EWE Nique Hobby Farm at Haigslea just west of Ipswich Central has become a favourite for young families and school classes over the past six years since opening. Now the hobby farm has added a new bevvy of creatures to the offering – including static displays of the prehistoric kind.​Large scale dinosaur sculptures have been embedded into a wonderland of huge-leafed plants and shimmering palms. The enclosed arena is also home to flying colourful budgies and finches, and covered ponds of goldfish.EWE Nique’s owners Penny and Farmer Dave wanted to create a peaceful nature-filled experience for young children.

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. 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.

Whether or not you're familiar with the Ipswich Nature Centre you've never seen it from inside the enclosures.Get inside with the snakes, lizards, wallabies and the eagle.These 360 degree images were captured as part of the Ipswich Trekker project - taking images of the best Ipswich venues and locations and adding them to Google.

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.