Chaz Mostert’s Ipswich pick for the SuperSprint

Fuel up for breakfast at Rafter & Rose

This laneway haunt reminds me of Melbourne with its plant-filled, cobbled brick outdoor dining area. There’s a cool selection of hand-made pastries, colourful French toast and locally-made produce on offer and Rafter and Rose have a great breakfast menu, including my favourite, the Eggs Benny with Bacon – a breakfast for champions.

Skip the gym

Exercise in a different way, and get a picturesque work-out in at Ipswich Nature Centre at Queens Park. Great views, great pics for Instagram and it’s free! There is nothing quite like Queens Park, set in the heart of Ipswich and boasting a fantastic look-out over the city, and the Ipswich Nature Centre – a free facility that allows you to immerse yourself in an array of Australian wildlife. I like to take a warm-up stroll around the centre to see everything from bilbies and wallabies to snakes, before some light training with a run around the park. It sure beats the gym!

Go for a hike

Grab the bike or go for a hike at White Rock-Spring Mountain Conservation Estate. Whether I’m keen for an action-packed day of hiking, cycling, or simply a walk with some spectacular views, I like to head to the White Rock reserve. With a variety of walks available over 2500ha of bushland reserve, this beautiful spot is one of my favourites. My pick is the White Rock multi-user trail, which takes about three hours to complete on foot or an hour by bike.

Go camping

Grab the tent and spend the night camping at Hardings Paddock at Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate. Featuring large open grassy areas, a central fire pit, and plenty of wildlife, Hardings Paddock is one of the best campgrounds in South East Queensland. Perfect for star-gazing, bush walking, horse riding or mountain biking – an overnight stay here is a must-do in the region.

Tick one off the bucket list

Tick one off the bucket list and go hot air ballooning with Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights. Enjoy a little getaway… 3,000ft in the air! This boutique hot air balloon service runs just once daily and guarantees a personalised experience that will show you a new perspective of Ipswich – with incredible views of the city’s historic architecture, parks and gardens, and surrounding region. You’ll enjoy full commentary during the flight as the sights are explained to you, so you’ll leave full of adrenalin with the added knowledge of a local.

The Supercars Coates Hire Ipswich SuperSprint will be hitting the Queensland Raceway 28 to 30 July.