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. Haigslea 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.

We can't deny that Ipswich can get hot.  So what do you do when it's sweltering and you need to cool off?  Head to one of these free water parks!Orion LagoonOrion Lagoon offers pools for all age groups with a toddler friendly 0.3m depth area up to 1.5m for proficient swimmers.  Checkout the fun squirting spouts and stepping-stones, barbeque areas and picnic tables.Robelle DomainKids will love the large tipping bucket in the zero depth water park at Robelle Domain.  There’s also jet sprays and spouts.  The water park is surrounded with shady picnic areas, boardwalks and playgrounds as well as land art pyramids and an early evening sound and light show.

For a weekend filled with nature, adventure, gourmet food and craft beers, luxurious accommodation and a rich dose of history then look no further than Ipswich.In Brisbane’s backyard, a short 35 minute drive away, you can find yourself another world away, immersed in nature with spectacular mountain views!Pick your flavour, adventure and more to mix and match your perfect weekend in the Heritage City.

Whether you're looking for a spot to lay out your own spread, or want someone to do all the work for you, you'll find your way to picnic heaven with this list. Soul NookGrab your closest friends and book a luxury bell tent picnic at the Old Church grounds in Marburg.  Soul Nook take care of everything, the styling, the food, the bubbles and even the music with solo artists able to be booked to serenade you for the afternoon.  Just about any type of occasion is catered for, including hens parties and intimate date night settings.

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’re looking for a place where you can hike and birdwatch, Ipswich is the place for you, there are more than 277 recorded bird species on record in Ipswich.Colleges Crossing Recreation ReserveSet on the banks of the Brisbane River, Colleges Crossing, is a great spot for a walk and some birdwatching. Look out for pelicans, great egrets, royal spoonbills, black kites and many more species. There’s also a lake for fishing and kayaking, bike and scooter paths and walking tracks. Bring a picnic as there’s BBQ facilities and sheltered tables. Brisbane Valley Rail TrailThe BVRT is the longest rail trail in Australia, at 161km it follows a disused Brisbane Valley rail link that connects Wulkuraka to Yarraman. The Ipswich section is 22km long from Brassall to Fernvale. It winds its way through rural settings and country towns and is perfect for fun family adventures.  Along the BVRT there have been more than 40 recorded species of birds including Australian Wood Ducks, Rainbow Lorikeets, Eastern Yellow Robins and Magpie-larks.