Five fun day trips in Ipswich

Located less than an hour from Brisbane, the city of Ipswich is the perfect place to take the kids for a day trip without breaking the bank.

From feeding llamas to mountain biking, there’s something for kids of all ages to enjoy.

Here’s our top picks for a great day out in the Ipswich region.

Please note some displays and activities may be impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines.

The Workshops Rail Museum

If your child loves trains, the Workshops Rail Museum should be number one on your to-do list.

The museum is housed in the original Ipswich Railway Workshops and was home to the first train to run in Queensland, which is now part of the museum’s award-winning displays.

The museum also features the world’s largest model railway of Queensland where kids can discover mini versions of Brisbane suburbs, outback Queensland, cane fields and the iconic Kuranda Railway in Cairns.

Kids can dress up as a conductor, get stuck into some train-themed craft activities or try their hand at the train simulator.

The Llama Farm

Get up close and personal each weekend with Queensland’s largest herd of llamas at the Llama Farm.

Nestled in the foothills of Pine Mountain, the 32ha farm offers tours and the opportunity to take a llama for a walk along the Brisbane River.

Kids will love the opportunity to feed llamas, camels, miniature ponies and cuddle up to giant rabbits, sheep and miniature goats.

All proceeds from the farm visits go back into caring for the animals, many of which were rescued, and the local community.

Spicer’s Hidden Vale Adventure Park

Older kids will enjoy the opportunity to get outdoors with more than 110km of mountain bike trails through 4800ha of bushland at the Spicers Hidden Vale Adventure Park.

BYO bike or hire an electric mountain bike to try the world-class network of trails suitable for beginners and experienced mountain bikers alike.

Keep an eye out for the kangaroos, cows and koalas that frequent the bike trails – you may even come across an abandoned light plane.

After your ride, stop in for a burger and cold drink at Hidden Vale’s restaurants.

Pump up the cool factor with a helicopter ride to and from the Adventure Park.

Ipswich Nature Centre

Located in the historic Queens Park, the Ipswich Nature Centre has offered Queenslanders the opportunity to get up close to Australia’s native wildlife for more than 80 years.

Home to 42 species, including bilbies, wallabies, quolls and emus, the landscaped gardens and exhibits have been created to replicate the natural bush habitat of the animals.

Kids will love the colours and sounds of the rainforest bird aviary and baby animal barn.

Entry is free, however a gold coin donation is asked at entry to help care for the animals.

Seraphim Escape

Escape rooms are a real-life puzzle experience where small teams are locked in a themed room and must work together to escape.

Work as a family to find clues, solve riddles, unlock locks and doors, and solve the puzzle before your time runs out.

Seraphim Escape offers a family-friendly Christmas-themed Santa’s Cottage room where the objective is to help get on to Santa’s nice list, and the more difficult horror-themed Executioner’s Toolshed and Atonement rooms which would suit teenagers and horror fans.