Are we there yet Dad? Dad? Hey Mum, are we there yet? Mum mum mum muuuuuum?If this sounds familiar, you'll be pleased to know there’s a south-east Queensland destination you can reach from Brisbane, Toowoomba, the Gold and the Sunshine Coasts without a monotonous long haul drive.Say g’day to Ipswich, the historic city with a big country heart, packed with fun things for adventurous families to do.
If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of heading out to the Watercress Creek Olive and Limes Festival do yourself a favour and check it out this year when the festival returns in April 2027.The festival is held on Bernie and Lorraine Mahon’s olive and lime farm about 20 minutes north of Ipswich Central.It started out as a small country market and has grown into an amazing day out with tastings, tours, picnics and a diverse range of market stalls on the 7.5ha farm.
There is an ancient legend about a Chinese Emperor whose pot of boiling water was accidentally sprinkled with leaves falling in the breeze. He smelled its pleasant aroma, took a sip, and tea was born!Today’s it’s consumed all over the world – and remains one of our most popular drinks in Australia.If tea is … well… your cup of tea, the City of Ipswich has a potful of delightful experiences on the boil.
La Parrilla is a bright and colourful slice of South America found on a corner in North Ipswich.The cheap and cheerful little eatery, which started life as a West End market stall, is the go-to for authentic BBQ dishes and street food with a Colombian flavour.Chef Sebastian Brun and his Colombian-born wife Carolina Gomez opened their restaurant to share the flavours of Carolina’s homeland, attracting diners from all across the south east of Queensland.
Phat Boyz Smokehouse & Kitchen is a mammoth purpose-built smokehouse BBQ restaurant in the country township of Walloon, on the outskirts of Ipswich.Some of Australia’s most revered smokehouse pitmasters are behind Phat Boyz, having started as a competitive BBQ team and online shop operating out of a backyard shed in 2017, before upgrading to the Bundamba warehouse precinct where the shop has operated for the past three years.The new restaurant features three enormous smokers including the five-metre, two-tonne Moonshine Express a 2.5-metre South American Bird Cage, and The Sweet Smoke Express dessert smoker.
Sometimes, the perfect destination for a romantic weekend away can be right in your own backyard. If you’re looking for a spot to unwind, relax, and spend quality time with the one you love, you can’t go wrong with Ipswich.With quaint, heritage charm, pastel sunsets over the rolling hills of the surrounding countryside, and plenty of unique experiences, there’s more than enough in Ipswich to plan your perfect weekend away—whether you want to do everything or nothing!Here’s a few of the most romantic things to do in Ipswich.
