Set in 12,000 acres of natural bushland, Spicers Hidden Vale at Grandchester is the definition of country comfort. This sprawling retreat is just an hour from the big city, perfect for a luxurious weekend or mid-week getaway.

Trains have been in the top ten of big boy’s toys for a long time but of course, if you’re a kid, they’re just plain cool.Whether you’re four or 64, the City of Ipswich has a railway adventure to whet your whistle.

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.

If there’s a pint-sized human in your life then you may be familiar with their friends Annie and Clarabel, Henry, James, Emily, Gordon …oh and Thomas!Thomas is a little blue tank engine who has captured the hearts of tiny tots around the world for more than 70 years.So it’s a treat when he leaves the island of Sodor for a holiday in the City of Ipswich (Queensland) and when that happens, A Day out with Thomas is a very popular school holiday must-do.

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.

Sometimes, the perfect destination for a romantic weekend away can be right in your own backyard. If you’re looking for a spot to unwind, relax, and spend quality time with the one you love, you can’t go wrong with Ipswich.With quaint, heritage charm, pastel sunsets over the rolling hills of the surrounding countryside, and plenty of unique experiences, there’s more than enough in Ipswich to plan your perfect weekend away—whether you want to do everything or nothing!Here’s a few of the most romantic things to do in Ipswich.

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.

Phat Boyz Smokehouse & Kitchen is a mammoth purpose-built smokehouse BBQ restaurant in the country township of Walloon, on the outskirts of Ipswich.Some of Australia’s most revered smokehouse pitmasters are behind Phat Boyz, having started as a competitive BBQ team and online shop operating out of a backyard shed in 2017, before upgrading to the Bundamba warehouse precinct where the shop has operated for the past three years.The new restaurant features three enormous smokers including the five-metre, two-tonne Moonshine Express a 2.5-metre South American Bird Cage, and The Sweet Smoke Express dessert smoker.

La Parrilla is a bright and colourful slice of South America found on a corner in North Ipswich.The cheap and cheerful little eatery, which started life as a West End market stall, is the go-to for authentic BBQ dishes and street food with a Colombian flavour.Chef Sebastian Brun and his Colombian-born wife Carolina Gomez opened their restaurant to share the flavours of Carolina’s homeland, attracting diners from all across the south east of Queensland.

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.