Looking for a way to keep the kids entertained, get them out of the house and give you a moment of peace? Look no further than Ipswich as there’s so much to see and do these school holidays!
Lightplay for Kids
Enter the dazzling world of LightPlay where children can explore their artistic potential in an interactive space created especially for them!
Play with overhead projectors and illuminated light boxes and discover what happens when light is cast on different materials. Explore transparency, reflection and shadow as well as other properties of light.
See the Children’s Gallery transform into a constantly evolving light scape before your very eyes!
The free exhibition runs from August 2 to October 31 and is recommended for ages 3 to 8 years old. Book into one of three sessions daily 10am-12pm, 12.30pm-2.30pm, 3pm-5pm.
Science on Track
The Workshops Rail Museum is encouraging natural curiosity in kids these school holidays with Science on Track.
Science doesn’t always take place in laboratories. They’re making science fun at the museum, exploring and answering a number of what, how and why questions about animals, chemistry and physics in daily workshops during the school holidays.
Week One is all about animals from Saturday 18 – Sunday 26 September, walk on the wild side with wildlife shows and a drop in animal academy. Week Two is Science with a bang from Monday 27 September – Monday 4 October. This week is all about chemistry and physics – heat, energy and forces plus a spot of slime!
Wildcall Wildlife Show
A special experience to get up close with some of Australia’s most unique wildlife. Come and meet a collection of live native Australian animals which can include lizards, snakes, turtles, possums and more! Our wildlife shows allow children and adults to learn about these beautiful creatures in a fun and safe environment. This is an exciting, educational experience that everyone will enjoy.
Show times: 10.30am – 11.30am | 11.30am – 12.30pm | 1pm – 2pm daily
Location: Moving Goods area
Animal Academy
Walk, squeak or squawk on the wild side! Drop into the theatrette and investigate animal adaptations through museum specimens, creative activities and hands on exploration. Kids can use observation and imagination to design their very own animal – unknown to science!
Academy times: 10am – 3pm daily
Location: Theatrette
Big Bang Education Science Show
Guaranteed to engage, excite and inspire your kids in Science! The Big Bang Education Science Show runs for 30 minutes and covers lots of different science topics including states of matter and can incorporate demonstrations involving dry ice, liquid nitrogen and fire!
Show time: 10.30am – 11.15am
Location: Moving goods area
Big Bang Education Workshops
Get more hands on with the team from Big Bang, exploring the forces that make planes, helicopters and rockets fly and what makes slime! This is a 45 minute drop in activity.
Workshop times: 11.30am – 12.15pm | 1pm – 1.45pm
Location: Theatrette
Tickets to Science on Track include entry to the Museum and all exhibits, including Ipswich in Miniature. Visitors are encouraged to make a day of it and explore all the Museum has on offer with family tickets just $44.50 for two adults and two children.
Visitors can explore 15 larger-than-life exhibits, get up close to locos and vintage carriages, drive a train simulator and spark their curiosity in the Sciencentre.
Haunted History Tours
Save 25% on getting spooked with the kids these school holidays with Ghost Tours Australia’s other-wordly tours and experiences. Stay up past bedtime and explore some of Ipswich’s most haunted buildings and burial sites. As you walk between the graves under the creepy cover of night, you will be introduced to the stories of the resident ghosts and ghouls. If cemeteries aren’t your cup of tea join in on a Haunted Ipswich CBD tour to discover the Gothic town’s eerie and past.
Some exclusions apply to the offer, valid for teenage tickets (10-17) use code KIDSPOOK25 when booking and Ipswich tour online for the school holiday period.
Animal Encounters at the Ipswich Nature Centre
These school holidays get up and close to a range of Australian wildlife at the Ipswich Nature Centre.
While it’s free to visit during the holidays (open 7 days a week), you can book into an exclusive Animal Encounters tour to learn more about the animals with keepers and guides.
Tours are available at 9am and 11am on Monday September 20, Wednesday September 22 and Friday September 24, Monday September 27, Wednesday September 29 and Friday October 1.
Learn about the important work the Centre continues to do to support the Bilbies; discover what goes into caring for local wildlife; meet lovable barnyard animals; meet the keepers doing their rounds; and get to know all the local residents of the Ipswich Nature Centre by name.
All tours will meet at the entry gates to Ipswich Nature Centre, 15 minutes prior to start of session times. Group limits apply per session.
Please bring a water bottle, hat and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Tours cost $15 for adults and $12 for students and concession, $10 for kids up to age 12, family tickets are $40 for two adults and two kids or one adult and three kids.
Pet and feed the animals at Haigslea
The resident sheep, goats, alpacas, chooks and peacocks at the Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm are waiting to meet you these holidays.
Open the entire two weeks of holidays for sessions at 9am and 10.30am, the farm is great for little kids and those curious about farm life and animals.
There are two afternoon sessions available also on Tuesdays and Thursdays with some visits from special mini goats.
There’s also great coffee onsite too.
Bookings essential, $5 entry per person (adults at children pricing); animal feed $3 a bucket or 4 buckets for $10.
