Ipswich families are spoiled for choice when it comes to the best parks for kids. Not only do the parks in Ipswich have excellent play equipment, but there are also parks with water play, fitness equipment, sporting fields, bike paths and even one with a free zoo!
Need inspiration on a new park to explore? Here’s a list of 13 of the best parks in Ipswich.
Faye Carr Park
With so much to do here, Faye Carr Park is one of the very best parks for families. Across three distinct zones, there is something for everyone here, including tiny tots, teenagers and even sporty adults are catered for.
Kids will love the three rocket like structures which include a range of interactive activities. In addition to multiple slides and climbing frames, these rockets house various sensory panels, musical equipment and activities to help the kids let their imaginations go wild.
Right by the rocket ships, there’s play equipment suited to younger children, including swings, a modern see-saw and spinning and climbing equipment. Then on the other side of the park is a huge double flying fox so the kids can race their friends.
For sporty families, there’s a myriad of sporting fields, including a football field, a netball court and a basketball court. Plus, there is a 12 piece fitness circuit.
There is also a play zone designed especially for the tiny tots. Here you’ll find slides, swings, rope climb ladders, sit and spin equipment, rubber domes to climb and more. There’s even a gorgeous area for riding bikes, complete with a miniature roundabout and road signs.
Faye Carr Park has plenty of seating, picnic tables, BBQs and toilets. It’s also just a 10 minute walk to the Town Centre where there is a supermarket and cafe.
Address: 1 Joy Chambers Court, Ripley
Guilfoyles Park
Located in the new Waterlea development, Guilfoyles Park is one of the newest parks in Ipswich. It’s just a short 5 minute walk to the brand new Hangar complex, home to the Phat Boyz Smokehouse and Kitchen.
Guilfoyles Park is perfect for young families with a huge multi level castle complete with an enclosed slide, climbing equipment and a fireman pole. There is also a massive geodesic dome climbing structure, swings, flying fox, train and a great area for the kids to ride their bikes, complete with miniature roads and road signs.
The park also features a wide open grassy area which is the perfect spot for kicking around a ball or throwing a frisbee.
Guilfoyles Park is a bit light on with amenities with no BBQs or toilets here.
Address: Corner Britten and Hines Street, Walloon
Annabelle Park
Surrounded by the Moodai Reserve, Annabelle Park has lots of natural shade and is suitable for kids of all ages. The centre of the park has a large fort that has various slides, swing bridges and climbing structures. There is also a separate area for toddlers, which has a smaller fort with a slide, climbing structures and other interactive play equipment.
In addition, Annabelle Park has swings, sit and spin carousel, plenty of paths for bike riding, walking tracks through the reserve and a basketball court. Throughout the park, you’ll also find a range of signage educating children about the local wildlife.
Unfortunately, Annabelle Park doesn’t have any toilets; however there are picnic tables, BBQs and drinking water.
Address: Between Jones Road and Annabell Street, Bellbird Park
Queens Park
Queens Park might be the oldest park in Ipswich, but it remains one of the best! With loads of different free activities, Queens Park is one of those places where you can easily spend the entire day.
This huge park even has a free zoo! The Ipswich Nature Centre is home to various animals, including kangaroos, wombats, goats, lizards, snakes, birds and emus. The mini zoo is open six days a week, and whilst admission is free, a gold coin donation is appreciated. The centre is also wheelchair friendly.
Another must see at Queens Park is the Nerima Gardens. These beautiful Ipswich Japanese gardens are great for the kids and garden lovers alike to explore with the several pathways, bridges and streams.
While at the Queen’s Park Environmental Education Centre, the kids can learn about Ipswich’s unique natural environment and waterways as well as various Council environmental initiatives such as recycling and other ways to improve our environment.
Of course, Queens Park also has some great playground equipment suitable for children of all ages. Playground equipment includes a train, a small water play area, slides, multiple swings, including a liberty swing, a climbing wall, and one of the biggest flying foxes in the region (big enough for Mum and Dad to have a go!).
With all its beautiful shady trees, Queens Park is the perfect place for a picnic. However, the park also has its own Queens Park Café, where you can grab drinks and food to go or eat in whilst enjoying the views of the parklands.
