Mark Sunday September 1 in the calendar, it’s a day to honour the dad in your life!
And if you’re thinking of getting him a special gift, check out these great experiences on offer around the Ipswich region.
Dad can throw an axe or smash for free
Does dad have a bit of pent up anger? Would throwing an axe or smashing a computer monitor help him work out his frustrations? Then book him in for for a Rampage Axe Throwing or Rage Cage smash session for Father’s Day for free!
On Father’s Day (1 September) dad can go axe throwing or smashing no cost – with a full paying partner – spaces will fill up quickly so book now!
Take dad to a little piece of Japan right here in Ipswich
Book dad in for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at Nerima Gardens in Queens Park. The August tour is being held the day before Father’s Day (Saturday August 31) and includes a Tranquil Tea taste and talk session.
Gift vouchers available.
Bring dad to the inaugural Steam and Smoke BBQ
Steam and Smoke BBQ is a new event being held at Queensland Museum Rail Workshops this Father’s Day. It is part of the Galvanized Festival of Heritage, but also celebrating all things dads like with BBQ and steam-themed food trucks, and a local craft beer and gin bar.
There will be rock ‘n’ roll performers and entertainers on the main stage and a display of vintage vehicles including motorcycles. See a steam train at The Workshops platform and take part in games and activities around the venue!
Indulge in BBQ, beer and burgers
Tackle an epic burger and wash it down with a craft beer on tap at Stony Creek Brewing, Ballistic Beer Springfield or the PA Hotel which has 72 craft beers on tap.
Stony Creek Brewing are hosting Father’s Day celebrations on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September. There will be music and food specials – bookings recommended.
Gift vouchers for each venue are available.
Celebrate at Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm
Take dad to the Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm for a great family friendly activity feeding the cute farm animals. A sausage sizzle will be available and dads get a free block of chocolate!
Get groovy in the grove
On Father’s Day, you can take dad to Groovin’ in the Grove at Watercress Creek Olive and Limes. It will be an afternoon of live music with local artists performing in the grove as you sample some of the local produce.
Listen to live music at The Rusty Nail
This Father’s Day take dad to The Rusty Nail for live music with Taylor Winton Music from 2pm and their famous burger, fries and beer special for $25!
The normal menu will also be running if you’re craving something different.
Grab a pub lunch with a free schooner or wine…
Orion Hotel Springfield is giving dad what he really wants…a pub lunch and a schooner of XXXX Gold!
If you book a table you can enjoy food specials including the hangover parmi (a chicken schnitty topped with Napoli, ham, bacon, chorizo and mozzarella cheese drizzled with chipotle aioli), a mixed grill (rump steak, sausage, tomato, mushroom, egg, house slaw, fries and gravy), reef and beef (a 300g porterhouse served with baked Idaho potato filled with bacon and sour cream served with steamed veg, garlic prawns and gravy) and braised beef brisket (apple cider braised beef brisket finished with smokey BBQ sauce served with Idaho potato filled with bacon, sour cream and steamed veg).
And included in the meal price is a schooner of XXXX Gold or glass of house wine for all dads!
If you book a table you’ll also go in the draw to win a $150 hamper.
Enjoy cars and coffee at Dancing Bean
You can take a step back in time with dad at Dancing Bean this Father’s Day.
Grab a takeaway coffee and pastry, with special Father’s Day deals on beans, and take a look through the decades with cars from the 60’s till now!
The event is being held on Sunday 1 September from 7am-11am.
Book dad in for a buffet breakfast
Special Father’s Day buffet breakfasts are being held at Brothers, MiHi Tavern, CSI and the Racehorse Hotel.
The breakfast at MiHi is being held from 7am-10.30am and costs $42 for adults, with children (aged 6-12) $15. There’s the chance to win dad a $250 BCF voucher also. Find out more information here.
CSI are holding their breakfast from 7.30am -10am. There will be lucky door prizes, raffles and entertainment, all dads will receive a gift also. Breakfast Buffet Selections include scrambled Eggs, pork chipolata sausages, rump steak, pork belly, honey soy wings, buffalo wings, herb tomatoes, bacon rashers, hash browns, butter mushrooms, baked beans, mixed selection of fruit, cereal, yoghurt, pancakes and mixed Danishes. Price is $42.90 for adults. Book online here. There will also be specials available for lunch and dinner including lamb shank, veal scaloppini, beef cheek, ribs and wings, rump and ribs and thick pork sausages.
A hot buffet breakfast is being held at Brothers Leagues Club from 8am -10.30am. Enjoy all your breakfast favourites plus seasonal fruit, tea and coffee for $35 (members price) and $15 for kids under 12. Pre-bookings are essential for breakfast.
Brothers will also be offering a special meat feast meal with slow cooked beef brisket, BBQ pork spare ribs, Korean hot wings, charred corn, slaw and chips for lunch and dinner. Grab all that for $40 (members price). There will also be live entertainment with Scott Browne performing from 12pm – 4pm.
Dads will also receive a gift if they have breakfast at The Racehorse Hotel, breakfast starts at 8am.
Take dad to a Father’s Day car show
Another Father’s day car show will be held at Springfield Orion! The Main Street of the shopping centre will be shut down to host a range of beautiful cars, stalls and entertainment!
Experience the atmosphere of the local car community right in the heart of Springfield while supporting the Movember Foundation and men’s mental health.
The car show will be held on Sunday 1 September from 10am-1pm.
Find some foodie treats
At Jets Leagues Club dads can get stuck into a Father’s Day Tomahawk! It’s a feast fit for your King and available first in first served until sold out. The succulent 1kg tomahawk steak is grilled to perfection just the way you like it and accompanied by a serve of crispy chips, steamed vegetables, and your choice of delectable sauce. This ripper of a meal is available at a special price for Father’s Day – $69.90.
