Category: Discover Ipswich

Timezone Springfield

11/28/2020

Where is it: Orion Springfield Central, 1 Main St, Springfield Central QLD 4300

What’s it all about: An amazing arcade experience for the whole family!

Tell me more: Although Orion Springfield is not exactly lacking in entertainment options, there’s always space for a bit more fun. And fun doesn’t come much more exciting than Timezone – certainly one of Australia’s favourite arcades! Timezone Springfield has just opened to bring their unique style to this region. They have been entertaining families for over 40 years, so they definitely know how to bring the fun, with a huge range of arcade games, mini bowling arcade, laser tag, bumper cars and heaps more. There are fantastic deals for arcade credit and it’s definitely a bonus to squeeze a few more games out of your money, and of course they have a fantastic ticket shop to reward yourself after a busy gaming session!

Website: https://www.timezonegames.com/en-au/locations/timezone-orion-springfield

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Quest Apartment Hotels

9/9/2019

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Where is it: 57 - 63 Warwick Rd, Ipswich Qld 4035 Australia

Why we love it: A very welcoming and relaxing apartment hotel for both short and long term stays!

Tell me more: Travelling with kids can be a bit of a handful at times, so anything to help is always welcome. Sometimes the simple things can make the biggest difference – and we’ve found that a little bit of space for the kids can make your holiday even more relaxing! Quest Apartment Hotels are a fantastic choice in this regard, offering studio and multi-room serviced apartments across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji and they are great for a weekend away or and extended stay. And as well as having the extra living space, having your own kitchen and washing machine can make a huge difference to your holiday!

Quest Ipswich is the perfect choice for families visiting Queensland’s Heritage City. It’s a modern facility that’s conveniently located and very welcoming and comfortable. They offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The studios are a perfect alternative to your typical hotel room and feature a kitchenette while all other apartment types include a fully equipped kitchen. All rooms are serviced daily (except for Sundays) and wi-fi is available all throughout. There is also a swimming pool and barbeque area and although there isn’t an on-site restaurant, there are a number of local restaurant options that offer a charge-back facility.

We stayed in one of Quest Ipswich’s two-bedroom apartments and it was the perfect size for our family. The bedding options can be adjusted to suit your requirements and we also made use of the optional sofa bed in the lounge. All rooms featured reverse cycle air conditioning and we even had a small balcony. It was a lovely stay here at Quest Ipswich and with the kids having their own space we certainly noticed that we felt a whole lot more relaxed when our stay came to end. We can’t wait to visit Quest again!

Contact: https://www.questapartments.com.au

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Ewe Nique Hobby Farm, Haigslea

7/28/2019

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Where is it: 187 Missigs Road, Haigslea (about 50 mins West of Brisbane).
What’s it all about: Ewe Nique is a lovely little hobby farm where everyone can experience a personal connection with some loved farm animals!
Tell me more: Cities have always relied upon farming, but
sometimes it might seem that this different way of life is so far removed. We have some fantastic farmland close by to our city, and it’s easy for us city-folk to experience a little bit of life on the farm – so important to ensure that we don’t lose that connection and understanding, plus a quick visit to a working or hobby farm is a fantastic little getaway! Ewe Nique Hobby Farm is a small little farm that is home to sheep, goats, alpacas and chickens – all lovingly looked after and all very friendly to their visitors! In order to not stress the animals, Ewe Nique only cater for a small number of visitors per day, which is great not just for the animals, but also for the visitors because you can be assured of having plenty of one-on- one time with the animals, to pat and feed, or simply just relax in this lovely quiet setting. While you are there you can grab a drink and light snack (the coffees and scones are superb!). It’s a beautifully quite and relaxing place to visit, and it’s a perfect introduction to rural life for both kids and adults!

Website: https://www.facebook.com/haigsleaeweniquehobbyfarm/

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Seraphim Escape Rooms, Ipswich

6/9/2019

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Where is it: 38 Brisbane St, Ipswich, entry via Prasser Lane
What’s it all about: Fun challenges to complete with the added pressure of a timer – fantastic family fun!
Tell me more: For those who haven’t experienced an escape room, let us firstly tell you that they are a perfect activity for family or for a group of friends! Simply put, the idea of an escape room is that you are put together into a room, and you must solve a number of challenges in order to either escape or to reach your goal! Seraphim Escape currently has 2 rooms (with more soon to be added) – a Christmas-themed one which is perfect for families with younger kids and one which is a little more on the scary side. We tried out the family friendly option of course and we had the best time! Half an hour to solve a number of challenges and we only just made it – the kids were so excited as the clock ticked down and it did become a little nerve-wracking by towards the end, but super fun! Highly recommended for those with inquisitive kids or even would be great as an outing away from the little guys! We can’t wait to try out another!