Queens Park is wheelchair accessible and includes sheltered picnic tables, BBQs, toilets and plenty of parking.
Address: Goleby Avenue Ipswich
Robelle Domain Parklands
Springfield’s Robelle Domain is arguably one of the best parks in the entire Ipswich Region. Spread out over 24 hectares; the Robelle Domain Parklands has a zero depth water park, cafes, cycling tracks, walking tracks, playgrounds and a swimming lagoon.
The zero depth water park has a 700 litre tipping bucket and jet sprays. Surrounding the water park is various play equipment, including swings, see saws and climbing equipment. There is even a kids interactive music area.
The parklands have over 11 kilometres of paths perfect for bike riding, jogging or walking. The pathways pass various streams, bushland, gardens, a lake, a waterfall and private BBQ / picnic areas. There are multiple open areas perfect for the largest family ball game.
The star attraction at Robelle Domain is of course, the Orion Lagoon. The lagoon covers an area of 3.5km and is suitable for children of all ages. At one end of the lagoon are swimming pools with varying depths up to 1.5m. Meanwhile, the other end provides shallow streams with stepping stones ideal for toddlers. The lagoon is supervised by lifeguards between certain hours of the day.
Around the parklands are BBQ’s, sheltered picnic benches and large grassy areas perfect for pitching your own shelter for the day. There are toilets, showers and lockers. Food and drink are available to purchase within the parklands at the Robelle Café and Breakfast at Stephanies. There are also many food outlets at nearby Orion Springfield Central.
The parklands have various places for parking and are also wheelchair accessible.
While not technically part of Robelle Domain, it’s worth mentioning that right across the road from the lagoon, you’ll find the huge Orion Playground. This playground has something for all ages, including a huge three storey tower, complete with mega slides and a 16 metre skywalk bridge. There are inbuilt trampolines, rope climbing structures, swings, a spinning carousel, a music panel and plenty of toddler sized play equipment.
With the parklands, playgrounds, water park, lagoon and cafes, families could easily spend the entire day here.
Address: 155 Southern Cross Circuit
Splash ‘n’ Play Adventure Park
Featuring both a playground and water park, Ripley’s Splash ’n’ Play is the ultimate kid’s adventure playground. The shallow streams meandering through various water sprayers and water foundations are perfect for the little ones. Whilst the older children will enjoy running through the water shooters and aqua arch.
The playground has a dedicated area for smaller children, including nets, swings, seesaw and climbing equipment. Older children are going to love the huge fort, 7 metres off the ground. The fort contains various giant slides, climbing ropes, ladders as well as a flying fox.
There are benches scattered around the park for the parents to sit and supervise children. Families can make use of the multiple BBQs and sheltered picnic tables or purchase food and drinks at the park’s funky Forty West café.
Other park amenities include parking, toilets and showers.
Address: Providence Parade Ripley
Bob Gamble Park
With its awesome playground and zero depth water park, Bob Gamble Park is an absolute paradise for kids of all ages. Located within the River Heart Parklands, the park has two main water play areas, one containing several water troughs which feed water into the maze of shallow streams meandering through the stepping stones, ideal for exploring toddlers.
The other water area has numerous spouts shooting water out at varying lengths, which is perfect for older kids. This Ipswich water park also has play equipment, including a 25 metre flying fox, a huge climbing frame with a massive slide, sand diggers, swings and a swing log for multiple kids to enjoy at once.
Kid’s imaginations will run wild in the unique Discovery Forest. This play area amongst the trees includes balance beams, two forts, wooden totem poles, a sailing boat and a bridge across a dry creek bed.
The park has plenty of sheltered areas with picnic tables and BBQs as well as toilets, showers and parking. The park is also wheelchair accessible throughout.
Address: 2 Blackall Street Ipswich
Lobley Park
Plane crazy kids are going to love Lobley Park with its aeronautical themed playground. The park includes a RAAF Cargo Plane with a mock cockpit and a control tower complete with an x-ray machine and radar screen.
