The Great Outdoors
Five excellent hiking spots in Ipswich
If you’ve been spending a little too much time cooped up inside lately, it could be time to get outdoors and active. While the lure of an entire weekend spent watching Netflix can be almost irresistible, getting your body moving and soaking in some sunshine and fresh air can have great benefits for your mental and physical health.
What better way to shake off the stress of the working week than to hit a hiking trail and feel all that tension melt away?! To help inspire you to get active in a beautiful part of our beautiful state, here are 5 excellent places to go hiking in Ipswich.
Denmark Hill
Denmark Hill is a great starting point for newbie hikers, families with little ones or those after a light hike. The trails here range from easy to moderate, with trail lengths from 200m to 800m. Don’t worry though, you’ll still be treated to some rather stunning views from the top of the Denmark Hill Water Tower.
Try the Water Tower Circuit, an 800m return trip that should take around 20 minutes. The sealed, shaded pathway will wind you through native bushland to the water tower, where you can soak in the stunning views of the Great Dividing Range, the D’Aguilar and other gorgeous mountain ranges. The area is steeped in history, with fossil replicas and mining history at Triassic Park, which is found within the Conservation Estate.
Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate
If you want to feel a world away from everyday life, an escape to the Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate could be just what you need. The trails here range from easy through to difficult, with the longest trail offering 19km of challenging terrain, which would take around 6 hours to complete.
There are also some fantastic mountain biking trails to explore too. A good starting point is the Rocky Knoll Lookout trail from Hardings Paddock. The 2.4km return trip takes around 1.5 hours to complete, leading you through eucalypt forests and rewarding you with views of the Scenic Rim and country views.
White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate
With its wild, rocky outcrops and valleys, escarpments and ridges bustling with wildlife, White Rock – Spring Mountain is a great place to spend a few hours of your weekend. The length of trails here range from 200m through to 19km return, offering everything from easy to moderate. There are also mountain biking trails on offer too.
Check out the small Bluff Lookout Circuit or Little White Rock Lookout Circuit or, for more serious hikers, try the White Rock Multi-User Trail, for a 6.5km return trip of around 1 hour. Experienced hikers can tackle the 19km Yaddamun Trail, which takes around 8 hours to tackle but rewards you with views of Ipswich, Brisbane City and out to Moreton Bay.
Haig Street Quarry Conservation Reserve
A great spot for a picnic or a spot of bird-watching, Haig Street Quarry also offers two moderate trails perfect for families or those after a moderate trail. The Bearded Dragon Circuit is 800m one way, taking 20 minutes to trail up to the water tower, perfect for a spot of lunch. The Willy Wagtail Circuit winds through the forest, along the Quarry Pond, offering the chance to spot local birds and stretch your legs in a beautiful part of Ipswich.
Purga Nature Reserve
Another top spot for families or a leisurely Sunday afternoon escape, the Purga Nature Reserve is a really pretty destination for spotting wallabies and exploring a Swamp Tea-Tree Forest. The trails here are easy, with the Tea Tree Boardwalk an easy 10 minute, 350m return circuit. You’ll pass paperbark trees, orchids and other local flora. The slightly longer Melaleuca Circuit is a 500m return trip, taking 12 minutes to complete, winding you through the Tea-Tree forest and a lovely frog pond.