The month of June brings the Festival of Horsepower to Ipswich! Power packed full of adrenaline, excitement and all things fast… From thoroughbreds battling it out in the Ipswich Cup, to Australia’s largest drag racing event – the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals – June has it all for those with a need for speed.Read on to see what events to book.
Do you love fast cars, how about horses? Then Ipswich's Festival of Horsepower is for you. Why not come along and enjoy the best of the event while exploring all the region has to offer?First choose which weekend to come...If you love racing then you’ve got to come for the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals 4-7 June or the Australian Superbike Championship will also be held at Queensland Raceway 26-28 June. Cruise the Night will be on 6 June followed by the GT Festival on 12-14 June at Queensland Raceway.If you’re a horsey fan then the weekend of 20-21 June and the Thursday before (18 June) is when you’ll want to visit as the TAB Ipswich Cup Calcutta, TAB Ipswich Cup and Western Star Family Race Day is on at the Marburg Harness Racing Association, there’s also a Horses to Horsepower Family Fun Day at Cooneana Heritage Centre on the following weekend (28 June).
This June, kids will be in their element during the Festival of Horsepower! From racing cars to racing ponies, excitement awaits…The Gulf Western Oil Winternationals are back at Willowbank Raceway, and they’re bigger, faster, and more intense than ever! Even those who do not follow racing will marvel at the power and thrill of drag racing as the best drivers battle it out for glory. A four-day family friendly festival (4-7 June), featuring Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Cars, family activities, entertainment, merchandise, food trucks and the opportunity to meet the racers and teams. Don’t forget those noise cancelling headphones!Queensland Raceway is packed with thrills across the month too. With Cruise the Night on 6 June, an epic evening event at the racetrack that will have the kids beaming at the neon lights and big noises! There will be food trucks, trade stalls and kid-friendly activities. For those little sports car fans bring them out to the Shannons SpeedSeries GT Festival 12-14 June! Kids will love seeing the cars fly around each bend cheering them on as they roar past.
Haven't booked anywhere for Melbourne Cup day lunch? Don't worry, we've got a list of venues that are hosting Melbourne Cup Lunches this year.Book a table, bring your friends and pick your horse for the big day, Tuesday November 5.The Cottage RestaurantThe Cottage Restaurant will be open for Melbourne Cup lunch this year. Leave the cooking and preparation to the experts, then the hardest part of the day - apart from deciding which horse to back - will be choosing between pork belly or barramundi!
Just because the mornings are crisp, doesn’t mean the days will be miserable. Winter days in Ipswich tend to be sunny and reach highs of 22 degrees – the perfect temperature to explore outdoor activities.Have a picnicPack the esky, bring a rug and get ready to soak up some sun! There are some amazing places to have a picnic in Ipswich. Whether you want someone to take care of all the hard work for you, or just visit one of the fantastic parks around, we have a few ideas the whole family will love. Explore your inner farmerSpend a weekend exploring farms, tasting produce and meeting animals. Learn all about farm life and at the end of the day stay in a rural retreat with gorgeous country views. Find out how here.
Event organisers, local businesses and Ipswich Festivals are hard at work developing this year's line up of amazing events for you to attend!Save the dates for the following Festivals, because you won't want to miss out...CMC Rocks QLDAustralia's biggest international country music festival is back in 2026 with three days of fantastic music from 20-22 March. Although the festival is sold out, if you're looking for tickets head to the official resale site ASX.