Website: https://www.seraphimescape.com.au/

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Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway, Ipswich

6/16/2017

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Where is it: Leaving from Bundamba Racecourse, Ipswich.
What’s it all about: Another one of Ipswich’s excellent rail experiences! Get to ride on a vintage train - either steam or diesel powered – and learn a little about Queensland’s rail heritage!
How can I join in: Buy your tickets online or at the station (we recommend online so that you are assured of your spot)! They run a number of different experiences so check their website for details!
Tell me more: A surprisingly easy to access experience is the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway (QPSR) which runs its heritage rail from Bundamba Racecourse - right in Ipswich! The sight of the old steam engine with smoke and steam billowing out is almost too good to resist, and we're sure that they have collected a few passengers who until they saw it, probably weren't planning on a heritage train trip!
QPSR runs their vintage steam an diesel locomotives, pulling retired Queensland Rail carriages generally once a month (they also do longer special trips at times - check out their website for more information) along a short section of track, before looping back and returning from the original departure point and taking about half an hour to complete the trip. There's no stopping or hopping off on the journey, so we think the half an hour is a good length for little kids. The train leaves for each trip every hour.
While the ride on the old carriages was fun and well worth taking, for us we probably enjoyed being on the platform more! Seeing the old steam train up close is truly impressive, and it's something that is a little hard to appreciate when you are sitting on the train. So we loved being on the platform for the half hour before the train departed again with the smoke and steam, the hisses and whistles, and the heat of the fire box! We could have watched it for hours! The volunteers are also really friendly and passionate about the train, and more than happy to have a chat and provide some more information about the train.
This is a really fun and authentic experience! The locomotive and carriages are well maintained and very comfortable for the short journey. There's an added bonus of coordinating with the Handmade Markets which is on at the same time across the road at the racecourse. The markets have lots of great products so they're great for doing a bit of shopping or even just browsing. You can also grab a bite to eat and there's always a few things going on for the kids - plus you can see the train pull in across the road every hour!
Websites: http://www.qpsr.net/ and http://www.thehandmadeexpo.com.au/ipswich.html

Markets

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Grandchester Model Live Steam Trains, Ipswich

5/16/2017

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Where is it: 2 Ipswich Street, Grandchester, about 1.5 hours' drive west of Brisbane

What's it all about: Scaled down replica trains that you can ride on! What fun!
Why we love it: Little, working trains (are there any kids that don't love trains?) which run on real, miniature tracks that you can ride on! It's such a lovely, relaxed and rural setting which heaps of space and more than enough shade for a picnic as the trains go by!
Tell me more: Grandchester is a tiny little town about half an hours' drive from Ipswich. It might be tiny, but it has a very special place in the history of Queensland, as it was the last stop on the (then) new Queensland Rail which provided a huge impetous to the development of this great state! As a reminder of the importance of the town's rail heritage, Grandchester Model Live Steam runs on the first Sunday of every month and we have to say that it is heaps of fun!
The detail on the trains is simply amazing - you will find both steam trains (actual little steam trains burning coal!) and faithful replicas of Queensland Rail diesel locomotives (although we don't think that there are any diesel engines in there)! The association members who provide their time to running these days are quite accommodating, so if you or your little guys really want to ride a specific train they will do their best to get you on that train. They pull specially built wagons that can carry around 6 - 8 people per wagon and the ride is surprisingly smooth and lots of fun! And at two dollars a ride and multi ticket discounts, it's great value as well! There's a canteen on site for food and refreshments or bring a picnic as there's heaps of lawn and shade.
While you are in Grandchester for the train rides, you really need to pay a visit to the historic Grandchester Station. The heritage listed building is only a two minute drive from the Model Live Steam tracks and is a lovely and faithfully maintained old station, which looks as though it could be in daily use still to this day! It's not however, but the train line that runs directly past is still in use and on occasion this station will be put back into service for heritage steam train visits! It holds some intriguing memorabilia from days gone by and it is a beautiful old building!
We had a great day out at Grandchester - the little trains are heaps of fun for the kids, Grandchester Station is a lovely visit, and the whole day in this little town was so relaxed and quiet. It's a great way to switch off and recharge, while at the same time enjoying the fun of the model railway!
Website: http://www.grandchestermodeltrains.com.au/

