Knock off work early on a Friday, pack a bag and head to the heritage city for a weekend of fun, contemporary tastes and historical delights. Day 1 Friday night4.00 pm: Start your weekend with tapas and cocktails at The Rusty Nail Bar. Try their drink of the week and small bites including pork belly, arancini and more.6.00 pm: Stop in for dinner at Bakehouse Steakhouse, next door to your accommodation for the night. You’ll love the chic vibe at this award-winning restaurant, set inside a historic building that was originally a bakery. You can finish your cocktail crawl here too.

For those with sensory sensitivities try these gentler experience next time you're in town...Queensland Museum Rail WorkshopsQueensland Museum Rail Workshops is a Best of Queensland recognised tourism experience that offers sensory days during the holidays.  During these sessions less tickets are sold and lights and sounds are lowered allowing access to events like Day out with Thomas to those that need a gentler experience.  Noise cancelling headphones and sensory kits are available for every visit though. Ipswich Nature CentreTake a walk through the Ipswich Nature Centre, in the morning, during the week to enjoy the nature refuge in the middle of Queens Park.  After you can head to the children’s playground which includes a liberty swing. 

Wind your way along country roads to discover Spicers Hidden Vale, an escape just an hour’s drive from Brisbane combining the style and comfort of a luxury retreat with the warmth of country welcomes. Here you can discover a genuine regional adventure that combines a breath of fresh air with luxury, garden to plate dining and a generous range of nature-based activities.You can experience the bush at its best in understated luxury, with space to relax.  Space to listen, to laugh, to embark on an adventure among the abundant wildlife on the 12,000 acres of Australian bush.And here's a few ways to get the best out of your weekend...

If you have a sweet tooth, love a lolly or like to indulge in milkshake, then you'll want to add these cafes to your list of places to visit.  With cabinets full of tarts, muffins, blondies and cakes or a gourmet ice cream you'll satisfy those sweet cravings in no time.UB's Milk BarWe'll start our sweet journey off with a visit to UB's Milk Bar.  Ipswich's original gourmet ice creamery still honours it's roots with decadently different ice cream flavours.  But they've also added poffertjes, waffles, sundaes and milkshakes to the menu.The ice cream flavours include strawberry balsamic, dark chocolate and mandarin, Dutch spice, lavender honeycomb and peanut butter.

If you're out and about attending events in the Heritage City or just looking for somewhere to grab dinner and a drink with friends and family, here's a handy list of the best places that are open at night in Ipswich Central.The Rusty NailIpswich's newest tapas bar is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons and nights for bites and brews.  The Rusty Nail specialises in creating custom cocktails and delicious morsels of food.  Opening times are 4pm-10pm Wedesday and Thursday, 4pm-12am Friday, 12pm-12am Saturday and 12pm-10pm Sunday.Indian MehfilIndian Mehfil is an authentic Indian restaurant set inside a heritage building that used to be a bank.  They also whip up some great cocktails!

If you love discovering new places to visit or getting a behind the scenes look at places, then guided tours might be for you.  Here's a few of the best on offer in Ipswich!Take a guided night walkYou can take in the beauty of nature at night in these guided walks through the White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate at dusk when the estate is usually closed.Your guide will expertly help you reach the lookout where you can see the twinkling lights of Brisbane City, before leading the descent back to the starting point.