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.
There is an ancient legend about a Chinese Emperor whose pot of boiling water was accidentally sprinkled with leaves falling in the breeze. He smelled its pleasant aroma, took a sip, and tea was born!Today’s it’s consumed all over the world – and remains one of our most popular drinks in Australia.If tea is … well… your cup of tea, the City of Ipswich has a potful of delightful experiences on the boil.
My heart begins to race instantly when I gently feel not one, but two pokes on my left arm while standing in Ipswich’s historic Old Flour Mill during the new Haunted Ipswich CBD Ghost Tour, hosted by renowned historian and Australian ghost hunter Jack Sim.Due to Covid regulations, I am standing at the side of the group during this presentation and more than 1.5 metres away from another living soul, so I know nobody from the group would have been able to shuffle over and touch me as a prank without me noticing.But who could it have been? Was it Hubert, the mill’s resident ghost who is believed to roam the building covered in flour from when he worked there as a young boy? Or was it my imagination playing tricks on me?
Everything that is old is new again! Vintage shopping is a great way to bag yourself a bargain and find unique items that aren’t produced anymore and the best place to hunt for hidden gems is in Ipswich, a town rich with history.Ipswich Antiques Centre86 East St, Ipswich QLD 4305The Ipswich Antiques Centre is a long-standing staple in Ipswich’s community- it’s huge and it really has everything. From bric-a-brac, to paint supplies, ceramic wares and vinyl records, the Ipswich Antiques Centre should be your first port of call for finding yourself a unique item.
Whoever said the best things in life are free must have been referring to picnics. With a rug, basket and a bit of culinary imagination, you can give swanky restaurants a run for their money. Then you can chew with a view just about anywhere.When it comes to picnic grounds, Ipswich delivers, with no shortage of parks for picnicking. In fact, the city spreads across an area of 1090 square kms with a population of just 200,000 people amongst its borders. That’s nine tenths the size of Los Angeles! What are you waiting for? Make like Yogi Bear, pack (beg, borrow or steal) a picnic basket, don a hat and discover Ipswich’s best picnic spots with this guide. Colleges Crossing Recreation ReserveIf you’re all about the scenery, turn off Mount Crosby Rd, and set up your picnic at Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve.
Nearly four years ago now Ipswich was at the forefront of something special.We embarked on a mission to be the most comprehensively mapped city in the Southern Hemisphere.When the call went out, I answered and here we are today with 57 individual locations, (most of which were physically mapped on foot) now totally accessible to the public online.
