned Way.
Tivoli Drive-In. – $.
What’s better than snuggling up next to your partner and watching a movie for a classic romantic date night? Taking it outside and seeing it on a gigantic screen under the stars from the comfort of your car is what – and that’s exactly what you can do at the Tivoli Drive-In Movie Theatre, the best lovey-dovey thing couples can do in Ipswich at night.
These places were huge back in the day, but now they are a rare entity and remnant of a bygone era, which only makes it that much more unique romantic experience. Better yet, it’s only a ridiculous, super-affordable $15, and there are usually two consecutive movies showing per night that the entrance fee pays for, so it’s an excellent budget-friendly date night idea, especially if you stay for both the family-friendly flick and the second, certifiably mature-themed movie.
Adding even more icing on the cake, it’s also a dog-friendly venue, so there’s no missing out on this unique old-timey experience for your furry, four-legged friend either.
Just rock up early in your vehicle, find the best spot to park in front of the giant screen, get comfy in your car, maybe even pull out some camping chairs (both ways blankets and pillows are a must for maximum warmth and cuddles), turn on the radio to the designated station, pull out the popcorn and enjoy the show, which is usually a fairly recent theatrical release, for an unforgettably romantic movie-watching experience you can’t get at home or in the cinemas.
Top Exhilaratingly Fun Ipswich Couples Experiences.
3. Become A Rally Driver For A Day.
Rally Drive, Willowbank Raceway. – $.
If you have “The need. The need for speed,” the unequivocally most exhilarating thing to do in Ipswich for couples is to go tearing around a gravel track and at breakneck speeds! Welcome to Willowbank Raceway, where they can make all your race-car rally dreams come true.
There are a few different insane experiences that you can opt for at this high-octane motorsport precinct. Either let a professional take the wheel and tear around the track while you hold onto the dashboard and scream at the top of your lungs, hoping they don’t slide off the track and into the trees, which will inevitably explode on impact! Or get into the drivers seat yourself and let them teach you how to drive like a maniac and hope you don’t do that yourself with your much crappier beginner skills!
Or for the ultimate racing adventure, DO BOTH! The XLR8 Rally Pack kicks starts with seeing what the hell your adrenaline glands are made of, followed by the pro doing a super-fast hot lap and putting you to absolute heart-pumping shame as they annihilate your time. But don’t worry, itmakes for a great talking point with your partner after they’re finished their getting ass kicked too, all in the name of good fun!
4. Get Spooked In A Graveyard.
Ghost Tours. – $.
Few things are more romantic than cuddling, amiright? Of course I am, they’re one of the best things ever when they’re given wholeheartedly by someone you love. You know what’s a great way to score even more of them? Going on a ghost tour with a partner who gets spooked easily by ghost stories and cemeteries.
And that’s exactly what you can do with scary Ghost Tours, one of the most unconventionally romantic things to do in Ipswich, because this city is old! It’s one of the oldest in Queensland, and damn, does it have a lot of very interesting stories to tell, with some of the most bone-chilling ones told on one of these bone-chilling night time excursions while walking amongst the dead and buried.
There are three spine-tingling tours that you can brave, the Ipswich Cemetery Ghost Tour, the Haunted Ipswich Ghost Tour, which takes place in the city’s oldest and largest cemetery and & the Goodna Cemetery Haunted History Tour, the outlier of the three on the outskirts of the city.
By the end of it, who knows if you’re partner will feel closer to you having survived the walk down cemetery lane or if they’ll hate you forever for subjecting them to the emotional turmoil or these spooky real-life stories in the creepiest of places. It could go either way.
It’s also great for fearless, history-loving couples who enjoy learning about the residents of the past and their devious misdeeds. (And who may also subtly like freaking people out, like tickling them with a feather or pre-planting a freaky sound machine, just to make things more interesting. But you definitely didn’t hear about it from me. Bonus points if you can do ventriloquism to really mess with people. IDK why I am encouraging this. 🤣)
5. Hop Aboard A Steam Train To A Delightful Rail Ride From Yesteryear.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway. – $.
Ahhh, rail travel aboard a steam train. Once regarded as the world’s most regal and luxurious way to travel long distances, journeying by this old-world mode of transport has become an obsolete remnant of the past that most folk nowadays don’t get to do… At least not on the regular. But thankfully, there are a few places that still exist today whose life goals are to ensure that this romantic form of travel is still alive for people to experience. Luckily for Ipswich, Brisbane’s original and closest heritage rail experience just so happens to be here in a city with a prolific railway legacy.
The Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway invites passengers to step aboard their beautifully restored locomotive and take a nostalgic train ride back to yesteryear. There are a few journeys to choose from: the super short 15-minute Loop Line Train, the laid-back 90-minute Picnic Train, and the fancier 4-hour Dinner Train.
