If you’ve got kids then you know that close encounters with animals never get old. Luckily Ipswich has a handful of great places where you can interact with furry friends. Here’s 7 places to visit that offer animal experiences.
1. Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm
This charming hobby farm is home to sheep, lambs, alpacas, chickens, goats and geese. Children and adults can meet, pat and feed the animals. Ewe Nique Hobby Farm also has a coffee shop selling hot and cold drinks as well as homemade cakes, slices, muffins and other snacks. During the holidays and once a month the farm also holds special days where kids can get up close to koalas, reptiles and more!
2. The Llama Farm
A farm experience that offers visitors the chance to take a Llama for a walk, feed, pat them and take a Llama selfie or two. The Llama Farm has the largest herd of Llamas in Queensland as well as donkeys, goats, miniature ponies, peacocks, turkeys, guinea fowl and more. Tours are available on weekends and school holidays by appointment. They are also running a Little Llama Farmers school holiday program.
3. Summer Land Camels
Visit Australia’s largest wild camel training centre and dairy. Meet the camels and feed them, book a camel ride or a farm tour for a behind the scenes look. Summer Land Camel Farm has an onsite café and camel milk products available including cheese and gelato and their range of all natural skin care.
4. Naughty Little Kids
Visit the 70 goats and 40 kids on the working farm which is open on weekends for tours and cheese making demonstrations. Taste the award winning goats cheese, straight from the farm and gelato. Naughty Little Kids is open on Sundays (bookings essential), come and feed the goats and give them a cuddle.
5. Ipswich Nature Centre
The Ipswich Nature Centre is home to a range of native Australian animals including dingoes, wallabies and bilbies as well as cute farm animals. Enjoy walking around the shady boardwalks for free, or book a VIP Animal Encounters tour for four or more people including lunch at the Prince Alfred Hotel.
6. Koala Safari
Spicers Hidden Vale is offering Koala Safaris out of the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre. The centre is conducting a koala research program and are tracking koalas and joeys. Tour the wildlife centre, then head out to assist researchers locate and check the welfare of the koalas and learn interesting facts about them. Tours runs for two hours and bookings essential.
7. Mysteria Alpacas
Every Sunday you can feed or walk alpacas at Mysteria Alpacas. The small mixed farming business has cattle, sheep, horses, chickens and alpacas on site. There is also a farm shop stocking alpaca products, local honey and natural soaps.
Want to make a weekend of it? Checkout the Tallavalley Farm B&B a working 50 acre farm where you can bring your dog or even your horse. Meet the resident cows and horses as well as chooks. The three bedroom, two bathroom cottage with full kitchen and laundry is only a short drive away from Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby farm and the towns of Marburg and Rosewood.
Another option is Keira Farm, only minutes away from Summer Land Camels and Naughty Little Kids. The working cattle and sheep farm is home to Keira Billy rural retreat – a modern two bedroom cottage with a large deck and outdoor spa. You’ll see plenty of local wildlife as well as farm animals.
