Ipswich’s country pubs are worth a little road trip out of town and they’re not too far away if you’re living in Brisbane, on the Goldie or in Toowoomba.These are day trippin’ destinations stacked with charm, history and good old-fashioned hospitality.Expect less neon and more quirk factor, along with publicans and staff who are up for a chat even when the pace is on.
Travellers, adventurers and coffee fiends the world over are always on the lookout for a café with uniqueness, a point of difference, something maybe even wonderful.Those who seek such places, and particularly the gems well loved by the locals, will generally be rewarded.If you ask around Ipswich, there are plenty of favourites that get a devoted mention.
Ipswich is home to some of Queensland’s most unique and charming independent retailers meaning it’s a great place to visit for a shopping trip any time of the year but especially in the lead-up to special occasions.The colourful array of boutiques and specialty stores in the historic precinct known as Top of Town has some genuinely unexpected treasures if you’re in the market for gifts that go beyond the usual shopping centre offerings this year.Did you know this stretch is home to the longest-running hobby shop in Australia, and one of the state’s oldest businesses? CJ Vogler & Son was established in 1877 and has been owned and run by the Vogler family ever since. It stocks a range of model trains, planes and automobiles as well as more modern hobby gear – including drones! Wonder what they’d have made of those back in the 1800s!
Ipswich’s famous Pumpyard brewery site has a new brand over the doorway and a new line-up of delicious beers on offer. Say g’day to Stony Creek Brewing Co.Stony Creek sprang to life in 2020 when Jack Anderson began brewing with his father at their Townson property in the Lockyer’s Mulgowie Valley.Jack’s parents, Deryk and Karen, had spent a few years in Roanoake, Virginia in the US, an area liberally sprinkled with small breweries.
By footpath, tour coach or car, there’s plenty for history lovers to explore in the city of Ipswich.Call in at the Ipswich Information Centre as a starting point and grab some trail maps or ask about specific heritage landmarks you can visit.Besides entire streets lined with stately colonial Queenslanders across the city, there are plenty of public landmarks to take in and many are in use, including at Kholo Gardens, creating a character-filled backdrop for the events, organisations and businesses contained therein.
Beat the summer heat and escape to someplace completely relaxing with a pool in the Ipswich region! Here are just a few of those on offer.Spicers Hidden ValeThe luxury escape Spicers Hidden Vale offers two beautiful pools at which to take a dip, linger with a holiday read or sip a cocktail as the sun goes down.One features in the foreground of that famous country vista offered from the verandah of the retreat’s hatted restaurant, Homage, while the other is tucked into a leafy pocket near the luxury cottages you can call home for your stay.
Planning a long weekend or a mid-week mini-break in the Swich? We’ve done the hard yards to bring you some of the best coffee, brunch, lunch and dinner options so you can plan ahead for the ultimate foodie escape!There are a few things that make this region a unique dining destination…close proximity to the freshest bounty from some of Queensland’s most fertile farming regions, restaurants in century-old buildings (most of them in fact) and chefs determined to find a point of difference in this country-meets-city destination on Brisbane’s doorstep.But first… coffee!Fourthchild, 215 Brisbane St. Loved for its hearty home-cooked fare and eye-popping cakes cabinet, this cafe/restaurant/bar has various indoor and outdoor areas in one of the city’s grand old pubs.
You might have heard Ipswich has a few old houses worth a look. Well, it’s true. And the visual feast of so many heritage beauties in one location will likely exceed any expectations you might arrive here with.This is a city that had surged to great heights by the late 1800s and into the turn of the century on the back of booming industries such as coal and rail and wool. Entire streets of elaborately detailed and incredibly grand mansions rose up as the town reached further into the hilly surrounds and dales.Those houses today – included in the city’s 7000-plus heritage listed sites – showcase another era while also bringing great character to Ipswich as a city.
