Here in Queensland we are blessed with more sunny days than anywhere else in the country, but occasionally, Ipswich’s glorious sunny weather can be interrupted by the rain.
Instead of letting a little drizzle dampen your sense of adventure, here are 10 awesome indoor activities to bring joy to you and your family when the weather is a little gloomy.
Explore Queensland Museum Rail Workshops
Whether you’re a train enthusiast or have a curious mind, Queensland Museum Rail Workshops is a great place to spend a few hours. Featuring more than 15 larger-than-life exhibits, you can climb aboard a recreated Tilt Train, jump inside a life-size locomotive, admire Queensland’s largest model railway, browse lots of train memorabilia, and test your brain while solving the puzzles at the Sciencentre.
Even if you have been before, there is always something new and exciting to explore because the Workshops regularly host travelling exhibitions. Depending on what day you visit, your kids could also participate in the Little Nippers program, where they will learn about a special object found in the museum. When it’s time to refuel, drop by the Trackside Cafe, and don’t forget to stop by the Museum Shop to grab a souvenir to remember your day.
Catch a movie
When its wet outside, grab your family or friends and head to Limelight Cinemas at Riverlink to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster on the big screen, or try out the new Hoyts cinema in the Nicholas Street Precinct.
Unleash your inner child
Another fun way to beat the rainy-day blues is to unleash your inner child at General Public or iPlay Ipswich. These popular entertainment hubs feature bowling lanes and arcade games!
There’s lots of super fun games like an indoor golf simulator, darts, motorbike racing, claw machines, air hockey, pinball and basketball hoops so you can challenge your family and friends to a little friendly competition.
Find your way out of an escape room
If you’re looking to escape the rain for an hour or two, why not also escape into a different world? Seraphim Escape Rooms is an excellent boredom buster and puts your brain to the test. Working as a team, you and your group must put your heads together to find and solve all the clues within an hour timeframe to unlock the door and regain your freedom.
But don’t worry if you get stuck because there’s always someone on hand to give you a hint. There are three different escape rooms to choose from, ranging from easy to difficult.
Wander through the Ipswich Art Gallery
If the day is looking pretty dreary and you fancy spending a few hours indoors, head to the Ipswich Art Gallery. The gallery is open seven days a week from 10am-5pm, is free to enter (unless otherwise stated), and features a number of exquisite pieces by renowned artists and talented locals. They currently have works by American artist Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin and renowned former Ipswich artist Gwyn Hanssen-Pigott which are on loan from the National Gallery of Australia. There is always a number of new exhibits to browse, and from Sunday 23 November the immersive Make it Slow Kids Collective opens where everyone is encouraged to relax and focus on the art of making.
Visit the library
Update your reading list with a quick visit to the Ipswich library. The shelves at all Ipswich Libraries are filled with a myriad of titles, from romance novels to true crime, history, fiction, autobiographies and more. Ipswich Libraries also host a number of author talks, guest speakers, workshops, plus reading and gaming programs for kids and teenagers.
Tackle an indoor adventure
Ramp Attack Indoor Skate Park and Hardcore Blasters are both held indoors where it’s dry everyday. Bring your skateboard for hours of fun at Ramp Attack, or book a session of gel blasters fun at Hardcore Blasters (all equipment is available for hire).
Get crafty at a Sip ‘n’ Dip workshop
With dozens of workshops held across Ipswich each month, there is a good chance that next time the clouds roll in there will be a Sip ‘n’ Dip workshop happening near you. Under the guidance of an experienced instructor, you will learn how to create your own masterpiece to take home with you. Here you can learn how to pour resin, paint a spectacular picture and make your own jewellery.
Head to the shops for a spending spree
If you just feel like getting out of the house, escaping to your local shopping precinct is a popular choice. Ipswich has a number of great shopping centres to visit including Orion Springfield Central, Ripley Town Centre, Riverlink Shopping Centre, Yamanto Central and Redbank Plaza. And for something a bit different head to the Top of Town for boutique shops selling art, handmade items, fashion and homewares. Take your time wandering through the shops, try on some new outfits, book a beauty treatment, or grab a coffee with friends.
Wine and dine your way through Ipswich
Speaking of catching up with friends, organise to meet the gang at a local café or restaurant. Cold, windy and rainy days call for comfort food, so this is your opportunity to treat yourself to your favourite meal and not feel guilty about it. There’s so many great places to choose from including Hotel Commonwealth, PA Hotel, Racehorse Hotel, Yamanto Tavern, Jets Leagues Club, Stony Creek Brewing, Brothers Leagues Club, CSI Club Services Ipswich, Bakehouse Steakhouse, Fourthchild, Moselles Café and Restaurant, UB’s Milk Bar, Indian Mehfil, Heisenberg Haus, Ruby Chews, Rafter and Rose, The Rusty Nail and Queens Park Cafe, just to name a few.
Take in a show at one of Ipswich’s entertainment hotspots
If you love live entertainment, there are multiple venues across the city where you can sing at the top of your lungs, dance in the aisles, laugh till you cry and sit on the edge of your seat in suspense. There are always lots of great shows happening at the Ipswich Civic Centre, Studio 188, Banshees Bar and Art Space, and the Incinerator Theatre.
