July 2020
!!!!!!! Corona Virus travel restrictions are slowly being lifted in Queensland, but a lot of destinations are limiting the number of people that can attend or are still not opening at all. Queen’s Park is open, but I would recommend you phone the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre for all the latest Park Updates on opening and closing times before heading off on your visit. Visitor Centre – Phone: 07 32810555 or click on the links – Ipswich Visitor Information Centre !!!!!!!
What are you planning now the some of the Corona Virus travel constraints are being lifted in Queensland. This is a road trip; the shackles are off and I have picked Queens Park – Ipswich as one of my favourite day trips.
My first stop, the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre. Arriving mid-morning, it certainly looks as if Corona Virus has kept the crowds away today, the very friendly staff were more than happy to fill me in on all the wonderful things available in Queens Park and the many other attractions that are in the Ipswich area. So, pack your camera and picnic goodies, put on your comfy walking shoes, bring along your sense of adventure and let’s visit Queen’s Park Ipswich, but before we head off we’ll take a quick drive up to the Lions Lookout, 
Not only will you be able to get a birds-eye view of Queens Park but the panorama’s over the Ipswich area are absolutely awesome.
Queens Park is more a destination that just a park, there are animals to see, exotic gardens to wander through, playgrounds to explore and a cafe where there is always time to grab a hot brew ☕ or a tasty treat 🧁🍧🍦🍟.
Situated west of Brisbane this is one of Ipswich’s major attractions, a park that is situated just south of the CBD set in the older part of down- town Ipswich. Queens park is an ideal location for all ages, first surveyed in 1842 and heritage listed in September 2002 this sprawling expanse of grassy park lands, Japanese Gardens, and other hidden delights is just waiting for us to discover. What a line up of things to do and see, it’s a dilemma where to start first.
Ok, we’ll park the car first and an exploring we will go. Parking is no problems with an abundance of places available on the ring road that winds its way around the Parkland.
Look at this!!! What a beautiful spot to have family and friends share one of your most exciting days. The open-air Bush Chapel, situated on one of the highest points, surrounded by lush green lawns and majestic tall trees with rows of bench-style white seating all perfectly placed so your guests all have the best view in the house to feast one’s eye on your unfolding wedding ceremony. What a location, and how romantic it must be to have this location available for one your most special days.
👀Look out for the 1941 built Greenhouse just a short stroll away, with its formal gardens showcasing the tireless work of many former park curators and the Walter Burley Griffin designed red brick incinerator dating back to 1936 which is now the HQ for the local Little Theatre.
Tucked in behind the care-takers cottage we are soon greeted by the entry gates to the picture perfect Nerima Japanese Gardens. A place of peace and tranquillity, a place to meet nature and calm the spirit. With a myriad of walkways and paths winding their way past exotic shrubs and Australian native plants, Nerima’s design will take us on an amazing journey of discovery with the lower parts portraying the ocean and Moreton Bay while other sections will depict the landscape, river and greenery of the Ipswich region.
We’ll zig zag along pathways, winding our way in and out from the garden centre, crossing over ornate Japanese style wooden bridges that span babbling brooks where the clear streams from small waterfalls that are hidden further up in the gardens tumble down to the lake below all adding to the continuous serenade of nature’s symphony of sounds of this truly harmonious place.
We slowly steal past local Australian wildlife sunning themselves in the morning sun on the pathways oblivious to us walking past, watching the turtles and ducks cavorting amongst the colourful water lilies of the lagoon offering a touch of glamour to this already rich landscape tapestry.
Set amongst all the splendid grandeur of the Gardens, hidden away in its own corner of greenness with boardwalks that span decorative lakes, the sounds of silence only broken by the noise of running water from the babbling stream close by, you can feel the serenity, on the horizon we soon discovered the amazing vision of the Nerima Gardens Tea House.
Held regularly, here you can experience a Japanese Tea Ceremony in a model traditional Japanese tea house set in the most beautiful surrounds. Sound like something you’d like to experience, 👉 Contact the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre for booking information and availability.
Just a few steps from the Gardens, off-street parking and toilets are also available here, a striking rotunda built in 1891 announce’s your arrival at the Ipswich Nature Centre.
This is what the kids have really come to see, more like a mini zoo, the centre’s user friendly wooden ramps wind their way between wildlife habitats, past cascading water-falls, and lagoons. Following the pathways, you’ll encounter an exhibition of native animals including wallabies, goannas, snakes and wombats and the youngsters will have a ball in the barn with the cows, lambs, pigs and other farm-yard favourites.
An amble through the rain forest Bird Aviary is an absolute delight as the bird’s manoeuvre around above, filling the air with the sounds and colours of its many inhabitants.
🔥 Tip: The Japanese Gardens and Nature Centre do operate within certain hours; it would be best to ring or contact the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre (click here) to check that they will be open on the day of your visit. Phone: 07 32810555
Our departure from the Nature Reserve is tinged with some sadness but our day is not over yet. The beautiful grounds of Queens Park provide a huge array of options for a picnic lunch. If you have brought you own picnic goodies there are several shady spots located around the Park with tables and seating or you might just want to throw your picnic blanket down under the coolness of the many large shady trees some of which are in breathtaking secluded locations.
These grounds are so unique it’s not just the animals in the Nature Reserve who live here. Many wild free-roaming animals call the park their home. Look out for water dragons and ducks sunning themselves besides the lagoons, rainbow lorikeets adding a kaleidoscopic of colour as they rest in the abundance in the large shady trees or the colony of fruit bats that are right at home hanging from the trees near the Japanese Gardens.
Look no further. After all that exploring this morning the “hunger pangs” are starting to kick in, you didn’t bring your picnic goodies or you just want someone else to do the catering, the Queens Park Café has got you covered. The all day breakfast and lunch menu is extensive. With the option to sit inside or out on the large wrap around deck overlooking the green grassy hills and trees of Queens Park providing some of the best views in the area. Not a bad way to take a break before continuing your day of exploration.
You certainly do not have to travel far, only a few paces from the Café, nestled amongst towering fig trees is The Queens Park Environmental Education Centre. The centre has numerous educational exhibits showcasing Ipswich’s natural environment and waterways. The interactive displays are designed to connect you with nature around the city and in your home from ways 👉 to reduce your household carbon footprint 👉 where you can go to explore the great outdoors on foot, pushbike, or horseback 👉 or visit the giant fig “growing” inside the centre and explore the variety of wildlife that can be found.
I don’t know about you but I have found that when we go on a road trip it all goes just that little bit smoother if two prerequisite’s are met; we get our morning brews and the kids (in our case the grand kids) get a chance to let off a little steam. We’ve got the coffee covered and Queens Park offers one of the best Children’s Playground in the area. Here at this park, everyone’s a winner.
The playground caters to all ages with swings and climbing towers for the younger ones and larger slides and flying foxes for the more adventurous. BBQ’s, toilets and seating are all situated near by giving you the opportunity to keep an eye on all the activities while shade cloth covers part of the area offering some relief from the sun on any of the hottest Queensland days.
Was it worth a visit? Yes! Would I come again? 💯%. I would highly recommend a day trip to Queens Park, Ipswich. With plenty to do, Queens Park is a destination that has so much fun, education and adventure for all ages, you could easy spend the whole day being entertained within the park lands. A Nature Centre, Parking, Playgrounds and BBQ’s, all of this and more and such as easy drive from Brisbane, Remember except for what you buy at the café, Queens Park is a FREE day out.
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ROAD TRIP'N 