$5 Movie tickets at Limelight
Grab the popcorn and get ready to be entertained as these school holidays Limelight Cinemas are treating you and the kids to $5 movie tickets.
Starting Saturday September 18 and finishing October 6 movies included are Paw Patrol The Movie, Jungle Cruise, Space Jam A New Legacy, Ainbo Amazon Princess and Dogtanian and the three Muskehounds.
Family fun day at Brothers Ipswich
At Brothers Ipswich take the kids down for a family fun day on Sunday September 26. There will be a petting zoo from 2pm-4pm then see Farmageddon at 4pm.
And kids eat free lunch and dinner with the purchase of a full priced adult main meal.
Slip ‘n’ Slide at Riverlink
Riverlink will be hosting Slip & Slide, a 25 metre giant inflatable waterslide these school holidays!
Head down to enjoy the free slide from Monday 20 September – Sunday 3 October outside The Reject Shop from 10am – 2pm daily.
Come cool off this spring with garden games and a water mist zone for the little ones.
Remember to bring a towel and don’t forget your sunscreen.
Slide participants must be a minimum 110cm in height and over 4 years of age. This is a COVID safe event.
Little Humpty Children’s Day
Summer Land Camels are holding their popular Little Humpty Children’s Day on Wednesday September 22.
Dress like a farmer (wear enclosed shoes), bring your camera and meet the friendly camels.
The day includes a 30 minute kids farm tour, a bag of camel feed, a chance to pat and cuddle the camels and kids’ activities.
Book in for a $20 camel ride on the day.
Food will be available to purchase on the day including sausage sizzle, burger and gelato.
While you are there, you can feed the friendly camels, shop around in the Skincare and Souvenir Shop, visit our Homestead Cafe for a delicious breakfast, brunch or lunch and try our famous Camelcino. All our dairy products are also available for purchase straight from the farm, so bring an esky or a cooler bag.
The camel farm will also be running Tour and Taste Farm Tours every day during school holidays at 10:30am and an extra one at 12pm on weekends.
Camel Rides are available every day during the school holidays and bookings are essential.
Snake Boss and magic show at CSI
These school holidays kids eat for $5 at Club Services Ipswich, plus you can see two great free shows.
See the Awesome Adam Magic Show on September 19 from 12pm-1pm and on September 26 from 12pm-1pm meet Animal Planet’s Julia Baker and possibly hold some very cool reptiles.
$2 kids meals at Ballistic Beer Springfield
These holidays Ballistic Beer Springfield are offering $2 kids meals on Wednesdays and Thursdays with any main or lunch purchase.
Some conditions apply.
Take the kids to enjoy a covered outdoor playground and huge grass area so they can run around while you relax and try a tasty brew.
The venue is also dog friendly in the outdoor dining areas so you can also bring your fur baby!
Workshops and more at Orion Springfield Central
There’s a lot on offer these holidays at Orion Springfield Central from food, movies, craft and more.
Food and Flicks
On any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday between Sunday 5 September – Wednesday 29 September, enjoy a meal at your favourite foodie* and get a FREE same day Event Cinema Movie Ticket. For more details and T&Cs click here.
Happiness Hub
Between September 20 – 30, visit the Happiness Hub outside Adairs in the Target mall for a variety of workshops.
From September 20 – 21 take part in free pot planting.
From September 22 – 24 enjoy free donut decorating.
Do some tye dyeing from 25 – 27 September for $7.
Make a free pinwheel from September 28 – 30.
Kids Yoga
Revive Yoga is giving the kids even more to look forward to over school holidays! They have a half-day workshop filled with yoga, dance, pilates and aerial yoga!
Each class will be 45 minutes, with a snack break at the halfway mark.
Every participant will receive a gift pack of a yoga mat, shirt, and certificate of completion!
Please note kids must be 8+ years old and need to bring a pair of socks, towel, water and snacks.
The kids school holiday workshop is being held on Monday September 20 from 12pm-4pm.
Tickets are $79 per child.
Queensland Raceways events
These school holidays there’s plenty of family friendly activities on at Queensland Raceways!
King of QR
See drivers push themselves against clock during this full day of action to answer the question “Who is the king of QR?”.
With multiple classes, we will find out who is the fastest. This event is free for spectators from September 18 from 8am-5pm.
See a mix of of high performance vehicles, from exotic supercars to modified street cars, drag along the main straight from a rolling start. It’s an adrenaline filled evening with eliminators starting from 9pm to find who’s the fastest on the night. Event is on September 18 from 6pm-10pm and costs $20 for spectators. Driver entry is $80.
Queensland Raceway’s popular Moto Ride Days offer motorcycle riders the chance to push their machines to the limit in a safe environment. Hundreds of riders roll around at speed over the course of the day.
Free for spectators on September 26th from 8am – 5pm. Rider entry is $190.
The biggest weekend of the year at Queensland Raceway! The Spring Drift Matsuri is wall-to-wall drift action with 250 drivers lined-up. It’s set to be another spectacle of tyre smoke and sending it sideways.
Spectators are welcome to come check it out over October 2-3 from 8am-5pm for $30 or $50 with camping.
