Celebrating a birthday is one of the most exciting times in a child's life – The cake, sprinkles, balloons and presents, what's not to love!If you have a upcoming birthday in your family but are stuck for ideas on how to make the day a memorable one, you're in luck, because we have made the task easier for you by composing a list  of the top places in Ipswich to host a party.With lots of beautiful parks, animal experiences and adrenalin-fuelled activities, Ipswich is the perfect location for your next get together.

As Dr Andrew Tribe held out a stumpy tailed lizard, he asked the kids if they would like to hold it.  My five-year-old daughter, who is clearly not a reptile fan, slowly shrank backwards to ensure that I was between her and the odd-looking lizard.  My seven-year-old son simply said, ‘’Yes please!’’ and held his hands out.  Dr Tribe, who runs the wildlife research centre at Spicers Hidden Vale, promptly plonked the armoured lizard into his hands and continued on with some fascinating facts.‘’Do you want to hold it mum?’’ he whispered.‘’Errr, no thanks,’’ I whispered back. To be honest, I could barely tell which end was its head and which was its tail.

Nestled inside the beautiful Queen’s Park is the jewel in Ipswich’s crown – The Ipswich Nature Centre.Home to some of the city’s cutest and fluffiest residents, the Ipswich Nature Centre is a safe haven for a wide range of Australian wildlife.As animal lovers make their way through the lush landscape gardens and exhibits, they can’t help but say “aww” when they see the cuddly wombat, or watch the pair of energetic dingoes that love to play and climb together.

Kayaking, boating and fishing... What better way to make a splash this spring and summer than by dipping a toe in at some of the greatest waterways in South East Queensland?And what better place to do so than right here in Ipswich?  Central to both the Bremer and Brisbane River Systems, with a few river accessible parks to choose from, we've got exactly what you need...Colleges CrossingOf course, Colleges Crossing is the first place on the list.  It's an obvious choice if you want something a little bit more civilised to complement your rugged exploration into nature.

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.