Other playground equipment includes swings (including a liberty swing), climbing equipment, a dedicated outdoor story area as well as pathways for kids to ride bikes and scooters. There is also cross training equipment.
Lobley Park is the perfect place to host a small child’s birthday party, particularly with the multiple areas with BBQs, sheltered picnic tables, toilets and parking.
Address: 243A Warwick Road, Churchill
Sutton Park
Sutton Park is a fantastic family park for kids of all ages. The young kids will love the miniature roadway, complete with traffic lights, stop signs, roundabouts and pedestrian crossing. While beyond the tiny system of roads, there are several kilometres of bike paths for the older children to ride around on.
Sutton Park has a great partially shaded playground with swings, see saws, a flying fox, monkey bars, and a fort complete with a slide. There is also plenty of seating around the playground for parents to supervise their children.
For the teenagers, there is a good sized skate bowl, basketball court as well as multiple open spaces to kick around a ball. Adults and kids alike will love the CrossFit facility, which is fully undercover and has solar panel lighting for use during the evening.
Other park amenities include a huge toilet block, BBQs, sheltered picnic tables and parking.
Address: 61 Workshops Street, Brassall
Discovery Park
Located along Opossum Creek, Discovery Park has lovely water views and offers a small fenced playground with lots of private undercover picnic areas. A bonus for families with toddlers is the playground is fenced, making it perfect for little ones always on the run.
The small nautical themed playground features a pirate ship with slides, climbing equipment and various cubby holes for kids to hideaway. The playground also has swings, a swinging hammock, wobble boards, and a small boat.
The park is surrounded by lots of shady trees and has a few secluded areas where you can have a picnic or BBQ – all with water views. There are also toilets, parking and it is wheelchair accessible.
Address: 180 Springfield Lakes Boulevard, Springfield Lakes
Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve
Located along the banks of the Brisbane River, the Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve is one of the most picturesque parks in Ipswich and the perfect place to spend the day with the kids.
There are three small playgrounds scattered across the park, which are best suited to younger children. Playground equipment includes a small fort with slides, swing bridge and fireman pole, spinning carousels, swings, sand diggers and boulders to climb.
Older children may enjoy the cross training equipment and there are plenty of wide open spaces for kicking a ball or pathways for riding bikes and scooters.
If you have a boat or kayak, there is a boat ramp for easy access to the water. Plus, there is a walking track that goes right around the peninsular, the perfect place for spotting an array of wildlife, including over sixty bird species, platypus, bandicoots, koalas and turtles.
There are plenty of spots perfect for a picnic or BBQ, with undercover picnic tables scattered across the reserve. Otherwise, you can lay out a rug by the water and watch the ducks and birds along the river. You can also purchase food and drinks from the Colleges Crossing Cafe on site.
You’ll also find plenty of toilets and parking across the reserve.
Address: 408-492 Mt Crosby Road, Chuwar
Leichhardt Park
Leichhardt Park has two separate playground areas, one being suited to younger children and the other targeted at older kids. The junior area is fully fenced and includes playground equipment such as a slide, swings, sand diggers, climbing equipment. The area has plenty of paths for kids to ride bikes and scooters.
In the older kid’s area, there is a flying fox and climbing equipment. This area also has a large sports field to kick a ball around. Both areas have their own dedicated sheltered picnic areas complete with BBQs.
Leichhardt Park also has toilets and parking.
Address: 1A Old Toowoomba Road, One Mile
Pebbles Park, Ripley
Not to forget the furry members of the family – Pebbles Park not only has a great playground for the kids but also has an excellent dog park. The dog park is a great off leash area for dogs to run around and also includes agility equipment.
For the kids, there’s a nice playground here with a climbing structure with a slide, swings, monkey bars, and spring riders. The playground is not overly big, but a great size for the kids to have a quick play before or after taking the dog for a play.
For sporty families, there’s a range of sporting fields, including a basketball court, cricket pitch and even a handball court. Throughout the parklands, there is also a range of paths that are ideal for riding bikes and scooters.
Unfortunately, Pebbles Park doesn’t feature any toilets. However, the park does have picnic facilities.
Address: 622 Ripley Road, Ripley
