The September Spring school holidays are a great time to explore the Ipswich region. The days are sunny and warm but not too hot, a great time of year to explore by swimming, hiking or biking.
Here you can take to the skies in a hot air balloon, visit the birthplace of rail, (Queensland Museum Rail Workshops), cuddle some adorable farmyard animals or catch a live show.
Here are a few of the top activities that need to be on your family’s holiday checklist from 14-29 September.
What’s on in Ipswich Central
Dinosaur Discovery
The dinosaurs are returning to Tulmur Place these school holidays. Enjoy some ROARRRSOME displays of prehistoric creatures that will take you back in time and come alive with sounds and movement from Monday 16 September to Sunday 29 September.
The full Dinosaur Discovery activation will commence from Wednesday 18 to Wednesday 25 September with arts and crafts, market stalls and food trucks from 10am–2pm.
Walking Together
Journey through the landscapes, stories and traditions of First Nations peoples in this all ages, interactive exhibition at Ipswich Art Gallery. Engage with tactile materials inspired by traditional crafts and participate in hands-on activities. Walking Together is designed to foster understanding, respect and connection with the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
Open until Sunday 10 November from 10am–5pm daily.
Step back in time with Ipswich Libraries
Join in the fun at Ipswich Libraries as they step back in time these school holidays!
Check out the incredible range of free programs and events on offer – there is something for every age including:
- Knights and Chivalry Presentation
- Larrikin Puppets Show
- Mummification Workshop
- Shadow Puppetry Workshop
- Digital Illustration Workshop
- Hip-Hop Writing and Production Workshop
- Hands-On History Drop-In
- Road Test a Robot Drop-In
- Eye Spy: Animal Prints
Bookings open from Monday 26 August, find out more about the holiday programs here.
Design-a-Dino, Prehistoric Puzzles and Play at QM Rail Workshops
Bring your building and crafting skills to Queensland Museum Rail Workshops‘ dinosaur-themed school holiday program. Dinosaurs didn’t leave us with selfies, we recreate how they appeared by looking at fossils and other living creatures. All ages and abilities will enjoy these scientific based, imaginative dinosaur activities.
- Meet Jigasarus, the giant dinosaur and build different models
- Try the Designo-sarus challenge and make your own Scraposaurus to take home
- Stand Tall to see how you compare to Queensland’s prehistoric inhabitants
- Snuggle in for Storytime in the Relaxing Room.
There will be activities daily from Saturday 14 September to Sunday 29 September, 10am–2pm.
Entry is included with museum entry.
Visit the museum website for more information.
Alice in Wonderland Jr
Fall down the rabbit hole with Alice as she navigates the curious world of Wonderland on a journey of self discovery!
When young Alice finds herself in a strange world where everything seems upside down, she must find her way home…and find herself along the way. Alice in Wonderland JR. is Presented by Civic Centre and Fusion Arts Inc.
Dates include:
- Thursday 19 September 11.00 am
- Thursday 19 September 6.00 pm
- Friday 20 September 11.00 am
- Friday 20 September 6.00 pm
Free family fun day and kids meals at CSI
During the school holidays kids can eat for free at Club Services Ipswich with a Longhorn Restaurant main meal purchase.
There will also be a free family fun day on Sunday 15 September which includes jumping castles, sports challenges, obstacle course, fairy floss, popcorn and snow cones.
Street Fest returns to Riverlink
Kids are invited to visit a free pop-up skate park at Riverlink outside The Reject Shop from Thursday 19 September until Saturday 28 September between 10am–2pm daily.
The team from Chiggy’s Skateboarding will be running workshops (8 x 25 minute sessions per day) and no bookings are required.
The event includes helmets, skateboards and safety gear and is suitable for children aged three and over – who knows they might become the next Arisa Trew!
An exciting line of workshops will also be running including:
- Custom Skateboard Deck Painting
- Tie-Dye Workshops (T-Shirts & Caps)
- Mini Deck Skateboard Exhibit
- Graffiti Art Workshop
- Beatboxing and DJ Turntables Workshop
- Street Dance Workshops
For more information people can visit Riverlink online.
Meet some of Ipswich’s cutest residents
Animal lovers are spoilt for choice when it comes to an array of wildlife and farmyard experiences that can only be found in and around Ipswich.
