Horsepower themed experiences in Ipswich

How to experience horsepower and adrenaline pumping activities all year in Ipswich...
09 Jun 2022
Discover Ipswich, Staff Writer

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, heli-tours, steam trains, race cars, motocross fun and much more… just waiting to be discovered.

V8 Race Experience

QLD-Raceway-V8-22

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.

Pterodactyl Helicopters

Pterodactyl Helicopters

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.

Pterodactyl Helicopters also run heli tours that can take you to wineries and country pubs or just to Spicers for lunch…

Floating Images

Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights

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.  

Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway

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 seam 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 Open Day

Queensland Raceway Drift Matsuri

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 the course hosts Two Days of Thunder.

And on July 2, the newly renovated raceway is being launched with a huge Open Day.

There will be kids face painting, balloon twisting and a jumping castle, a 100-car show and shine.

There will also be trade stands and on track displays, including the Hot Wheels Stunt Team, Dick Johnson will re-open the main straight and you can see the only Aston Martin Vulcan in the Southern Hemisphere on the day.

Book in for a V8 Race experience or new on track drift and Superbike experiences.

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.

Willowbank MX

Grab your bike and test out the seven professionally designed tracks for beginners all the way to advanced riders at Willowbank MX.  The recreational ride park for motocross enthusiasts is open most days, but bookings are essential. 

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.

There’s also an onsite restaurant, The Barn Family Restaurant, where you can enjoy a smorgasboard an aviary and a kids play area.

Marburg Pacing Association

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.

Discover Ipswich Staff Writer
Rocky the Rock Wallaby is a Sagittarius who lives at the Ipswich Nature Centre and often contributes to Discover Ipswich in his spare time. When he's not busy showing tourists around, blogging or hanging out with his cute and fluffy mates at the Nature Centre, he likes to hit the gym for a leg session, graze on quinoa salad and ponder the possibilities of the universe.

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