Only 30 minutes from Brisbane, in the heritage City of Ipswich, you can find a number of amazing options for school tours and excursions.
Ipswich is perfect for your next school trip with historic sites, museums and heritage centres, farm tours and wildlife encounters, live concerts and more.
As an extra incentive, your school may be eligible for our Ipswich Groups Rebate – a rebate of between $150 and up to $650 per group visiting Ipswich, based on qualified spend in the City.
Find your students’ next educational adventure in Ipswich!
Behind the Scenes at Supercars
Students on Track at the Ipswich SuperSprint
Go behind the scenes at a major event – on Friday 26 July 2019, students can spend the day trackside at the Century Batteries Ipswich SuperSprint at Queensland Raceway for free.
The Supercars Students on Track program is an opportunity for teachers and students to witness the action of the team garages and the excitement of a press conference.
Student workbooks written to the curriculum are provided to show how classroom learnings translate to life on the track and a Junior Press conference is held where students can interview a number of the drivers.
Meet the Animals
Want an experience guaranteed to leave the whole class with a smile, look no further than one of Ipswich’s unique animal experiences.
Haigslea EWE Nique Hobby Farm
Haigslea EWE Nique Hobby Farm is suitable for all ages and a great way to students to get up close to a variety of farm animals. Farm owners, Penny and David, welcome everyone to their gorgeous little piece of paradise – teachers and students alike get to enjoy the rural setting of their 20 acre property when they meet the animals.
Feed the animals with farmer Dave and learn about wool and alpaca hair. Each student will also received an education sheet, and a popper, water and fruit for morning tea.
Ipswich Nature Centre
Picturesque Queens Park in the heart of Ipswich is home to the City’s own mini zoo, where students can meet the animals on one of the Ipswich Nature Centre’s VIP guided walking tours.
The Animal Encounters experience at the Ipswich Nature Centre includes access to animal feeding, animal care areas and a chance to learn about the amazing work the crew undertake for local wildlife and Bilby conservation. Included in the tour is a guided walking tour of the zoo, barnyard animals feeding and a reptile talk and pat.
Naughty Little Kids
At Naughty Little Kids, students can experience a working goat dairy. Pat and feed baby goats, and even learn how to milk a goat by hand. Listen as the dairy farmers explain how cheese is made and how you can make it yourself at home. Taste delicious gelato and award winning cheese that is made on the farm.
History and Heritage
Ipswich is Queensland’s oldest provincial city, with stories from the past ready to be discovered around every corner.
Ipswich Heritage Tour
Ipswich is home to many historical buildings including towering St Mary’s Catholic Church – resplendent in Jacaranda season – which is one of the city’s most photographed landmarks. There are also entire streets lined with grand homes for your wandering and photographing pleasure.
Hop on board an Ipswich Heritage Tour coach ride from the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre to discover some of these fascinating buildings.
Knowledgeable guides will reveal the history of Ipswich showcasing some of the city’s best architecture. The two-hour route takes in popular heritage buildings, homes and sites including St Mary’s.
The Workshops Rail Museum
The romance of train travel lives on in the Ipswich region – the birthplace of rail in Queensland. With more than 15 hands-on exhibitions, colourful stories, impressive steam locomotives and industrial machinery The Workshops Rail Museum is a great learning experience for students.
All aboard for a wholly interactive authentic heritage and cultural experience with real trains, carriages and onto the platforms of our past and present. Enhance your students’ learning with a School Program session led by a Museum Learning Officer or opt for a self-led visit.
Ipswich Historical Society
Spark your students’ imagination at the Ipswich Historical Society‘s Cooneana Heritage Centre. Investigate the past and enjoy a day tailed for your class, included an olden days school room experience, blacksmithing demonstrations, see and sit on old motorbikes, wash clothes by hand and hang them on the line.
The Society’s Education Coordinator is available to work with teachers to tailor a visit for students to enjoy and that aligns with their curriculum.
RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre
Learn about the history of aviation at the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre. School groups can visit this not-for-profit, must-see attraction on Tuesdays and Thursdays by prior appointment and entry for school groups is free.
The Heritage Centre has a range of exhibits and displays for visitors to explore. The collection of aircraft include: a C-47 Dakota, F-111, World War ll Boston Bomber, a Vietnam-era Canberra bomber, Caribou airlifter, Sabre and Mirage fighter jets, Macchi, plus a Sioux and Iroquois helicopter.
Tour inclusions include a guide and morning or afternoon tea if pre-booked.
Shows for Students
For educational entertainment of the theatrical or musical kind in Ipswich, the Ipswich Civic Centre program includes a variety of shows especially for school groups.
Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus
Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus – at the Ipswich Civic Centre on Tuesday 30 July 2019 – reinvents the composer Mozart’s magical music in a skilful and illuminating show featuring Circa’s dexterous daredevil artists and a live accordionist.
Watch as the notes are physically lifted off the page as performers bring the renowned compositions to life amidst a storm of powder, tumbles and crashes, all under the eccentric swirl of the conductor’s baton. Education notes are available for this schools-only performance.
For more information see www.discoveripswich.com.au/groups.
Tourism Branch | Ipswich City Council
PO Box 191, Ipswich QLD 4305
Phone: (07) 3810 7448
Email [email protected]
