High tea is a romantic ritual that dates back at least to the 17th Century. It typically features dainty ribbon sandwiches, fluffy scones with jam and cream, petit fours, savoury bites, and a pot of the finest loose leaf brew.Plus, if you really want to up the ante, many high tea venues will throw in a cheeky flute of champers. With its gracious Queenslander homes, elaborate churches and elegant commercial facades, Ipswich is the perfect setting in which to hark back to slower, gentler times by indulging in high tea. Here are several spots that do a sparkling job of it.The Cottage RestaurantThe Cottage Restaurant really hits high tea out of the park.  Seared scallops on creamed cabbage and a cup of earthy mushroom soup on the afternoon we visit are just a couple of standouts.

Dog lovers far and wide are hailing the Barkley & Pips digs at Bundamba as a top spot for both fur babies and their hoomans to visit.Complete with its very own well-sized, open air playpen out front, diners can relax knowing their four-legged besties are safely secured and happily amused with a fun ball pit, great pull toys and even real grass toilets at their disposal, thanks to the convenience of PawtoPotty’s ingenious indoor animal toilets.If your canine prefers to stay close at your heel, there are plenty of doggy day beds and water bowls between the tables for them to chill out on. Talk about luxury… it really is a dog’s world!

If you love street art as much as I do then you are in for a treat as Ipswich Central was a hot spot for some of Australia’s top street artists as part of the 2020 Brisbane Street Art Festival.Ipswich is fast becoming a hot spot for art that takes you outside the four walls of a traditional gallery to give you a chance to admire the creativity, meaning and sense of freedom that street art offers. With seven new murals, it’s once again time to lace up your walking shoes and out for an adventurous day of street art sightseeing.  And once you’ve seen the new works check three of my old favourite street art pieces, two at the Central Mission Church and a flying owl on the Goleby & Sons building.To help you locate these works I’ve curated an Ipswich street art day trip which starts with catching the train from Brisbane.  Leave the car at home and jump on an Ipswich train which will take you directly to Ipswich Central, the hub of Ipswich street art.

As Dr Andrew Tribe held out a stumpy tailed lizard, he asked the kids if they would like to hold it.  My five-year-old daughter, who is clearly not a reptile fan, slowly shrank backwards to ensure that I was between her and the odd-looking lizard.  My seven-year-old son simply said, ‘’Yes please!’’ and held his hands out.  Dr Tribe, who runs the wildlife research centre at Spicers Hidden Vale, promptly plonked the armoured lizard into his hands and continued on with some fascinating facts.‘’Do you want to hold it mum?’’ he whispered.‘’Errr, no thanks,’’ I whispered back. To be honest, I could barely tell which end was its head and which was its tail.

Ipswich offers plenty of scope for your creativity to run wild. Connect with pencil, clay, paint or charcoal, or try out print making, floristry, silversmithing, etching or jewellery making. Whether you’re seeking a half-day immersion, ongoing weekly lessons, or something you can just start at home, there are plenty of spots to learn new skills from practising artists.ArttimeNestled in a prime spot at the top of town, Arttime is an art supply store, exhibition space, coffee house and classroom all in one.Previous owner and artist Kate Roberts, believes art is therapy and is accessible to all.

Celebrating a birthday is one of the most exciting times in a child's life – The cake, sprinkles, balloons and presents, what's not to love!If you have a upcoming birthday in your family but are stuck for ideas on how to make the day a memorable one, you're in luck, because we have made the task easier for you by composing a list  of the top places in Ipswich to host a party.With lots of beautiful parks, animal experiences and adrenalin-fuelled activities, Ipswich is the perfect location for your next get together.