However, the most exciting one that couples will want to hold out for is the Murder Mystery Trains. This highly engaging and entertaining ride transforms the entire dining experience into a nightmare-on-train-tracks scenario and a thrilling whodunnit. You’ll have to team up with your partner and act like a dynamic buddy cop duo (bonus points if you play good cop/bad cop), mingle with shady characters, and try to figure out who’s talking absolute bollocks to solve the case before dessert rolls out, lest cold-blooded killer slips away and it’s mission unaccomplished, so time is a’wasting… Yes, for those of you asking, costumes are very much encouraged, Inspector Gadget!
Best Outdoor & Adventurous Things To Do In Ipswich For Couple.
6. Visit The City’s Iconic Rocky Outcrop.
White Rock, Spring Mountain Conservation Park.
One hike adventure-loving couple won’t want to miss is Spring Mountain Conservation Park’s 6.5km return walk to White Rock. This striking and unique geographical feature, jutting out of the tree-shrouded landscape like a majestic sandstone monolith, is the city’s most iconic natural landmark, making the couple of hours of hiking there and back a worthwhile outing.
What’s also cool about it is that not only is it impossible to miss it on approach, like you’re chancing upon a secret civilisation for the first time, but when you get closer, you can see all the weatherworn holes and small caves that have been carved out of the rock from who knows how many years of geological process working at it.
7. Flinders Plum.
Flinders Peak is the showstopper here. It’s Teviot Range’s highest mountain (see photo below) and is a steep and rugged 6km return trek to its summit. And it’s from this point, in particular, where you’ll be scraping each other’s jaw off the ground thanks to the magnificent panoramic views of the countryside and mountain terrain that await you from the top, making the strenuous ascension and all-over lower-body burn so absolutely and unforgettably worth it. (Especially if you were looking for somewhere incredibly scenic to propose. Just saying.)
For something equally as intense but shorter, the hike up along the Mount Blaine track (4.3km return) is a fantastic alternative. It takes you up an unforgivingly steep ascent to the mountain’s saddle and has gorgeous views overlooking the rugged top half of Flinders Peak, framed by a few thin towering trees. Best of all, there’s a seat perfectly positioned to admire the scenery and recover from the relentless slog of getting there.
Flinders Plum is also a fantastic little low-key day-use area, perfect for romantic, after-hike picnics and BBQs.
8. Camping Under The Stars.
Hardings Paddock.
What’s more romantic than spending a night with your partner wrapped in blankets under the stars reminiscing about the past and contemplating the future while sitting around a nice, warm campfire? Nothing that’s what! It’s such a beautiful and intimate way to spend an evening with the person you love and you can do all that at Hardings Paddock.
This place is the northernmost section of the Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate and the largest of the two. With just 8 campsites, it is the perfect campground for couples to disconnect from our hyper-connected chaotic world and reconnect with the calm serenity of nature, allowing you plenty of time to get to know one another even more.
Tents, motorhomes and caravans are all permitted to stay, and there is also a camp kitchen, BBQs, toilets and even shower cubicles for BYO shower set-ups, so no one has to stink another day, to make use of. The only thing it doesn’t have is power, so you’ll need to ensure everything, including your power banks, is full when you arrive, or bring some solar chargers to make use of the sun.
As for what there is to do during the day, there are several nearby trailheads that you can wander to straight from camp, with the combines Rocky Knoll and Goolman Lookout Trail being my favourite as it’s a great 2 hr hike featuring lovely mountain and countryside views.
9. Enjoy A Day Walking Or Cycling A Historic Record-Breaking Trail.
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
For a truly challenging thing to do in Ipswich for enthusiast outdoor couples, they can take on the mammoth Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Starting from Ipswich at the Wulkuraka Railway Station and concluding in the small town of Yarraman in the outer reaches of the Toowoomba region, the 161km track is the longest rail trail in Australia.
It follows the disused Brisbane Valley Rail Line and takes in the gorgeous countryside, through beautiful bushland over historic bridges and picturesque waterways. It’s not just for hikers either. Many cyclists enjoy discovering this fantastic trail, and there are quaint towns with camping spots for those dedicated to accomplishing the whole thing, perfect for those training for marathons in either disciplines.
Even if doing it in its entirety is too much, the track has numerous entry and exit points, so those just looking to complete a section/s can enjoy this record-breaking trail too. Best of all, for those who love experiencing the outdoors with their dogs, the entire trail is also pet-friendly!
10. Tear Up The Tracks On Two Wheels.
Hiddenvale Adventure Park. – $.
One of the best things to do in Ipswich for couple who love mountain biking is to head out into the countryside to find this the Hiddenvale Adventure Park. This fantastic hidden gem lies 40 km southwest of the CBD and has over 110 km of wickedly fun trails.
With such an extensive network of routes to choose from, everyone, from the novice rider to the advanced hardcore biker, will enjoy tearing up the terrain at this little-known place. It is certainly one of the most exciting places to go in the region’s greater expanses that not enough people know about.
11. Go Wild Swimming At A Revered Riverside Park.
Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve. – Night Picnic.
Fancy a picnic, kayak and a swim? Oh, does Ipswich have just the place for you! Located on the northern outskirts, Colleges Crossing is one of the city’s most beloved attractions for many reasons. The large, reserve sits on the narrow southern banks of the upper Brisbane River and is a gorgeous spot to engage in a multitude of outdoor activities.