There’s also a new menu available if the tomahawk is sold out on Father’s Day – enjoy starters like Szechuan calamari, truffled mushroom arancini, smoked brisket croquettes or lamb koftas. New mains to taste test include Shanghai fried noodles, pad Thai, chuck beef rib, French confit duck leg, pan-fried Mahi Mahi (warpped in banana leaf), and Philly cheese steak parmigiana!
CSI will have specials available for lunch and dinner including lamb shank, veal scaloppini, beef cheek, ribs and wings, rump and ribs and thick pork sausages.
Brothers Leagues Club will be offering a special meat feast meal with slow cooked beef brisket, BBQ pork spare ribs, Korean hot wings, charred corn, slaw and chips for lunch and dinner. Grab all that for $40 (members price). There will also be live entertainment with Scott Browne performing from 12pm – 4pm.
Book an epic picnic
The Soul Nook Collective is holding a Father’s Day picnic on September 7. There will be music and food trucks, settle in for a day under the trees celebrating with dad!
Gift vouchers are also available.
Take dad on a walking tour of Ipswich pubs!
Take a journey through the heart of Ipswich Central, exploring cherished establishments that have withstood the test of time – the iconic pubs of Ipswich!
The Galvanized Rubbidy Dubs to Pubs Walking Tour is being held on on Sunday, 8 September delving into the rich history of these cherished “pubs,” “shanties,” and “boozer” spots.
The tour will take you to five locations, includes a drink at each and lunch mid-way.
Put dad in the driver’s seat of a supercar
Put dad in the driver’s seat of a V8 Race car with the V8 Race Experience at Queensland Raceway. There is also a new drifting experience and go karts on offer!
Gift vouchers available.
Float sky high in a hot air balloon
Spoil dad with a Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flight. See the sun come up over the rolling hills and valleys of the Ipswich and Scenic Rim regions then tuck into a hot breakfast at Fourthchild Café.
Father’s Day themed gift vouchers available.
Sample a steak dinner or paddock to plate dining
Enjoy a complimentary glass of Taittinger Champagne or Bentspoke IPA for each dad when you book and dine at Homage Restaurant for lunch on Father’s Day, and you can stay as the restaurant is onsite at the luxury country retreat Spicers Hidden Vale.
Or take dad for a steak at the award-winning Bakehouse Steakhouse or seared sirlion and 72hr brisket at The Cottage Restaurant.
Gift vouchers are also available for each restaurant.
Burger and beer meal deal at Summer Land Camels
This Father’s Day Summer Land Camels are offering a burger and beer meal deal for $25 this Father’s Day.
You can also create unforgettable memories with dad at the camel farm when you meet and feed the lovely camels, visit the licensed cafe and farm shop, or take a camel ride.
A great gift idea is the Summer Land Camels world-first camel milk vodka, triple distilled locally from camel milk whey produced on-farm. Imparting a smooth and delicate character, this treasured whey gives the vodka an award-winning taste and prevents food waste at the same time.
Gift dad theatre tickets
Book dad in to see the Ipswich Little Theatre’s new production Clue: On Stage or purchase a gift voucher.
Clue: On Stage is the next exciting season by Ipswich Little Theatre. This whodunit comedy has been adapted from the Paramount Pictures film and the board game from Hansbro Inc.
Six guests are invited to a dinner party thrown by an anonymous host. They are given aliases- Colonel Mustard, Mrs White, Mr Green, Mrs Peacock, Professor Plum and Miss Scarlet. When the host turns up dead, everyone including the butler and maid are suspects.
Though discouraged from revealing personal information, it is soon discovered that all of them have fallen victim to the same blackmailer, their mysterious host of the evening.
Each is presented with a weapon and an option: pay their extortionist double or kill the innocent butler. What follows is a madcap, slapstick evening full of murder, mystery, and laughs as they seek to puzzle out the culprit amongst criminals.
Rated PG but containing some mild language and adult themes. Clue: On Stage is directed by Tony Erhardt and assisted by Dave Dunkerley and Jo Robbins, all long-term members of Ipswich Little Theatre with acting and directing credits to their names.
Bookings are available online, in person or through the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre on 3281 0555. Public performances are nightly on 20, 21, 27, 28 September, 4 and 5 October and Sunday matinees will be held on 22 and 29 September at 2pm. Take in dinner before the show at The Sourdough Crust Co. and receive 25% off your meal by showing your theatre tickets.
All performances are at the Incinerator Theatre, Burley Griffin Drive, Queens Park, Ipswich. There is plenty of off-street parking and the theatre has a licensed courtyard bar, free Wi-Fi, EFTPOS and is wheelchair friendly. Please ring the box office on 0403 175 702 to book your ticket to accommodate this.
If you’d prefer to get dad a present…
The Ipswich Visitor Information Centre has gift packs of locally produced items for sale. You can get dad matching socks and a stubby cooler with a beautiful Indigenous design for $15 and for $20 you can get packs with BBQ spice rubs or Byron Bay chocolates with local peanut brittle and honeycomb or locally made lavender products, or Chilli Willies hot sauce products. They also have bullet biros and local tea and coffee for sale.
Other places to get gifts include The Soul Cauldron and Embers and Twine for artisan and handmade products, Trevallan Lifestyle Centre for plants and gifts, Stony Creek Brewing for beer and beer merchandise, Ballistic Springfield for beer and merchandise and Watercress Creek Olives and Limes for local olive oil, jams and tapenades. For antiques and collectables check out The Vintage Advantage, Ipswich Antique Centre, Scotland Yard Antiques and The Black Museum.
Alternatively you can book dad in for an epic meal with restaurants offering Father’s Day sittings. Read more here.
