Ekka holiday fun in Ipswich

Taste local delicacies

Start your day with a coffee fix by visiting Ipswich Coffee Roasters – to try the city’s own locally roasted coffee in a warehouse at 7 Clay Street West Ipswich. Pick up a bag of beans or just enjoy a cup.  Follow up with a stop into Rafter & Rose, a popular breakfast/brunch and lunch destination where they whip up some beautiful flower adorned cakes and slices – that you can taste!

Cuddle a lamb

You can get your farm yard animal fix in Ipswich with a visit to Haigslea EWE Nique Hobby Farm where you can cuddle a baby lamb, pet a goat and feed a fluffy alpaca.

You can also buy coffee and sip in an open air café.  The farm will open Wednesday August 13 for the show holiday and will have strawberry ice cream, sample bags and lucky door prizes.  Book online.

Tuck into some traditional show food

If you’re craving that strawberry sundae flavour hit and don’t want to brave the Ekka crowds, head into UB’s Milk Bar instead!  They can whip these up anytime, but if you order one on the Ekka holiday it feels extra special!

They’ve also got great burgers, waffles and milkshakes…

Try Ekka cupcakes at Trevallan

From August 9 Trevallan Lifestyle Centre are adding in Ekka inspired cupcakes for the week – think Bertie Beetle and Strawberry ice cream available from the coffee cart and ideal to tuck into as you browse the plants on offer!

Roar around in a Supercar

You can get a thrill with hot laps in a Supercar on the Ekka holiday at Queensland Raceway. The hot laps will run from 7am to 6pm and there will also be a drift playtime form 5pm-10pm!

Try a local brew!

Stony Creek Brewing at the old Pumpyard will be open on the Ekka show day.  Enjoy craft beer, food and entertainment with the whole family – even the fur-kids.

Hotel Commonwealth will also be open on the public holiday as will Orion Hotel and there will be a live solist performing.

Fly high in a hot air balloon!

If you want to feel the wind in your hair and a thrill of going up high, check out Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights.

The tranquil flights will take you up, up and away over the Ipswich countryside and back down to earth for a yummy hot breakfast.

They are flying during the Ekka period, including on the show holiday for individuals and groups up to 10, book online.

Taste some local gin

While Imbibis Craft Distillery will be attending the Ekka showcasing their award-winning drinks, you can still sample their tipples at the tasting room in Bundamba on Friday August 15.

View some art 

If you love browsing the art entries at the Royal Brisbane Show, why not spend some time browsing the Ipswich Art Gallery and the nearby community gallery, both are free to enter. Right now at the gallery is Clay creature feature, giving you the opportunity to get your hands dirty and make your own creature out of clay!

Feed a camel

Book in for a camel ride, take a farm tour, stop by the cafe for a camelcino and visit the Summer Land Camels’ farm shop for camel milk infused products and vodka tastings this Ekka holiday.

You can sample award-winning camel milk, camel milk cheese, and camel milk gelato before browsing through the store for camel products and their much-loved skin and hair care range.

In the gardens, you’ll also get a chance to befriend and feed gentle camels and enjoy the breathtaking scenery that surrounds the farm.

Summer Land Camels are open from 9am – 3pm seven days a week.

See who’s who in the zoo…

You can also pay a visit to the Ipswich Nature Centre in beautiful Queens Park and meet pademelons, a spotted tail quoll or a rock wallaby to name just a few of the centre’s cute and fluffy inhabitants. Entry to the centre is free – but gold coin donations are appreciated – and you can linger at the Queens Park Cafe or wander the historic gardens which includes, vast lawns and playgrounds.

But the show’s not over – you’ll find even more to explore, any time of the year, in this list: 75 things to do in Ipswich.