First off, it’s the best place in Ipswich and Brisbane to go swimming in a natural waterway(***See note below). I have plenty of fond memories frolicking around in the picturesque waters that flow alongside this reserve. Kayaking and canoeing are also beloved pastimes partaken here, as it photography, thanks to all the birds that frequent the place.
The large reserve is also is mostly grass, making it an excellent place for romantic picnics by the water while relaxing between all the other activities you can think of doing here, like flying a kite, reading a book, or watching the clouds go by. Better yet, for your you fur-baby parents, this place is also dog-friendly, so they don’t have to miss out on a fun day out or your PG-rated rolling around in the hay.
***Note: With a reported higher presence of bull sharks and several floods and Cyclone Alfred, affecting the water quality, swimming may no longer be suitable.
Ipswich’s Best Places For Romantic Walks & Picnic.
12. Have A Picnic And Play At One Of Queensland’s Oldest Parks.
Queens Park. – Night Picnic.
There’s no setting more magical to have a romantic picnic than Queens Park. This massive 26-hectare public space is of significant cultural value as it’s one of Queensland’s oldest parklands and thankfully, still retains every bit of the old-world charm it had from the time it was completed in the mid-1800s, which culminated in a beautiful and relaxing regal escape from the city and has been beloved by the people for generations.
We’re talking about giant shady trees and stunning stone architecture being some of the park’s most striking features while the addition of electric BBQs and a modern playground has brought it well and truly into the 21st century. This makes it a gorgeous place for all the typical daytime park things like picnics with your partner, before watching the sunset from Lions Lookout near the Visitor Information Centre.
Or, now hear me out on this, do all that in reserve. Start with watching the giant orange fireball sinking towards the horizon while casting a soft golden light across the city landscape. Then after everyone has cleared out to call it a day, take your pick of the entire well-lit place to set up your picnic. However, if you want to make it more Batchelor-style luxurious, here’s what you do. Take pre-charged solar fairy lights and old-style lanterns instead of the modern equivalent for illumination, which will make being next to century-and-a-half-old trees or atop the stone pyramids feel so much more magical. Getting dressed up all fancy also goes a long way to making it the most unforgettable nighttime picnic you’ll have!
15. Stroll Along The Bremer River.
Riverheart Parklands. – Night walk.
If you’re in the city and are looking for somewhere close by the escape the madness your your significant other, there’s no place so close to the action, but that feels so far away from it all than the Riverheart Parklands. Running alongside the Brisbane River between the Rail Bridge and the Bob Gamble Park, this stunning boardwalk is a great place to hold hands and enjoy the serenity of walking along Ipswich main river.
It’s even more serene at night when all the pathway lights have come on transforming giving it a romance movie magic that provides the perfect setting to cap off the night after a day filled with beautiful new memories and bellies filled with delicious vegan food.
Other Ipswich Date Ideas.
13. See A Performance.
Ipswich Civic Centre. – $.
If you enjoy things such as theatre, music, dance and comedy, then the Ipswich Civic Centre is a must-visit place for any occassion. This is the city’s ultimate entertainment space, so whichever productions are making the rounds and including this heritage city in their lineup, chances are they’ll be on here. This means that this is the best place to go to discover the best niche pursuits.
And with so many potential genres in all those performance genres always cycling through, its a great place to reconnect with something you love, discover new talent you’ve never heard of and laugh, cry or scream at the evokative, poignant or obsecrure performances that on showcase, which is especially perfect for romantic date nights that are sure to leave you talking about it non stop afterwards.
14. Discover More Shows.
Studio 188. – $.
Another venue where you can see some shows in Ipswich after sunset is Studio 188. Situated in the heart of the CBD inside the architecturally-striking Old Baptist Church on Brisbane Street, Studio 188 is a much smaller and more intimate space than the Civic Centre. It’s perfect for catching local performances, small productions and workshops for couples who love discover incredible hidden talents..
16. Become Enamoured By Art.
Ipswich Art Gallery.
If you and your partner love the beauty and expression of art in all its formats, one of the best places to visit in Ipswich to do that is the Ipswich Art Gallery. Located within the city’s gorgeous Old Town Hall building, this stunningly modern and inviting space is a fascinating visual art and social history museum.
This is showcased through the range of exhibitions, displays, workshops, performances and extensive interactive programs it offers visitors of all ages and interests. This makes it a peaceful venue to visit on a hot, windy or rainy day to deeply ponder the thoughtful messages that each art piece and showcase is evoking and seeing the city’s various stages of evolution through it’s fascinating photography and video collection.
Where To Stay In Ipswich.
- Budget: Harding’s Paddock Campground.
- Mid-Range: Country Motel Ipswich.
- Luxury: Quest Ipswich.
Conclusion: Top Romantic Things To Do In Ipswich For Couples.
Ipswich may be a little off the tourist trail for most travellers, but those willing to venture out to the heritage city will be surprised as it has an abundance of fantastic things to do.
If you plan to visit Ipswich, consider looking at these other posts.
