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.

Young children (and parents!) will love how easy it is to experience the great outdoors in Ipswich.An outing to the bush with young children doesn’t mean you have to rough it. Ipswich has a range of natural areas with the types of facilities that make the whole experience more enjoyable for the whole family.All of these areas are funded through Enviroplan, which is a council initiative to protect and manage areas with high conservation values, Enviroplan celebrated 25 years in 2021.

According to the much-loved children’s song, Old MacDonald pretty much cornered the market on farmyard animals – but we say he’s got nothing on the City of Ipswich!Finding your inner farmer is fun and easy when there are llamas, camels, ducks, geese, goats, sheep and cows to meet at family-friendly tourist locations across the region.

My name is Ben Forbes, I’ve been racing for 21 years across 29 countries. I continue to race whilst coaching mountain biking to all levels and providing mountain bike hire to push my mission of making it a more accessible sport for all. If you like what you see and hear on this article and want to get involved but don’t have a bike, contact me on ForbesMTB.com.au.We are truly lucky here in Ipswich, and here’s why.Castle Hill is the BEST option for rainy daysWhen it Rains, it Drains. Due to the porous gravel and rock, the trails of Castle Hill hold up super well when it rains so your bike isn’t going to degrade as much as going to somewhere where the mud would get amongst your drivetrain, brakes, frame bearings and suspension.

It’s common knowledge that the best spots to hike around Ipswich are in our two largest conservation areas, Flinders-Goolman and White Rock. But have you traversed them in their entirety? Surely not, these locations are HUGE. Thousands of acres, towering peaks and deep rugged valleys. It’s really quite mind boggling to consider the actual extent of our natural areas.So let’s amend that!  Here’s some of our hidden hiking gems and how to get there.Gun Pit RidgeHeading off of the main fire trail that runs from the Paperbark Flats Picnic area to the familiar staircase at the base of white rock, there’s a sneaky little treasure sitting inconspicuously just out of sight.

When it gets hots this summer, head to the city of Ipswich, just 30 minutes from Brisbane. That’s because the local city council has opened a big selection of FREE water parks that are suitable for families and great for kids of all ages, even little toddlers.Bob Gamble Park is in the River Heart Parklands has a zero-depth water pool for the kids and plenty of other activities like flying foxes, slides, a discovery forest and much more.

An escape to the country doesn’t always have to be road trips that turn into hours! Just 45 minutes out of Brisbane and you could be putting two wheels to this stretch of rail line from the 1800s… also known as the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.   The trail famously takes in beautiful towns like Yarraman and Esk… but let us tell you, all the fun begins a whole lot closer to home! Wulkuraka is the start of this 161km ride… located just 10 minutes from the City of Ipswich. It then continues to Fernvale, before looping westwards to Lowood and then continuing north to Coominya, Esk, Toogoolawah, Moore, Linville, Benarkin, and Blackbutt before finally arriving in Yarraman.

Fresh mountain air… the wind beneath your wings… just you and 12,000 acres of pure biking bliss! If this has triggered your inner adventurer, well you’ll be pleased to hear you only have to travel to the City of Ipswich for this experience… welcome to Hidden Vale Adventure Park! Drive an hour from Brisbane to the City of Ipswich and soon enough you’ll find yourself exploring their rugged trails that span over 100kms in length. But don’t be fooled if you think entry here is just for the elite… this place caters for all.

Hidden Vale Adventure Park (HVAP) is quickly becoming one of the hearts of mountain biking in Ipswich. With over 110km of professionally built trail networks and some of the longest descents in all of Southeast Queensland, HVAP is a must ride destination!Having ridden and raced at HVAP more times I can count, with many successful results, here are my top five trails to tackle at HVAP!

With mountain biking gaining popularity in the community, it is essential there are trails suited to all levels of riding. As a rider I know we are constantly pushing our boundaries and skills to new levels, riding steeper more technical trails. These boundaries can be somewhat limited with more common blue and green beginner level trails.Having said that, the following includes some of the best ADVANCED riding in Ipswich for the rider looking to test their own abilities!Phils Trail, Castle HillIn my opinion this is the most technical trail at Castle Hill, Blackstone Reserve. With big ruts carved into the sandstone from tyres, steep switch backs and tight trees, Phils is sure to test out your bike skills. The trail also ends at the drop into the pump track/jump line, the perfect way to finish a sick track!