The Ipswich Nature Centre in Queens Park is an unmissable experience for any visitor, as it is home to many animals including bilbies, dingoes, wallabies, a wombat, and also features a walk-through bird aviary. And these school holidays you can book into an animal encounters tour for $5pp or $10 per family. This tour is being held on Thursday 19 September at 9am and again at 11am.
The Ipswich Nature Centre is the only free zoo in south east Queensland, so you and your family can stay as long as you like, or come back whenever you feel like seeing those cute little faces again. They are open seven days a week during the school holidays.
Put your heads together to solve the clues
If your children love solving puzzles, then why not let them unleash their inner detective at Seraphim Escape Rooms. Working together as part of a team, the kids will enter a specially designed themed room where they will need to put their heads together to find the clues, solve the puzzles, and unlock the door in a certain time frame. This activity is perfect for children that are a little older and love a good challenge.
Take the kids to Hardcore Blasters
Let the kids take aim at Hardcore Blasters these holidays with mask hire for $5 and unlimited balls for $5. Join a public session for $35 if you’re bringing your own blaster, or hire one for $60 (price includes the session, blaster, mask and unlimited balls).
You could also organise a private session, prices are $440 up to 10 and $660 up to 20 people.
Sustainable Ipswich soap and paper making classes
These holidays a range of sustainability focused activities will be provided for kids to do during the school holidays.
The first is a soap making workshop on Wednesday 18 September, then a paper making workshop on Thursday 19 September at 9.30am and another at 11am. A pimp my sneakers workshop will also be held on Friday 20 September and three more soap making workshops on Saturday 21 September.
All the workshops will be held at the Queens Park Environmental Education Centre and are free, tickets will be available from Wednesday 4 September at 9am. Register online thorough the Ipswich City Council Environment Events eventbrite page.
What’s on further afield…
Attend a historical open day
The Ipswich Historical Society will be holding a Family Fun Day on Sunday 22 September during the school holidays.
On the day there will be a bush band, trackless trains running, a magician and a historical Ipswich presentation. The mini crafters will display their mini heritage buildings, veteran cars and stationary engines will be on display, the blacksmiths will be busy at work as well as the Spinners and Weavers.
And there will be animals including baby goats and a Clydesdale horse.
Entry will be available at the gate, at the link or through the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre, $7.50 for adults (and those over 12 years), $5 for children 5 to 12 and $25 for a family with two adults and up to four children.
Active Kids come and try day
During the school holidays a number of come and try days are being held around Ipswich.
These free sessions encourage children to participate in various sports including boxing, volleyball, cricket, karate, hockey, touch football, soccer, lawn games and scooter skills. The sessions are for all ages and abilities and include a free BBQ, there will also be stalls on the day.
If you would like to attend you’ll need to register and sign in to ensure you can participate in the sausage sizzle!
Sessions will be held from 9am-1pm at Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve on Tuesday 17 September, Hayden Park in Riverview on Wednesday September 18, Anzac Park in Rosewood on Tuesday 24 September and Evan Marginson Park in Goodna on Friday 27 September.
See the dinos, pet and feed the animals
The Ewe Nique Hobby Farm will be open every day during the school holidays (except for Tuesdays) for you to feed and pet the farm animals and have a coffee in the Baa Baa Cafe. Their new dinosaur experience is also open full of replica dinosaurs, birds and fish!
Enjoy two sessions each day, either 9am or 10.30am and meet the gorgeous baby lambs and goats!
A special entry price will run until the end of the holidays and bookings are essential.
Visit The Llama Farm
You can visit Queensland’s largest herd of llamas these holidays.
The Llama Farm is not only home to llamas, but also giant rabbits, donkeys, goats, chickens, peacocks, ponies and camels.
Meet the animals on a Faces of the Farm tour at 9am on tour days or book in for a llama walk at 3pm on tour days.
A Little Llama Farmers day will be held on Friday 20 September. It’s a chance for kids to learn about llamas and the other farm animals, help with chores and take home some llama goodies.
Bookings are essential, book online.
Have a camel ride, take a tour and enjoy a discount
During the school holidays, Summer Land Camels will be running camel rides every day. The farm will open 9am to 3pm daily, there is no entry fee and visitors can pat and feed the camels for just a few dollars per bag of feed.