Amenities: Toilets on site and there's also a canteen so you can visit without packing your lunch! There are a few covered picnic tables and lots of lawn areas. 👍👍👍👍
Parking: Roadside parking that can get a bit busy, but no problems with finding a park! 👍👍👍
Access: Easy to get to and get around, but you will need to drive to Grandchester! 👍👍👍
Best for: Everyone will enjoy this day out, however we think that kids 6 and under would have the most fun! 👍👍👍👍
Summary: A really fun and relaxed day out in a quaint little rural setting. Well worth a visit and especially if you have little train buffs in your family! 👍👍👍👍
Hints: Be sure to visit the historic Grandchester Station and the Model Live Steam is a great spot for a picnic lunch!

Grandchester Model Train

Grandchester Station

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Rosewood Railway Museum, Ipswich

5/1/2017

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Where is it: Just outside of Rosewood, around 30 minutes' drive from Ipswich CBD.
What's it all about: A small museum with lots of big exhibits, and once a month you can ride on a heritage train!
How can I join in: Head along on the last Sunday of every month to experience some working history of Ipswich and Queensland! The museum is open on all other Sundays, however you'll be missing out if you don't catch a ride on one of the old trains!

Tell me more: We took a nice drive west of Brisbane on a beautiful morning - heading out to Rosewood, just 20 kms west of Ipswich to visit the Rosewood Rail Museum! The museum is open on Sundays, however the last Sunday of each month is the day to visit as they have a restored train running between the two stations on their very own piece of track (a maintained section of a de-commissioned line)! Set amongst some lovely scenery of rolling hills and farmland, two small rail stations have been authentically maintained for the museum's use.

Starting off from Cabanda Station (closest to Rosewood), the train leaves roughly every hour for the 10 - 15 min train ride up a section of the Little Liverpool Range to Kunkala Station, where the museum resides. Normally running the close-to-100 year old C17 class steam train (known as "Ken Biggs"), you can purchase return fares or multi-trip where you can ride the train all day long! When we visited, "Ken" was in the workshop under repair, so we got to ride on the 80 year old diesel rail motor "Red Fred", which we thought was heaps of fun, and great value too as you get a multi-trip for the price of a return ticket!"
Upon arrival at Kunkala Station, we disembarked for a look around the museum. We were also lucky as we received a guided tour of the workshop where "Ken" was sitting and got to have a look around this awesome piece of machinery! There are also a number of other locomotives and carriages housed at Kunkala which you could wander around and check out at your own pace. It's a lovely, relaxed setting (apart from the occasional blast of the air-horn from "Red Fred") and it's all very rustic and authentic. There are some limited refreshments available as well as souvenirs - we mistakenly purchased some cute train whistles for the kids - our eardrums might never forgive us! We also found some nice and shady lawn to set up a picnic on - plenty of others had the same idea as well!
After lunch we boarded "Red Fred" for the last time and headed back down the track to Cabanda Station, taking in the lovely views as you wind down the hill! We had a great time at Rosewood Railway Museum - it's a really simple and enjoyable day out - and the volunteers are really friendly, helpful and professional!

Contact: http://www.arhs-qld.org.au/rosewood-railway-museum

Amenities: There are limited amenities at Cabanda Station and full amenities (including a limited selection of food and refreshments) at Kunkala Station (the site of the museum)! 👍👍👍
Cost: Excellent value while Red Fred is running! 👍👍👍
Parking: Free parking at both stations, although it did get a bit busy when we visited! 👍👍👍
Access: Good access through both sites - these are heritage stations and some restrictions should be expected! 👍👍👍
Entertainment: The train rides are great fun and not too long! And a multi-trip, you can ride all day long! 👍👍
Best for: Train lovers, history buffs and basically all kids! 👍👍👍
Summary: A really simple and relaxing day out! We weren't sure what to expect, but we really enjoyed this day out - the short train trip, heaps of old trains to look at and a nice spot for a picnic made this an enjoyable day out! 👍👍👍👍
Hints: Pack a picnic and enjoy a quite lunch while you're out!

