Sometimes the best adventures are right under your nose. Scott and I have driven past Flinders Peak for years, admiring the dominant peak with its dramatic cliffs until we finally decided to schedule it in as our next family adventure.The hike is rated as a Class Five (Difficult) walking trail, and our three boys aged 9, 11 and 12 love a good hard hike and were up for the challenge.What to bringWe headed off from Flinders Plum Picnic Area and we soon realised that we’d left an essential item in the car. Yep, we had our water, hats and snacks but we didn’t have the packet of lollies that we’d promised the boys for a celebratory snack at the summit. Disaster! Before hiking up Flinders Peak, don’t forget to:- Allow 3-6 hours- Take plenty of water and snacks- Hiking boots or trail running shoes are recommended- Pack your lollies for the summit

So you want to go fishing? Don't want to hit the road for an hour or more and then fight the crowds for a spot then battle traffic on the way home? Well you don't! Ipswich has some great spots to fish and most of them are right around the corner.Colleges CrossingA very popular spot for all types of activities, including fishing! You will get a very mixed bag of species in this part of the river and common catches are bream, flathead, garfish, mullet and the odd Australian bass if you're lucky enough. Colleges Crossing is perfect for a relaxed fish off the bank or there's a boat ramp for the kayak fisherman to launch from to head either up or downsteam.Tips: Use light line and light sinkers for targeting bream with prawns or mullet baits or alternatively lightly weighted soft plastics with a slow subtle retrieve. Please be aware bullsharks and stonefish are in this part of the river.

The Ipswich region is home to some colourful and also quite cheeky birdlife - including many species you won’t find along the coastal regions of south-east Queensland. Above: Mount Mort's Laurie Smith (@Laurie7521 on Instagram) captured a galah feeding its not-so-small young one.

How many of Ipswich's 277 birds have you seen?If you have a love for birds, Ipswich is definitely a place to visit, boasting 277 recorded species, from Willy Wagtails often seen in backyard gardens to majestic raptors soaring high above. 

Whoever said the best things in life are free must have been referring to picnics. With a rug, basket and a bit of culinary imagination, you can give swanky restaurants a run for their money. Then you can chew with a view just about anywhere.When it comes to picnic grounds, Ipswich delivers, with no shortage of parks for picnicking. In fact, the city spreads across an area of 1090 square kms with a population of just 200,000 people amongst its borders. That’s nine tenths the size of Los Angeles! What are you waiting for? Make like Yogi Bear, pack (beg, borrow or steal) a picnic basket, don a hat and discover Ipswich’s best picnic spots with this guide. Colleges Crossing Recreation ReserveIf you’re all about the scenery, turn off Mount Crosby Rd, and set up your picnic at Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve.

Your destination? Flinders Goolman Conservation Estate, a veritable theme-park for hikers, with 10 walking trails and three summits encompassing 2,200 hectares of extensive forests, countryside and volcanic peaks.Grab your backpack, fill your water flask and get ready to conquer Mt Goolman, Mt Blaine and Flinders Peak with this guide.1. For lookout wanderers – Mt Goolman LookoutIf you’re still building up to the Mt Goolman summit, you can still settle for getting a good glimpse of it, taking the Mt Goolman Lookout track.

With inbuilt trampolines, an inclusive merry-go-round, custom parkour inspired obstacle course, and swings – all surrounding a mammoth three-story climbing tower and giant slide – kids of all ages will be bouncing, swinging and climbing to their hearts content on the new Orion Springfield Central Playground which is now open!Orion Springfield Central Manager, Melissa Crittenden, is over-the-moon to deliver this transformational project.“The centrepiece of this innovative play space is the custom built 11 metre tower. The slide from the top of the tower rewards little adventurers, while the 16-metre walkway offers children a new elevated vantage point to engage with the space around them.”

The Ipswich Nature Centre is South East Queensland’s only free zoo, it’s a popular destination for families and attracts about 250,000 visitors a year.It is home to a range of animals from dingos to spotted quolls and a bilby conservation program that was started by Save the Bilby Fund co-founder Frank Manthey.

“That’s Henry, Pablo, Noodle, Neville, Teddy, Paddington, Humphrey, Wallace, Archie…” says farmer Shane Hancock, pointing around a paddock of his Pine Mountain Farm.It turns out that a long career in teaching – he is also deputy principal at Leichhardt State School – has given him a knack for remembering names, which is handy when you’re also in charge of Queensland’s largest herd of llamas. 

If you’ve got kids then you know that close encounters with animals never get old.  Luckily Ipswich has a handful of great places where you can interact with furry friends.  Here’s 7 places to visit that offer animal experiences.1. Ewe Nique Hobby FarmThis charming hobby farm is home to sheep, lambs, alpacas, chickens, goats and geese.  Children and adults can meet, pat and feed the animals and walk through the bird aviary which features replica dinosaurs and fish ponds!.  Ewe Nique Hobby Farm also has a coffee shop selling hot and cold drinks as well as homemade cakes, slices, muffins and other snacks.  2. The Llama FarmA farm experience that offers visitors the chance to take a Llama for a walk, feed, pat them and take a Llama selfie or two.  The Llama Farm has the largest herd of Llamas in Queensland as well as donkeys, goats, miniature ponies, peacocks, turkeys, guinea fowl and more.  Tours are available on weekends and school holidays by appointment.  They are also running a Little Llama Farmers school holiday program.