If you’re visiting during the holidays you can get a half price farm tour and taste for the kids. Use the code HOLIDAYS when booking online! After your tour enjoy a delicious lunch, brunch, camelcino or award-winning camel milk Gelato at the cafe.
A Little Farmer Humpty Day will be held on Wednesday 25 September from 9am to 2pm. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as a farmer. Tickets are $10 (under 4s are free) and include a 30 minute farm tour, chance to pat and cuddle the camels, activities and miniature goats.
See the alpacas
Mysteria Alpacas will be open Saturday and Sunday for the first weekend of school holidays. And Sundays during the holidays.
Take to the skies in a big balloon
If you’re looking to take your school holiday fun to new heights, why not take a hot air balloon flight over the city of Ipswich with Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights? Granted, you do have to get up super early, but once you are in that basket and watching the sunrise, it will be a holiday memory you will treasure always.
Go gold panning and see farm animals at Spicers Hidden Vale
Spicers Hidden Vale awaits to make your family break unforgettable. Here, you and your kids can dive into a plethora of exciting activities. Whether it’s feeding the friendly farm animals, taking a tour of the market garden, or conquering the giant jungle gym outside The Barn, the options are endless.
For those seeking adventure, the world-class bike trails of Hidden Vale Adventure Park are at the Spicers doorstep. Plus, there is also gold-panning experiences and half-day 4WD tours across the extensive 12,000-acre property, ensuring that there’s never a dull moment in sight.
Family night at the Drive-In
Load up the car and take everyone to the Tivoli Drive-In for a night of Hollywood blockbusters, popcorn and ice creams.
Knock down pins at iPlay Ipswich
If you have a competitive spirit, challenge the kids to see who can get the highest score at the eight-lane bowling alley at iPlay Ipswich. Afterwards, reignite your love for old-school games in the arcade by introducing the newest generation to your favourite games. Try your hand at the hugely popular Daytona Racing, or the classic air hockey table.
Hit the bike trails over the holidays
If you like to stay active, grab your bike and explore more than 110km of world class trails at Hidden Vale Adventure Park. Operating out of the luxurious Spicers Hidden Vale getaway, the various tracks are suitable for beginners right up to experienced riders. The property is open from 7am-3pm daily and can be accessed for $20 a day. Upon sign in, everyone will be issued a map to ensure they stay on the right track.
Let the kids run wild at one of Ipswich’s great parks
Sometimes all you need for a great family day out is the sun shining and a good playground to entertain the little ones.
Lucky for you, Ipswich has lots of great parks, playgrounds and open spaces where you can easily spend a full day! Why not check out or revisit Queens Park in the middle of Ipswich, Lobley Park in Churchill, Robelle Domain in Springfield, Joseph Brady Park at Barallen Point, Sutton Park in Brassall, Rotary Bicentennial Park in Redbank Plains, Discovery Park in Springfield Lakes and Spring Lake Park, also in Springfield Lakes.
There’s lots of fun climbing apparatuses, swings, slides and space to throw out a picnic rug or kick a ball around – the choice is yours!
Ride the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
Take a leisurely bike ride with the whole family from Ipswich to Fernvale along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. The trail traces the old Brisbane Valley rail line that commenced at Wulkuraka and continued to Yarraman, west of Kilcoy.
The 20km trail from bustling Ipswich out to the rural township of Fernvale is suitable for all riders, taking you on a fun family adventure through farmland, forest and picturesque settings away from the busy traffic.
The trail features various surfaces, including sand, grass, gravel and rough stretches of rocky ballast.
By using the Brassall Bikeway, riders can easily connect to Queensland Museum Rail Workshops in North Ipswich, and then travel via the road network to the historic Ipswich Central precinct, which is full of eateries, quirky shops and attractions like Queens Park and the Ipswich Art Gallery.
Where to stay…
Stay in the heart of town with Urban Getaway, or book a family-friendly farm stay at Pocket Retreats, or Tallavalley Farm B&B. Stay in Ipswich Central with Quest Ipswich and Oaks Ipswich Aspire Suites. Stay in Springfield at Quest Springfield and the Springfield Lakes Hotel.
For more options see our Accommodation Page.