Cabanda Station

Kunkala Station

Museum Workshops

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Robelle Domain Parklands, Springfield Central

3/19/2017

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Where is it: 154 Southern Cross Circuit‚ Springfield
Why we love it: It's the complete parkland experience! A great mix of lawns, paths, playgrounds and water will make sure that you satisfy everyone's needs!
Tell me more: Robelle Domain is a parkland that is right up there with Southbank, Roma Street Parklands, and New Farm Park as being some of the best parks in the area, and I'm sure more than a few people would argue that it's the best! It's not hard to see why either, as there is so much to do here, from a picnic or a quiet stroll along the kilometres of pathways, or getting into the action at the water-play park, playground, grab a coffee at one of the cafés or pack your swimmers for Orion Lagoon! The water-play area is really fun, with soft-fall floor, lots of sprinklers and a giant dumping bucket! Orion Lagoon is a huge (and free!) public pool area, complete with lifeguards and a great little area for the little guys - it would be worth visiting just for the lagoon, but the playgrounds and park areas are hard to ignore! We've been along to Robelle Domain a number of times and we always have a great time - there's just so much to do! Probably the only downside to this park is that it is so popular so you will need to get in early if you want to secure yourself a picnic spot!

Website: http://www.greaterspringfield.com.au/lifestyle/robelle-domain/

Amenities: Full amenities and there's even a café! 👍👍👍👍
Parking: Enough parking, but it is very popular! 👍👍👍
Access: Easy to access, however it is a large park! 👍👍👍👍
Best for: Everyone! 👍👍👍👍👍
Summary: Certainly one of the best parks in Brisbane! If you are looking for a park that ticks all the boxes, this one does just that! 👍👍👍👍👍
Hints: Get in early to avoid the crowds - it is very popular!

Robelle Domain Waterpark

Orion Lagoon

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Spartan Junior Race, Various locations

8/15/2015

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Where is it: Various locations
What's it all about: It's an Obstacle Course Race (OCR - like a cross country with some army-style obstacles thrown in!) that’s primary purpose is to drive you to the satisfaction of completing a gruelling race. It's also heaps of fun and rewarding too!
How can I join in: There are a few races on throughout the year, of varying lengths / difficulties and various locations. Check out Spartan Race's website for the next one in your area!
Tell me more: Spartan Races are designed to be a little bit intimidating. Not to try to scare you off, but so that the satisfaction of completing the race is more rewarding! They have a few different races ranging from about 6kms through to 42km (not much chance of us getting through that one!). They also have a Spartan Kids race which is more our pace - it's about 1.5 - 2km and kids as young as 3 can join in! We tried to keep up with our boys as they tackled this one! The kid's race attracts the same attention as the senior races which really gets the kids into the zone - they start off with the Spartan war-cry and head off in waves (oldest kids starting first) so that they can spread out a bit! There are plenty of obstacles spread out along the course - climbing over walls and through tunnels, carrying sand bags and medicine balls, under nets and through water traps - so much fun for the little kids (and the parents running with them!)! There's even a giant slip and slide which is great fun even in the cooler weather! Heaps of the senior race finishers are spread out along the course to help out and encourage the little ones to keep pushing - the kids love it! Upon reaching the finish line, all the races receive their finishing medal and become part of the Spartan family!

We’ve been along to both bush and stadium Spartan races, and they are both really fun! The stadium race was held at Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium) and although the layout and structure of the race was quite different, it was really challenging, rewarding and fun (although it was a bit hot)! The kids really enjoyed this race and while the obstacle were similar, and running on flat ground made a difference! But probably the most exciting thing was to be able to run out onto Lang Park! A fun race and really handy being so close to home.

Peak Crossing is a really nice bush setting for the bush race. It's very popular, but there's heaps of room for parking and at the venue to settle down after the race and have a little picnic and watch the other racers - they have waves running all day so there are runners in various stages of their Spartan experience. It's a really fun and friendly atmosphere with music and activities wherever you go. There are small shops for merchandise, coffee or food, change rooms and lockers and all the facilities that you might need for the day. You can even camp there if you don't want an early drive - great for those first waves! They even have a giant inflatable Spartan course for the kids (just like a big jumping castle!) – our little guys loved this, but we couldn't understand where our boys were getting their energy from after finishing their race - we couldn't get them off this one! Overall, a really great event and day out. The atmosphere is very friendly and there are heaps of Spartan families! Aroo!

Contact: spartanrace.com.au