The Heritage City has 6500 hectares of reserves and conservation estates to explore. Some have amazing facilities for kids from play equipment, zero depth water parks and environmental education centres.
Some of the city’s parks are located on the banks of the Brisbane River and offer an ideal location to laze the day away.
Learn more about some of the best parks in the region and some of the secret locations you can visit.
Queens Park
You could easily spend the day visiting Queens Park.
Inside the park you’ll find a free mini-zoo, Ipswich Nature Centre, which is home to native animals, including kangaroos, wombats, goats, lizards, snakes, birds and emus.
There is also beautiful Ipswich Japanese gardens inside the park, the Queen’s Park Environmental Education Centre, where kids can learn about Ipswich’s unique natural environment and waterways, and a cafe.
There is also some great playground equipment including a train, a small water play area, slides, multiple swings, including a liberty swing, a climbing wall, and a huge flying fox.
Queens Park is the perfect place for a picnic, but you can also dine in or grab take away from the Queens Park Café.
Queens Park is wheelchair accessible and includes sheltered picnic tables, BBQs, toilets and plenty of parking.
Find the park at Goleby Avenue Ipswich,
Robelle Domain
Robelle Domain in Springfield is spread over 24 hectares and includes 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, but you’ll also find play equipment, including swings and see saws and a kids interactive music area.
There are over 11 kilometres of paths for bike riding, jogging or walking that pass streams, bushland, gardens, a lake, a waterfall and private BBQ / picnic areas.
At one side of the park you’ll find the Orion Lagoon suitable for children of all ages.
The park has large grassed areas for picnics or to kick a ball around, toilets, showers and lockers near the lagoon and an onsite cafe, Breakfast at Stephanies.
It is also across the road from Orion Springfield Central, has plenty of parking and is also wheelchair accessible.
Across from the lagoon, you’ll find the huge Orion Playground with a 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.
Find Robelle Domain at 155 Southern Cross Circuit.
Joseph Brady Park
At the junction of the Brisbane and Bremer rivers, Joseph Brady Park is a popular local fishing spot. There is a launch area for canoes and kayaks and you can fish from the banks or from the water.
The park boasts large grassy areas interspersed with recreational walkways and a play area which includes a small climbing wall.
There are undercover picnic tables and barbecues and plenty of space to spread a picnic blanket.
Find the park at 181 Riverside Ave, Barellan Point.
Bob Gamble Park
Bob Gamble Park, located within the River Heart Parklands, has an awesome playground and zero depth water park.
The park has two main water play areas, one containing several water troughs which feed water into the maze of shallow streams and the other has spouts shooting water at varying lengths.
Here you’ll also find a 25 metre flying fox, a huge climbing frame with a massive slide, sand diggers, swings and a swing log.
There is also a Discovery Forest play area amongst the trees which has balance beams, forts, wooden totem poles, a sailing boat and a bridge.
The park has sheltered areas, picnic tables and BBQs as well as toilets, showers and parking and is wheelchair accessible throughout.
Find the park at 2 Blackall Street Ipswich.
Sutton Park
Sutton Park has a miniature roadway, complete with traffic lights, stop signs, roundabouts and pedestrian crossing. Then there are several kilometres of bike paths to ride around on.
You’ll also find a partially shaded playground with swings, see saws, a flying fox, monkey bars, and a fort with a slide.
There is also a good sized skate bowl, basketball court as well as open spaces to kick a ball. You can also enjoy the CrossFit facility, which is undercover and has solar panel lighting for the evening.
Sutton Park also has a toilet block, BBQs, sheltered picnic tables and parking.
Find the park at 61 Workshops Street, Brassall.
Rotary Bicentennial Park
Rotary Bicentennial Park features children’s play equipment, an open kick around area, BBQs, shelters and toilets.
There’s also plenty of space for a picnic, right in the middle of Redbank.
Find the park on the corner of Cedar Rd and Redbank Plains Rd.
Discovery Park
Discovery Park can be found along Opossum Creek, and has water views with a small fenced playground and undercover picnic areas.
The playground features a pirate ship with slides, climbing equipment and cubby holes as well as swings, a swinging hammock, wobble boards, and a small boat.
There are shady trees and areas where you can have a picnic or BBQ. There are also toilets, parking and it is wheelchair accessible.
Find the park at 180 Springfield Lakes Boulevard, Springfield Lakes.
Splash ‘n’ Play Adventure Park
Ripley’s Splash ’n’ Play features both a playground and a water park. Little kids and big ones will find fun with water sprayers, water foundations and water shooters.
The playground has a dedicated area with nets, swings, seesaw and climbing equipment, a huge fort, with giant slides, climbing ropes, ladders and a flying fox.
There are benches, BBQs and sheltered picnic tables and a cafe next door.
Find it at Providence Parade, Ripley.
Lobley Park
Plane loving kids will enjoy Lobley Park with its 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 also has multiple areas with BBQs, sheltered picnic tables, toilets and parking.
Find the park at 243A Warwick Road, Churchill.
Spring Lake Park
Located on the lake at Springfield the Spring Lake Park features a lovely lakeside outlook. Spend the day spotting native wildlife or enjoy some Tennis on the nearby courts.
There’s also a playground, open areas, pathways and gym equipment to try.
Bring a picnic and make use of the BBQs, tables and benches.
There’s also disabled access and public toilets available.
Find the park at 55 Burlington Terrace, Springfield Lakes.
Battye Park
The colourful play equipment at Battye Park will keep the kids entertained for hours.
Enjoy the open space to kick the ball, or bring a picnic blanket to spread out under a shady tree.
There’s toilets, BBQs, parking, shelters and tables as well as an off leash dog area.
Find the park at 132B Pine Mountain Rd, Brassall.
Riverside Park
Located in Karalee, Riverside Park is set by the Brisbane River and has boat ramps. The park includes a children’s playground and large area for picnics or to kick a ball.
It’s a great spot for fishing and can be used to launch the canoe or kayak.
The park also features shelters, picnic tables, pathways and bathroom facilities.
Find it at Park Rd, Karalee.
Faye Carr Park
Faye Carr Park has an excellent playground for the kids, BBQs, picnic tables and shelters. There is something for everyone including tiny tots, teenagers and even sporty adults.
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.
Faye Carr Park has plenty of seating, picnic tables, BBQs and toilets. It’s a 10 minute walk to the Town Centre where there is a supermarket and cafe.
Find the park at 1 Joy Chambers Circuit, Ripley.
