If you’re heading to the city for Festival of Horsepower or are simply a fan of all things horsepower, check out all the fun and exciting horsepower and adrenaline pumping experiences on offer throughout the City of Ipswich all year round. There’s hot air balloons, steam trains, race cars, motocross fun and much more… just waiting to be discovered.
V8 Race Experience
The V8 Race Experience puts you in the drivers’ seat with a professional driver in the passenger side to give you tips as you take to the iconic paperclip track at Queensland Raceway. You can choose to drive in their new purpose built Mustang or Camaro or the legendary Falcon or Commodore. You can also book hot laps with a pro driver, superbike and drifting experiences.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
Enjoy a one-hour return train trip on heritage timber carriages with the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway. Take in old coal mining sites, bushland and quaint miners’ cottages on our journey. The trains leave from the restored Swanbank train station which is steeped in history.
Grandchester Model Steam Railway
The Grandchester Model Steam Railway has model steam engines that you and the kids can ride on. You’ll see the train drivers busily stoking the coal, topping up water, releasing steam and blowing their whistles, ready to go on the green traffic light!
The trains run the first Sunday of the month from 10am – 2pm.
Queensland Raceway
Queensland Raceway has hosted major events like the V8 Supercars, is home to two huge drifting carnivals, regular cruise sessions, roll racing, Queensland Racing Drivers’ Championships and Friday Night Drift. During Festival of Horsepower you’ll see the Australian Superbike Championship, Shannons SpeedSeries GT Festival and Cruise the Night here.
Willowbank Raceway
Willowbank Raceway is home to Ipswich’s drag strip and hosts the biggest drag racing carnival outside of North America – the Winternationals during Festival of Horsepower. There are also regular music events held at the precinct and drag racing championship meets.
Floating Images
Rise before dawn to experience a magical hot air balloon ride with Floating Images Hot Air Ballon Flights. With 30 years ballooning experience, owner/chief pilot Graeme Day will be your guide through the skies over the Ipswich region. See the sunrise as you float majestically over the countryside dotted with a patchwork of fields, nature reserves and views to the Ipswich CBD and Brisbane skyline. After you come back down to earth, enjoy a gorgeous breakfast prepared by Fourthchild Cafe.
Ipswich Turf Club
While the Ipswich Turf Club might be most famous for their Festival of Horsepower event the Ipswich Cup, they host race meets all throughout the year, including family friendly children’s race days.
Marburg Pacing Association
Just 25 minutes from Ipswich CBD in the country town of Marburg is one of only three surviving harness racing courses in Queensland. The Marburg Pacing Association hosts meetings year round and if they fall on a Sunday or a public holiday the Association puts on a big family fun day offering kids activities like water slides, face painting, markets, mini-trots and the opportunity to pat a pony after a race. During the Festival of Horsepower the Western Star Family Race Day will be held.
Heli-MTB tour
Just like a scene out of a Bond movie, be delivered to Hidden Vale Adventure Park by helicopter, rent your mountain bikes and take the shuttle service to the highest downhill descent in SEQ. The 500 Above trail is just as epic as you would imagine, a 7km continuous descent. After your day riding, enjoy lunch at Spicers Hidden Vale, before being flown back.
