If you’ve got kids then you know that close encounters with animals never get old. Luckily Ipswich has a handful of great places where you can interact with furry friends. Here’s 6 places to visit that offer animal experiences.
1. Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm
This charming hobby farm is home to sheep, lambs, alpacas, chickens, goats and geese. Children and adults can get up close and personal, pat and feed the animals. Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm also has a coffee cart available selling hot and cold drinks as well as homemade cakes, slices, muffins and other snacks.
(Note the farm closes for the month of February, reopening in March, due to hot weather).
2. The Llama Farm
A new farm experience that offers visitors the chance to take a Llama for a walk, feed and pet them as well as a Llama selfie or two. The Llama Farm has the largest herd of Llamas in Queensland as well as donkeys, goats, miniature ponies, peacocks, turkeys, guinea fowl and two maremmas. Tours are available on weekends and school holidays by appointment. They are also running a Little Llama Farmers school holiday program.
3. Summer Land Camels
Visit Australia’s largest wild camel training centre and dairy. Meet the camels and feed them, book a camel ride or a farm tour for a behind the scenes look. Summer Land Camel Farm has an onsite café and camel milk products available including cheese and gelato and their range of all natural skin care.
4. Naughty Little Kids
Visit the 70 goats and 40 kids on the working farm which is open on weekends for tours and cheese making demonstrations. Taste the award winning goats cheese, straight from the farm and gelato. Naughty Little Kids is open on Sundays (bookings essential), come and feed the goats and give them a cuddle.
5. Ipswich Nature Centre
The Ipswich Nature Centre is home to a range of native Australian animals including dingoes, wallabies and bilbies as well as cute farm animals. Enjoy walking around the shady boardwalks for free, or book an Animal Encounter during school holidays, or Saturdays for groups of eight or more.
6. Koala Safari
Spicers Hidden Vale is offering Koala Safaris out of the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre. The centre is conducting a 12 month koala research program and are tracking 26 koalas with joeys expected soon. Tour the wildlife centre then head out to assist researchers locate and check the welfare of the koalas. Learn interesting facts about koalas. Runs for two hours on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2.30pm. After the two hours a cold beverage will be waiting for you. Cost is $75 with 75% going back into research projects. Bookings essential, and the tour is only available for Spicers guests at this time.
Want to make a weekend of it? Checkout the Tallavalley Farm B&B a working 50 acre farm where you can bring your dog or even your horse. Meet the resident cows and horses as well as chooks. The three bedroom, two bathroom cottage with full kitchen and laundry is only a short drive away from Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby farm and the towns of Marburg and Rosewood.
Another option is Keira Farm, only minutes away from Summer land Camels and Naughty Little Kids, The working cattle and sheep farm is home to Keira Billy rural retreat – a modern two bedroom cottage with a large deck and outdoor spa. You’ll see plenty of local wildlife as well as farm animals.
